Lands of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road

(Not a summary or a Review)

Its been a month since I posted something. I have not been busy, rather everything has taken a routine of chaos to an extend that there is not much to write about. Everything I attempt to write about eventually leads to disease and suffering, the theories and experiences of it. Not that it is not worth writing, but it is something that needs to be written with lot of work put into it. Also, writing about it now may lead to it being an unintelligible emotional mess with residuals from the two decades of hospitals.

My draft folder has been overflowing draft abandoned after a couple of paragraphs. I’ve spent most of my time watching SANCHARAM¹ or other podcasts. I’ve watched a couple of movies, but movies, music and series have stopped fascinating me. I was browsing idly through the web when I came across this memoir. Over a couple of midnights that became dawns, I reached the last page just before dawn today.

The land of lost borders is a story of a cycling expedition through the silk route by two childhood friends. It is an intimate account of lands and people fragmented, and terrorized by the borders that we claim to make the world, while providing insights into the authors incessant urge to explore. Kate Harris doesn’t try to describe the place to us, rather offers us a place inside her head through the journey. From this point we get to know what keeps author pedaling though the mountains, snow and the bureaucracy through the Caucasus mountains, Pamir mountains and into the world’s highest battlefield in Siachen Glacier.

The authors explains to us the innate need to explore the worlds, her obsession with Mars, and gives us glimpses to her previous attempts at exploring our world. The expedition in itself is depicted realistically, and the cyclists never attempt to make the journey any exciting that it is. The reader feels as weary as the cyclist, the heart at times longing for the comfy couch and and good food, while the happiness of finding a welcoming is unfounded.

It is something the makes you revalue more than a couple of our perceptions and ideals, on the banality of political boundaries, and on how the monstrosity of the desert and the mountains are appealing and appalling at the same time, depending on your position in the socio-political hierarchy. It is at times heart wrenching tale, especially when you start cycling through Tibet, but certain incidents leave you smiling as you pedal away through the ice and snow.

It is one book that I felt difficult to put away, mostly because you don’t want to loose the explorer within you than you barely knew existed. It is not gripping, rather it is a consuming memoir that makes you a part of it. As you move through the journey, the cyclist in you feels more and accomplished, while reader starts mourning the inevitable conclusion of the book. It is beautifully written, with a couple of pictures scattered here are there. It is a book that is worth making time for, you get to stay away from the monotony for your schedules for a bit.

1. A Malayalam Travel Television program, in other words, an OG Travel Vlog

Image Credits : Lands of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road (Ebook Version)