On the way up to Tanglang La Pass, snow was falling, covering the rocky mountains. It was a beautiful route with completely white, intricate mountains. The sky and the abyss became one. The road had only tire tracks from previous cars to be noticed. A blanket of soft snow covered the rocks, like a white feather covering still sculptures.
 
The air was freezing, which was unfamiliar to people living near the equator who have never encountered it before. It was like a path to paradise, where people would ascend to meet peaceful beauty. However, when it reached 5,328 meters above sea level, my body became numb, stiff, hardened, and uncontrollable. My body was like a rock covered with snow. Only a light breath differentiated me from the rocks on the mountain.
 
This is part of a journey along the five rivers of northern India: Beas, Chenab, Bhaga, Tsarap, and Indus, going up and down the Himalayas from Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, to Leh, Ladakh. During the summer from June to July 2023, I faced difficult roads and harsh weather conditions. However, it was filled with friendship and stories from the people living in the high mountains. This journey made me realize that life is as small as a piece of rock, yet connected to everything in this vast world.