Nidhi Satty- Wanderer Beyond Boundaries
A few years ago, I had read Bijoy Kumar’s column in one of the magazines that referred to them as the GODS OF THE DUNES. From that moment on, the curiosity and intrigue got the better of me. I was fortunate that some of them had joined us on two of our expeditions in other geographies…that was my first introduction to them as people.
But yesterday, one understood why the reference. Just out of words to express what one experienced. You might have heard or read or experienced the touristy dune bashing…but this was seriously next level…pure passion, almost art.
Top class driving, phenomenal vehicles – off-road modified, terrain that always had the final word. It was such an honest showcase of man vs machine vs terrain – wherein the latter always had the last word. It called for immense agility and supreme skill at the wheel no doubt, it took vehicles that were willing to outperform to match step with their drivers … but most of all it took the tenacity of the human mind to make those decisions on the go…life changing ones.
For it was reading the terrain that was as critical or perhaps more critical than knowing what to do with it …reminded me of my white water canoeing days at Outward Bound when reading the river was half battle won. As for terrain, the deserts…the sand – it’s a totally different animal, wherein momentum is the name of the game. But knowing when to accelerate and retract that leg from the pedal held the key and that’s where the drivers acumen came in. Ascending and riding ridges, crossing them at the right time, aborting attempts when it felt the momentum wasn’t enough…it was such a splendid symphony of man, mind, machine. The tall dunes of the Badayer desert just stood witness.
Unperturbed, majestic, surreal and almost divine. Such gorgeous terrain!! What makes the desert formidable is the fact that the ground so easily moves. Manoeuvring a medium that moves is next level skill. Hats off and a big salute from one driver to another… Santhosh D’souza, Ajesh Ashok and Jose…you guys have almost turned this into art…the perfection felt unreal. It felt like a huge recharge to be amidst men who viewed the world through the off-road lens… had been a while and I realised how much I missed such company only last evening. There is risk no doubt, there is conviction for sure, it’s a tight manoeuvre (the risk of topple always so real). But that’s life isn’t it? But there is humility, above all else, when you truly submit to the terrain. The rawness, squirm in the stomach, a pacing mind, the roar of the engine all felt real…but it boiled down to your inner mettle against the unflustered, mighty dunes! Such an absolute treat!! So much to learn from you all. And I truly mean it. Just grateful to have expeerienced this. I won’t lie, the itch to drive was killing..multiple times, but I feel one needs to earn it – for one, I need to come back here with my vehicle. Did I hear a goal there? Haha yes indeed
Just so much to learn and that’s life as is! Thank you for inspiring me.
As always some spectacular photos by Milind Kale and a few meagre ones by yours truly With Satty Malik in spirit Sushil Guleria Wander Beyond Boundaries
You May Also Like
Authentic Bhutan Road Trip with Mahindra Adventure
The Kel Suu (Kyrgyzstan-2020) winter Expedition with WBB
