The Frozen Tears
A little long read and I am writing after a long time.
I was in somewhere middle on nowhere in Changthang looking for a nomadic settlement as directed by a friend Sonam. That day we were descending from the unknown pass which was around 5800 meters in the middle of the winter. Without forgetting to mention we had an amazing sight of Tibetan Argali close to the pass. Clear morning turned into the snowstorm in no time and it was becoming much intense as howling wind. It terribly brutal and on top of we started losing visibility as well. The Winter cold is unforgivable in the highland of Changthang and but that day was something else.
I had to put on gloves before moving the camera out from my backpack. I tolerate subzero temperature really well and can manage with gloves till -20C or so. But that day was not for me.
The wind must be running on Changthang plains at 30-40 kilometres as there was no presence of really high mountains to stop such crazy wind. We going forward almost blind covering up so well to protect from the wind and cold without much luck.
Suddenly we saw a small cloud of dust even in the cold snowy wind from the distance and after getting close we realised that there are goats and people around whom we were looking for in amidst winter month. A small settlement of Changpa Nomads at almost 4800 meters high.
Being bad weather Nomads decided to start that day little late and flocks of goats and sheep were coming out from the pens, I am sure it was a busy day for them. Few families were out there and it was a big surprise to see outside humans in the middle of the winter. Even they hardly meeting people from outside other than Changthang. There was a usual warm welcome done by them with a cup of salt butter chai. They wanted us to be safe from the cold and wind and I was much curious about outside activities.
The wind was pushing me around and cold was almost killing my gears, I m sure they might be getting used in such brutal weather for the first time. It did give up the way I did not. A big thank you to Sony for amazing gears.
Plenty was activities were happening in a small nomadic settlement and I wanted to be everywhere it was becoming little difficult to reach as the wind was getting into even fast action and accompanied by more snow. Before I gave up I could take a few images.
Portrait of an old lady who was out taking care of the flock of Pashmina goats. If you take a closer look, her frozen tears tell the story of cold and hardship she is going through. I was talking to her with my limited knowledge of Tibetan as hers of Hindi. I can easily say my words were blown away with cold Changthang wind that day and could not speak much, my thoughts were frizzed and my tears as well.
Remember when we cover up ourselves with pashmina shawls, someone’s hard work is going behind it to keep us warm and we must appreciate it.
My travels taught me a lot, mainly no one is out of the chain and we are nothing without others. Respect all and be humble.
Portrait of old Changpa woman, I made from one of my many visits in the winter wonderland of Chhangthang.
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