Adventurous mum Madhu Lakhotia Sarda hasput her inspirational Mount Everest challenge into book form and revealed thatthe experience has whetted her appetite from reaching its peak ... and morebesides.
The Nepalese author and artist, who livesin Barbar, launched her 120-page Everest in my Heart - Trek to Base Campoffering on Friday at the Jashanmal store at City Centre Bahrain surrounded bydignitaries, family, friends and members of the media.
“When I went for the journey from Bahrainto the Mount Everest base camp and back, I maintained a daily diary,” she said.
“When I came back many people wereinterested in knowing more about the journey and some were even consideringdoing the trek themselves.
“They wanted more detailed informationabout the country. the people, the weather, climbing difficulties andtechnicalities, so I thought, why not go ahead with printing it!”
Madhu was the only woman in a party of 11participating in a charity fundraising climb and dining experience spearheadedby Michelin-starred Chef Vineet Bhatia, the inspiration behind an award-winningrestaurant at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention and Spa.
She had heard about Chef Vineet’s plan for‘fine dining at its peak’. His aim was to create the ‘most memorable eating outexperience ever’ at 17,600 feet with a ‘pop up’ restaurant.
The journey proved successful, as reportedin GulfWeekly, and raised funds for the Nepalese earthquake victims and Heartfor India Foundation, a charity which helps fund the education of girls fromunderprivileged backgrounds.
She said: “This book is a heartfeltdescription of a lady who dared to go on her first solo trip, stealing a fewdays from her life as a homemaker for herself.
“It was full of so many challenges but alsoit was nothing short of magical.
“Staying above the base camp at almost6,000 metres above sea level, with very thin oxygen levels, at the starting ofKhumbu Icefall- it was like stepping into the world of Narnia from the wardrobedoor of my life in the beautiful kingdom of Bahrain.”
During her journey, the mother-of-twobattled against the elements including a blizzard and survived painful falls onthe steep paths. She told GulfWeekly after her trek that it was a‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience.
It took her two years to create the bookthat was published by Shipra Publications in New Delhi, India.
“Apart from also giving detailed andaccurate information, I would love for this book to encourage girls, ladies andeveryone to go out there in the wild and enjoy the rawness and beauty of naturefirsthand,” she added.
“Facing those difficulties of even basicneeds teaches a person how to appreciate what privileges we take for granted inour daily lives.
“Also, when I saw the first view ofEverest, I was spellbound. I thought if I complete this journey to the basecamp, someday I might come back to reach the summit.”
Motivated Madhu announced during her bookunveiling that she is now training to launch a series of climbing journeys ofthe seven tallest summits in the seven continents.
“I would love to summit all the seven highestmountain peaks on the seven continents for which I have prepared all researchwork, feasibility, costs, weather timings and preparations required,” she said.
“My difficult trip whetted my appetite formore mountaineering.”
Madhu thanks the wonderful team thattrekked with her as well as her family for all their support.
She said: “All this couldn’t have been donewithout the support of my family and friends.
I would like to thank my daughters whomanaged to be without me for 15 days during final exam times and my husbandSandip Sarda who had a few initial hesitations.
“Also, Chef Vineet Bhatia is not only awonderful Michelin star celebrity chef, but he is also an amazing human beingwith the most interesting stories and experiences to share.
“He did that at dinner time and we used tolisten in awe. The team had become a family for life. Tej Dai, the head Cheffrom Vineet’s Rasoi at Gulf Hotel is like a brother as we both are Nepalese.There was another member who was like a crazy cousin of mine and another moreserious person who would only smile once a day.
“Also, I will not forget the heavenlybeauty of Nepal and the Himalayas. There are rushing rivers, dense jungles,plethora of unseen flora and fauna and the ever smiling, friendly and honestpeople.
“Most of the teahouses, where we stayed atnights, had hardworking lady owners as most young people migrate overseas forwork. These ladies were inspiring managing so many things so beautifully withscarce resources and forever smiling.”
Madhu’s next art project is influenced bythe beauty of Nepal. She is painting the Himalayas, the Nepalese countryside,rivers and flowers from her earlier trip.
All profits from her book sales will bedonated to Sneha Centre and RIA Institute Bahrain.
For details, follow @madhu_sarda onInstagram.
