I leave tomorrow. My backpack doesn't have a traditional sleeping bag loop thing at the top or the bottom so I shoved it in the front elasticy compartment (tight squeeze but it fit). I'm slightly nervous - I keep getting the feeling I'm forgetting something. Oh well, I'm going to shimla for the first few days, so I'll figure it out.

I spoke to bhai today - and he was telling me he actually charted regions of spiti and kinnaur with Harishkaka and Chris Bonnington - and at that time he had to walk 5 miles (uphill in the snow) to send us a telegram telling my parents that he was alive (Signs that he's getting old). Now, of course, theres internet every 100 miles or so - and phones all over the place.

I'm also still waitlisted at 3 for my train tomorrow. My dad says that I should take a plane - which is ok - except that half the fun is travelling by train. I don't know maybe I have archaic ideas of traveling in India - but dealing with ugly stinky people in the train, and getting stressed with the beaurocracy is almost half the fun.

Anyway, watching this spoilt south bombay brat survive in the wild is definitely going to be interesting.