From Southeast Asia to the Peaks: An Odyssey

Shreenath Muthyala,
after embarking on an adventurous journey through Southeast Asia, trekked the majestic slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. This week for our Travelogue segment, he discusses his experience to the dormant volcano with his wife, and more.
SUBODHINI PUROHIT
Shreenath Muthyala, after embarking on an adventurous journey through Southeast Asia, trekked the majestic slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Along the way, he embraced the wisdom encapsulated in the timeless adventure: ‘Take only memories; leave only footprints.’ Ensuring that he left behind nothing but the echo of his experiences and the indelible mark of his spirit!
Amidst adulting and his daily routine, he expresses that travelling, for him and his wife. It’s an odyssey into the depths of their facets, which they didn’t know existed. He expresses, “For my wife and I, travelling is about exploring our inner personalities that we didn’t knew existed, and for him, travel is like a grounding experience. Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of daily life, it reconnects him to his inner child.”
Thereby, adulting, in it’s own way, reignites curiosity like a child. For him, mountains and trekking were never his forte, but everything shifted when he embarked on a leap of faith to trek to the Everest Base Camp. That experience transformed his life profoundly as he stood in awe, gazing at the majestic Everest up close. The sheer beauty and the formidable challenges it posed transported him to a primal state, reconnecting him with the essence of human existence.
Fuelled by this newfound spirit, he resolved to push his limits further—his eyes set on conquering Mount Kilimanjaro! And so began his journey toward that lofty summit. Embarking the journey on Mt. Kilimanjaro’s Lemosho route. He journeyed through captivating landscapes and extreme climatic conditions. To prepare for the adventure, he says, “I used the backpacking journey through Southeast Asia as a rehearsal and Nepal’s Annapurna region in peak winters.” He tackled various zones, like the cultivation, the rainforest, the artistic, and many others. His journey to Mt. Kilimanjaro had been incredible, and he came back with long-lasting memories for life.
He mentions, “Capturing one of the seven summits was truly memorable and a life-changing experience. It also gave me affirmations that there is still lot of altitude left to explore.” He recalls gasping for thin air in the brutal cold, with altitude sickness, a looming concern. Each breath felt like a hard-won victory! The ascent wasn’t without it’s trials; the biting cold caused their noses to bleed, a stark reminder of the extreme conditions. Witnessing fellow climbers succumb to acute mountain sickness (AMS) reinforced the importance of caution and careful acclimatisation in such unforgiving environments. A moment etched into their memories forever.
Standing atop Uhuru Peak, at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), the highest he had ever been, despite the thin air and reduced oxygen levels, the experience was nothing short of exhilarating. He says, “I would love to explore Mount Everest next.”
In a few words, he describes this trip as “transformative to a point where you are almost on the sink with your breathing and hitting that meditative experience against all the obstacles I faced.” While he didn’t immerse himself deeply in cultural experiences as much as it was about the summit, he did have the opportunity to interact with the Maasai tribe, and he tasted the Tanzanian cuisine, which includes The Chagga culinary tradition blending a fair amount of meat with an abundance of fruits and vegetables. Mount Kilimanjaro not only challenges climbers but also weaves together the rich tapestry of Tanzanian cultures—from the Chagga to the Maasai—against the breathtaking backdrop of Africa’s highest peak. It was his first time travelling in a group. He says, “My wife and I used to travel by ourselves, but this time we had people from different countries as part of the expedition.” He used to enjoy the interaction over the dinner table, and something he enjoyed was the “idea of teamwork and camaraderie.” The shift from solo travel to joining a group expedition brings about a significant cultural change for the traveller. Initially accustomed to travelling solely with his wife, he now finds himself immersed in a diverse group of individuals hailing from various countries. This transition offers a unique opportunity to experience and appreciate different cultures firsthand. Embarking on a backpacking journey through Southeast Asia, he first explored Bangkok’s iconic Grand Palace and serene temples like Wat Pho. Venturing into it’s vibrant streets, they got lost in the maze of Chatuchak Weekend Market and enjoyed a boat ride in the Floating Market. Leaving Bangkok, they delved into Thailand’s ancient ruins in Ayutthaya and Sukhothai before heading north to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, where they discovered night markets and ancient temples.
Their adventure then led them to Khao Sok National Park for nature trekking and the Similan Islands for snorkeling. Crossing into Laos, they bathed elephants in Luang Prabang and explored Vang Vieng’s natural beauty. In Vietnam, he marvelled at Hano’s historic charm and cruised Halong Bay. Cambodia offered somber lessons in history at Pnom Penh and awe-inspiring moments at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. In Indonesia, they explored Yogyakarta’s ancient temples, witnessed Mount Bromo’s sunrise, and admired Tumpak Sewu Waterfall’s majesty. Their journey culminated in Kawah Ijen’s blue flames and encounters with Komodo dragons at Komodo Island’s Pink Beach!
As India is a land of myriad wonders,it extends far beyond the iconic Taj Mahal. Nagaland, with its mystical allure, stays unexplored. He continues, “Nagaland is one of the unique places in India because of it’s incredible tribal culture, which many Indians don’t know about their festivals. Various tribes from different parts of Nagaland come together to celebrate this festival.”  He says that foreign travellers need to visit this place in India. While the Taj stands as a testament to eternal love and architectural brilliance, there are other hidden gems waiting to be explored!
He also recalls, “I feel that this is the most underrated country. It is the country where most of the miles are unexplored. I believe that last December, on our journey to Southeast Asia, I was insecure about leaving my valuables behind as we were not able to trust anyone. While travelling through the river, the boat collapsed and all our valuables were lost.” However, he was lucky enough to get this luggage back; the locals on the shore returned it to him.
After travelling one needs to go back to their daily routine, and so when he came back two weeks ago, he  stepped back into the vibrant city of Hyderabad after his tour. What awaited him was an eye-opening revelation—the world extends far beyond his city bubbles. It doesn’t revolve solely around his routines, skyscrapers, and bustling streets!