PROLOUGE
DEAR reader,
You are about to witness the extraordinary diary of the
camper Raghav Agrawal who has visited the snow leopard adventure camp and has
written his daily diary. He shall be describing the camp and telling us what
they did over there. He has used very good vocabulary and when I read it I felt
like I was there. I hope you like reading it as much as I did!!
Gravityfalls03
SLA TRIP, 2014-15
14-21 March, 7 nights,
8 days
(SNOW LEOPARD ADVENTURES,
RISHIKESH, DEHRADUN, HIMACHAL PRADESH,
INDIA, ASIA, THE EARTH, THE AXIS, THE SOLAR SYSTEM, THE MILKY WAY)
Day 1
Saturday morning you're supposed to sleep for eternity. Just
not today. Quick as a flash of lightning I ran out of my room and got ready. I
gobbled my breakfast while my uncle gave me a lecture on the outdoors. After
then heaving down a suitcase till the car we were ready to leave foe school.
You must be thinking "what is this guy doing! School on Saturday?"
That's right, I was going on a school trip. As we pulled up in the parking lot
at school we saw children going in and parents coming out crying. I heaved my
suitcase out and hugged my mom goodbye then set out for the auditorium. In the
audi I sat for my attendance and then my classmates and I got onto the bus.
This was a school trip open for anybody from classes 5 to 8. As we pulled up in
front of the airport we got our bags and suitcases and walked hurriedly towards
our gate. As soon as we got into the flight I started my book and didn't
realise that our plane took off an hour late. We got our flight to Delhi in
which we waited for half an hour and then took off for Dehradun. We got off at
Dehradun Jolly Grant Airport in about 45 minutes. On the way I had clicked
loads of pictures from the plane of the scenery. It was very nice although it was with a dried up river but it had a lot of geographical features such as confluences and tributaries. We were greeted by the people
of the camp in the parking lot and we all sat in the buses that would take us
to camp. It was a two hour journey from there to the village of Shivpuri which
was just after Rishikesh and was where our camp was. SLA owned four camps which
were camp Tusker, Camp Panther, leopard beach and the Himalayan Bear camp which
was situated near a river but was destroyed when the stream overflowed. We were
staying in camp Panther and we were welcomed with garlands of flowers and we
were then asked to sit in the gazebo and we were briefed and given our tents
and tent mates. We were three per tent so it was Ishaan Maker, Sujal Attavar
and me. We then had our yummy hot chocolate and then were told to get our
torches. We were going on a night walk and it was very freaky as we were
climbing a hill inhabited by leopards and we were 60 children and were very far
away from each other with gaps in the middle. We came back to camp and had our
dinner and then went to our tent and were going to retire for the day when all
the fifth graders bustled in with food in their hands and I realised we were
having our party. We hung a torch on the
lamp and called it the Mafia light as we distributed our food and ate it. This
was a sign of a good start.
Day 2
We heard the wakeup
call at 6:30 and had no choice but to trudge out of the bed and into the cold
climate but our spirits were up when we had our hot chocolate. We were then
called into the field where I thought we were going to play football but then I
saw mats. Ugh!!! Yoga!!!! We chose our mats and then had a 1 hour session of it.
We then were told to wear track pants as we were going trekking. We had a 2
minute bus ride and then we came upon a little camp near a stream. We then
hiked along the stream for some time and we were surrounded by mountains on all
four sides. We then had then cross the stream on just two big logs and I was
quite sure that I would have fell into the water. Then we came upon a little
hill on which we trekked on an incline and we saw a village. We saw lots of
crops and heard the barking deer and we all were relieved as we went downhill
as the trek upwards was very steep and tough. We then came upon a bridge from
which we crossed the stream again to the starting point where the buses were
waiting for us. Upon coming to camp we had lunch and then were told to change
into Dri-Fits. We all assembled at the gazebo from which were told we were
going rafting and so we all climbed onto the buses. I saw that there were two
trucks on which there were rafts and I learnt that these trucks would take the
rafts and the gear to the place where we would start rafting and set up
everything. We then would raft and these trucks would then go to the place
where we would end and take the rafts from there back to camp. So we had our
rafting session in which we went through many rapids and we also paddled a lot.
My favourite was when we would be allowed to go into the water and feel the
cold Ganga water seep through my clothes. When we were done we pulled our raft
onto dry land where we also gave back our gear. On the bus ride back the water
must have almost ruined the seats but we were going to have to sit on it the
next day. Upon coming back to camp I waited as my turn to have a bath would
come and by then I had already had two glasses of hot chocolate. After a refreshing
bath and snack we were given free time in which I took a nap as I was
exhausted. I played many card games with my friends and by then it was time for
dinner. Straight after dinner we had our first campfire in which we didn't
roast any marshmallows as some very fat girl had already eaten down two packets
of the. Coming back it was already late so we had no choice to sleep or face
the consequences.
Day 3
What was it with the teachers?! Every day they
came and banged our tents at 6:30 and told us to get up. Since we were going on
a bigger rafting expedition we were asked to eat well and then we had to get
onto the bus. We were going to the confluence of the river Bhagirathi and river
Allakhnanda. Most people say that the Ganga started in the Gangotri glacier but
actually the river Bhagirathi originated
there and then the river Allakhnanda came from the temple of Badrinath and when
they joined the Ganga was formed. It is said to be very holy and all the
teachers were filling up canisters of Gangaajal to take home. Our instructor
was very kind and allowed us to stand up and maintain our balance and I came
first as I didn't fall down. He said we were going on a 30 kms rafting session
and after we finished 15 kms we stopped at an island. They had carried lunch
for everyone and so we ate at the island. We ran around for 15 minutes then we
had to get back on the rafts as we still had more rafting to do. After another
15kms of rafting we arrived at a beach where we got off to take of our gear and
walk up to the waiting buses. It was raining when we reached camp and we all
got Maggi to eat. When I came out from a bath I heard Ishaan screaming. He said
he couldn't find his Iphone 5S. we were looking for it for almost four hours.
We had no luck but after dinner we got permission to go to sleep at 11:00 and
my friends and I played Bluff and had a lot of fun.
Day 4
Last night we had got permission from our teachers to wake
up by 7:30 so we had a sleep in but eventually we had absolutely no choice but
to get up from our beds and face the cold. We played football after breakfast
but were stooped short as we had to do our next activity. We w =ere sorted into
groups and I was in the group that did games first. We were taken to the place
where the people of the camp sit but now there were numbers on plates on the
floor. We were further divided into two groups and my group was going first. We
had to stamp on the numbers in ascending order as fast as we could. The rules
were-
·
Nobody was allowed to talk except call out the number
·
No two people could call out the numbers at the
same time.
·
No two people could call the same number twice
·
If anybody violates these rules their team shall
be disqualified
So we had a game in ascending and descending order and our
team won in des and the other won the asc. We were then called out into the
volleyball court and both teams were given a big carpet. We were going to play
carpet volleyball. The rules were the same. It was a lot of fun and our team
won as the other team had declared. We then had lunch and were then going to
change activities. Since we had already done games the children who
participated in games were going to do a treasure hunt. We were first briefed
about a compass and were told that our two steps were equal to 1 metre. So we
had go around with our compass and we had to find the direction and then walk
those many metre and find the next clue. Like this we went on and we were the
first team out of three teams to find the treasure which was some éclairs. Since
we had the whole evening to ourselves we had planned some card games but the
teachers then announced that we shall have more games. There were two teams.
One was the team that had games in the morning and one that had treasure
hunting in the morning. There were two big carpets and we were asked to put the
entire team on the carpet and then move it till a certain point without anybody
getting off. The other team couldn't last two minutes and so they all got off
and picked up and ran towards the end line. We then had another game in which
the entire team had to hold the carpet and walk fast and not run till the
finish line. Most of the people ran so the game was over. The last one was the
folding game in which we folded our carpet neatly and first while the other
hadn't even started. We were then again free time in which we played cards and
then went for our dinner. We again had a campfire tonight and then went to
bed.
Day 5
Again we were
welcomed by our hot chocolate and then were instantly called for breakfast.
After that we assembled and were split into groups like yesterday. The other
group was further divided into two and then they went off to do their
activities. We all got into the bus and then we were taken to leopard beach.
The sand was very soft and there were tents. We first had a volley ball match
in which we won and then had tug of war in which we lost. We were then given
some lemon Tang and then started out on the real activity. We were divided into
many groups and each group was given 2 tubes and 8 bamboo sticks. We were given
30 minutes of time to prepare a raft which would float on water and would be
able to hold 4 paddlers. Here is the process-
·
We first laid down the tubes and tied them
together
·
We then added one layer of bamboo sticks on
those tubes and tied more strings to hold them
·
Then we add one more layer of bamboo on top of
them and more string to support it
·
Then while the other four people geared up my
friend Aadit and I pushed the raft into the water
·
They then paddled their way from one end of the
beach to the other end then had to run and then put the equipment in its place
·
We stood third in the race but still had fun
making and paddling the raft
This is what we did and after
having loads of fun we were not happy when we were going to go back to camp. At
camp we changed our clothes and hade our lunch. After lunch we split into two
groups and the other went down to leopard beach, I was in the group that zip
lining first and I am scared of heights so it would be quite an experience. We
were called to the zip lining office where we were geared up and wrote the 'I
am not responsible.....' thing and then we went down to the training ground
where there was a wire. We were hooked up and were zipping as we were taught
the basic instructions of breaking. We then again climbed the stairs to the top
of the building and were asked to stand in a line. I saw many people hooked up
and zipping and then finally it was my turn. As I stepped onto the platform
everything seemed to speed up and in no time I was hanging in midair. Towards
the end I stopped so I had to monkey crawl the way but it was quite an
experience. We then hiked up the mountain and I realised I had crossed the
Ganga in 400 metres and 80 metres up in the sky. We then were sent back on
another line and then it was again my turn. It was quite faster zipping back
and I was going sideways and didn't see the man telling me to brake. I was so
fast that I crashed into the speed breaker and I was later on told that I had
done 180 deg flip in the air. After everyone was safely gotten back we switched
to the rock climbing wall in which it looked very easy but in actual life there
were loose rocks and you couldn't do it completely. Only two people from 60
children were able to do it and after interviewing them they said was very tough
and slanting and therefore just by luck they were on the top. After that we
were given free time and I miraculously finished a Bluff game in first place. After
dinner we all were very tired and so went off to sleep.
Day 6
Today we were allowed to wake up
by 8:00 and so I didn't lose this chance to wake up completely refreshed and be
able to do the next task with ease. By nine we were all ready and were assembled
in the ground. They split us into two groups which were classes 5 &6 and
classes 7&8. We went first and after a five minute bus ride we reached our
trekking ground. It was near a hotel where we started our climb up the hill to
the summit. I learned that snow leopard adventures find a trek path and make a
tiny road in which we would have to walk. There were gazillion paths but our
path was not short but not a very steep climb. I was clicking loads of pictures
when we reached the summit half the camera's memory was used. At the top we ate
our packed lunches similar to the lunch that we got on day 3 while rafting. After
that we found our way down and we also passed through a small village in which
we saw many acres of land devoted to agriculture. We then saw a stream and
after pleading with the guide he allowed us to play in the stream. The stream
was very mucky and mossy and my foot was green after the play in the stream. After
playing we continued our path until we saw a two similar logs and realised we
had reached the path where we had came earlier. I thought that we would take
the same route but the guide assured us that we would not climb the hill again.
We walked back the entire way and then reached the awaiting buses. When we came
back to camp we had snax and a shower and then we got free time. Lots of free
time and then had dinner. Since my leg was aching I didn't see the movie with
my fellow fifth graders.
Day 7
Today we were allowed to wake up
by 7:00 and then we had hot chocolate and breakfast straight after waking up. After
changing into dri- fits we all carried one bottle each. They sorted us into our
groups there only and then we set off to the beach as we had rafting today. We
were told that we were going to the same place as day 1 rafting and so we
should not expect anything new. At reaching the beach we quickly lined up
behind the instructors and then clambered on board our rafts. We started out
with a rapid and straight after that we were allowed to play survival of the
fittest. Surprisingly I was the only person to get up and I was facing the
other side when I felt a push and fell straight into the water. I was helped up
back onto the raft just in time for the rapid. After this rapid I heard a boy
screaming and I saw that the two places in front of me were empty. Ii glanced
down to see my friend being pulled down by some very fat girl. I was trying to
help him up when suddenly he started
pulling me down!! I fell face first into the water and calmed down the boy.
We held the rope for a while and floated on our backs and then were hauled up
by the instructor. Closer to the ending
somebody from my raft threw their paddle into the water and I jumped in to save
it. After getting my hands onto it I couldn't see my raft but I saw the rescue
kayak come my way. He helped me onto the nearest raft and even there I had to
paddle. I came onto the beach first just in time to help pull my raft onto
land. We again sadly spoiled the seats of the bus but this was one of the last
days so we enjoyed the ride. Upon coming to camp I had a bath and lunch and
then I went to get ready as we were going to Rishikesh for sightseeing. We first
came upon many Yoga places and ashrams and we also bought stuff from the
market. After buying stuff we visited the temple and we saw the Ganga Arti. It was
dark so we collected our shoes and we sat in our bus and drove back to camp. After
dinner we had our last campfire of the trip. In this every grade had to do something
and we boys were completely confused what to do and so I gave the starting of
the Spanish Silent Folk song in which we just clapped over and over again. After
this we spent the rest of the night packing our bags and loading them down.
Day 8
At 6:30 nobody was awake so the
teachers were coming in tents and yanking the blankets of us and then telling
us to quickly change and have hot chocolate. At the breakfast table I was applying
jam on my bread and then suddenly some people raced pass me and I knocked the
jam knife flying as I had been banged into and lost my balance. The jam was
everywhere on my clothes and I spent much time cleaning the mess up. After this
we loaded our bags into the bus and we quickly checked for any dropped items
and said by to the camp and its people. We all were going to the other camp
owned by them which was camp Tusker which was in Hardiwar. It was a very long
journey and I fell asleep on the way only to be waked up by my buddy at the
entrance of the camp. We were all called inside and we had a glass of lemon
Tang and then we were briefed about the activities that would follow. We first
went for a nature walk where we saw Acacia Trees and many old trees. There were
many fallen down trees and the guide explained to us that we were inside a
national park and that elephants and other beasts lived. We came upon the Ganga
and he explained that the water level would be much higher in the monsoon and
that now the river was almost dried up. We came back to camp just in time to
see the cycling group come back and we were all very happy to be finally biking.
They took us on a incline and smooth paved road but also took us through the
parts where there was gravel and many on the bike tyres bursted there because
these cycles were not meant for this terrain. When we came back to camp we had
our lunch and then we all had to leave. We left for the airport and then sadly
had to say good bye to the camp people but we also had a flight to catch. On board
the plane I slept through as I was tired and I couldn't wait to see my mother. When
we came back to school from Mumbai Airport I was so happy to see my mother and
father. When we reached home I quickly showed them my pictures and told them
about my trip as I was too excited to leave it for tomorrow. I also remembered
the saying-
"kal
kare so aaj kar,
Aaj
kar toh kar abhi"
