Muktinath Photos

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Life as per DNA

                                                          DNA molecule

If asked, what is life or who are you, we generally reply philosophically, without even caring or respecting the fact that whatever we are is a result of a very long process, which is initiated by a smallest macro molecule you can imagine! We are what our DNA is, what every single information on that DNA.

We all know what a DNA is, at some point in our life we’ve heard of DNA and basically have idea of what it does. But ever wondered how it does, whatever it does? DNA has, something called Base pairs, also known as building blocks of DNA. There are four types of base pairs, Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), and Thymine (T). What DNA actually does it, in simple words, transfers these base pairs so that they can form amino acids. And how does that take place?

It’s called the Central Dogma, which describes the molecular flow of genetic information. DNA has all the genetic information, the blue prints. So let’s call our DNA, an Engineer who knows what and how to make it! But, the engineer doesn’t go to the field and make the structure himself. He just directs the worker to do it, he never leaves his office. Why? You may ask, well in this case, if the DNA leaves its home, which we called Nucleus, it might as well get damaged because of various chemicals that are present the cytoplasm which is the outside of Nucleus! So he sends the message to an RNA, his worker so that the RNA will carry it to the outside, but again RNA doesn’t do the work, he is just the messenger, so again he translates our engineer’s message to amino acids, which are our builders and finally when they receive the message they build whatever they are asked to build, since they’ve received the blue prints from the engineer.

What does the blue print have?

Well, as I’ve mention before, what DNA has is base pairs, A T G C and since I just mentioned them and didn’t explain what they do. So here’s the part where they come. When we say, DNA is the blue print, what we mean is DNA has codes, Genetic Code, the codes are in the form of base pairs, ATGC and what our Engineer does is, transcribes those codes to RNA, while doing so replacing T or Thymine with Uracil, because instead of T from DNA, RNA has U, or Uracil. So, if DNA sends the code as ATG, it becomes AUG in RNA, and when RNA translates it to code for methionine which is an amino acid. Amino acids are building blocks of proteins!!  So in this way various amino acids are coded and in the end proteins are formed in Ribosomes in accordance with the Central Dogma!!

This is what it looks like!

What if the Codes are lost in the between?

Well, when Engineer sends for the his worker to take the blue print to the builders, sometimes, on the road, he might lose some files, data’s or sometimes something written with pencil could be erased. Then, what happens is the code is changed and if the Blue print said, The door should be facing north, it might now face south.

For eg. AUG codes for Methionine, but if the G is replaced by another A then it will code for the Amino acid Isoleucine.

Lets say the code was AUGA in a sequence of AUGAAUCGGCA etc..  but the base that was coded was AUG, and the 3^rd one the G is deleted on its way and A comes after U. So, the code which was meant to code for Methionine ends up coding for Isoleucine. 

Methionine is a sulfur-containing essential amino acid that plays a crucial role in metabolism and growth, where as function of isoleucine is proteinogenesis in the body, which means it is a building block for the proteins your body cells make. So metabolic part is hampered and such events are termed as Mutation.

So, if you’re reading this and you don’t have much problem then you’re perfect because if you weren’t then you’d not be here right now! Because there are 3 billion base pairs in humans and even if one of them went missing or deleted or replaced then you might have some trouble, at times major, so consider yourself lucky!

And, that is how DNA works, now moving on to rest of the part.

How is DNA transferred from one person to another? Well I shouldn’t go into much detail of that should I ? haha!

But anyways, another important thing is, Chromosome, we always heard that as well right? And, that we have 23 pairs or 46 chromosomes. In every part of our body, the cell division results in formation of same number of chromosome. But in case of sex cells, the number is reduced to 23! Why?

Because the next set of 23 comes from your partner!

So, here’s a recap!

The 46 chromosome that you have came from you parents! 23 from your father, 23 from your mother! You were made up of 46 Chromosomes. And your sperms are made up of only 23, and when they fuse with your partner’s ova, which again has 23, your offspring or for the time being, Zygote again has 46!!

Lets get into detail, you have 46 chromosome, now they have to be 23, but how are they selected? I mean which 23 out of 46 goes into your sperm?

Lets say, there are 23 volumes of Book in a Library, a book called Chromosomes, with 23 volumes of it! There are two books for each volume, one black another brown. Lets say that book volume no. 12 has the blue print for making an eye! Volume 12 A makes Black eye and Volume 12 B has blue print for Green eyes! So, there’s a fight between those books, to decide which gets to be on top, in this case, with our normal frequency the black one wins, because green is a recessive character. In this way the 23 chromosomes are selected out of 46 which can be divided into two 23-23 chromosomes coding for the same thing! And if, one of the volume is lost, you’re in trouble and if one volume is added more, or there are 24 volumes in display, you have Down’s syndrome! Haha! See how important your life is?

Now, to the final part! The sperm with blue print, with 23 pairs of chromosomes which has the base pair sequence or blue prints travels or swims to reach the ova! Fuses to for the Egg! And then when the Sperm fertilizes the eggs, it becomes the zygote and it starts to divide into various cells and organs!

Btw another interesting thing is that, the formation of various organs work as per induction, i.e. presence of one tissue influences the development of others. Eg,

If the ureteric bud fails to arise from the mesonephric duct the metanephros will not be induced to form a kidney, and such complication results in death and if not death, abnormal conditions which will cause big problem once born! And this is just one example! There are thousands of such complications! And if you don’t have any, you are perfect, you’ve gone through such a complicated process and everything was perfect, with out perfection you’d not be here!

This is just a brief explanation and if I were to get down to all of it, it would make a book! Just the brief one has almost got me to my 7^th page haha!

Anyways life is complex important process and fucking important! Don’t waste it! 

Why does it have to be this way...

Wind blows, 

as the leaves shiver

Sun shines,

as the tears quiver 

a plain sight 

of imagination 

crumbles into 

the grain of sands

on, 

shore of the seas, 

battering it 

against the shore,

more and more

 

the birds chirp,

and the trees sing,

the lights surrenders 

and the night rings, 

the time flatters and

memories wings, 

day and night 

night and day, 

why does it have to be this way? 

Wait! Have I found a Million years old Fossil ? Oh, Wait I Lost it!

It was a trip, to find something, even more learn something about the Diversity and Geography of Mustang. A report was to be made! It all started out pretty well, a sleepless night travel, with a complementary tea(On the house, that is) at 4 am in the morning in Khaireni. So, half asleep- half awaken we reached Beni. The first sighting or learning of anything happened in Kusma, few vultures warming their bodies, right on the road way. Until they were chased by getting to close, Haha! Anyways, Beni, a small town with to many people, as it seemed then, may be its all because its the hub to one of the trekking plus a pilgrim, a very important one. It was already late afternoon, we were to have our meal and then Travel to Jomsom via a local bus. (We wanted to hike all the way, but most of them disagreed). So, bus it was. It was more of a rollar coaster ride than a bus ride. Rough and rugged roads, with Kali Gandaki running away from you anti parallel to your destination. If it wasn't for the absolutely majestic scene around you, you'd actually notice the back pain you have by sitting in the bus on that road. But the best thing about the that particular trip is the road! You couldn't ask for more adventure than that, if you're not willing to walk three days ;)

So, where were we? Oh, Wait, we were about to change the bus, change the bus ? (You may think) Yes change the bus, there has been a landslide so you have to change 3 buses, so as we've been told. Before that, or at present (I assume the road are clear now) you have to change 2 buses, one from Beni to Ghasa, then from Ghasa to Jomsom. What we did was, we took one from Beni to Bhirkatte, then from Bhirkatte to Ghasa and to Jomsom. Before you reach Ghasa there's not much to see around, just few land sides and dangerous roads. But after Ghasa the real experience starts to rise above the shinning snowy mountain to your left, right, in front, Oh, wait it because we were on a bus! But anyways it will rise in one direction. I think, before Ghasa to the North and after that, when you're half way to Jomsom to your South or at least on your back side! haha! 


So, Ghasa - a quiet, small place, beautiful and peaceful place. From there onward it was all about mountains and scenic beauty to your left, right, back! Oh wait , that because we're on a bus, again. But anyways then comes the road you've never thought of, one minute you're travelling on a road- actual road and next minute you're running on and over the Kali Gandaki river, and the bank. Not sure if that's the actual road or if its a detour since the river isn't that big at this time of the year? Not sure though!

We're almost there, look ahead to your right, that's Jomsom- said the driver. You have no idea how it felt to hear those words, haha! after spending a whole day in a bus I was more than ready to get of it and look around the place that I had dreamed of going to since very long time! Jomsom - I think everyone wants to go there,even you, the one who's reading haha! Of course if you haven't been there already. Back to the road, on your right , Jomsom as the driver said was quite far even in a bus. By the way I forgot to mention another famous stop in between. Marpha - famous for its Apple Brandy! I've heard its one of the best, I cannot give you guarantee because I don't drink and even if I had a little sip of Marpha in Marpha I'd not know how good it was since I don't know how good other brandy's are haha! Anyways, I've heard its awesome and some day, those of you who drink should definitely try it :).

Finally, we reached Jomsom, I know you're expecting for me to tell you a little about Jomsom, but we reached there at 7 Pm so I couldn't really see any part of Jomsom haha! So we have to wake up early in the morning to know what Jomsom looks like.

Tired as hell, had a dinner slept, laughing our way out haha for too many reasons, had to wake up at 5 in the morning then walk up to Muktinath Temple and return back, which was doable at that time, because we were told it would take not more than 5 hours to reach there :) . I slept well and woke up in time, and went outside to see what Jomsom looked like. It was quite dark and almost nothing was visible, I could only see a mountain- glimmering with snowy bed. But then again, with me seeing Jomsom, we had to start the long walk up to Muktinath Temple, we will see Jomsom later. The journey had begun, within pitch dark road, and a wooden bridge started walking, and walking. The first light of sun we saw was the one striking on a mountain, that made it look like it had a top made up of Gold. Here's a photo, not good quality though! (I had to convert it because it was too big for my internet to upload it haha ) 

Here you go! :)

It was a long way from there, walking beside and sometimes above the Kali Gandaki river bank.  
This is what I'm talking about! Hard to explain how it was haha!

After walking for few hours you reach Eklebhatti, with only few houses/hotels and nothing much, then for the first time you actually start to ascend upward. By the way there are two roads, there, one via another well known and famous place - Kagbeni - The mostly traveled one and another, not from Kagbeni haha - because I don't know what that other place is called. 

But in the words of Robert Frost 

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—. I took 

the one less traveled by

We did see Kagbeni on our right as we marched our way to the temple. And, separating away from a group of 45, me and two friends of mine walked a different way, not sure if it was the right way haha. But then we realized something, we didn't have water or any food with us haha! And I had forgotten some of the dry foods that I carried back from Kathmandu, I left all of them in Jomsom,since we were returning later that day! So we were half way to Muktinath, still about 3-4 hours to walk without food, without water, and oh wait, on empty stomach haha! But, after 1 hour or so, I did find one lonely hotel and bought few packs of biscuit and a fanta at almost the price of Gold ;) But it was enough to help us not die in the middle of the road. And, then after about another 1 hour we did meet up with rest of the gang and we reached a small village, had a cup of tea and biscuits and they said it would take about 2 hours from there, so we started walking and walking again! By the time I had walked for about 15 minutes I realized I was walking alone and everyone were walking slowly at the back, while I, fueled by Pink Floyd songs in my ear, walked alone. 

OH wait! I forgot the story of the Fossil, haha!

Well, what happened was, since we were to make a report about something, regarding the trip, we had thought we'd so something about the Fossils found there, and we weren't really looking for one but strangely we found one haha, and one of my friend had it in is pokect, and that place where I said we had our tea and biscuits, there was a small hill, completely snow covered and we were all rolling around the snow and my friend didn't even realized where he had dropped the only Fossil that we had found! But thankfully I had taken picture of it as soon as he found it! SO here it is hahah! 

That is all we have now, of the fossil that was few million years old I guess! 

Anyways, where were we? Oh, I was walking, and the thing is , we had walked for about 3 hours and it wasn't that exhausting, what was exhausting was the rest of the trail. Slowing ascending towards the top, and there were no people apart from me, well in front of me,  not even the local people from around there. But the way isn't confusing, moreover its almost one way to the top.So I wasn't lost, well I was lost in my thoughts, but that's different thing. 

Finally I saw some houses, and I was so glad that I reached there, just only to realize that all my joy were in vain. It wasn't Muktinath temple yet, it was Jharkot, which by the way was absolutely beautiful. Here, have a look at it yourself.

But then I saw the map in Jharkot and Jharkot was at the left end of the map and Muktinath was on the right end! And, not only was it on the top end of the map, it was actually on the top way of the topography as well haha. 

It was a long walk from there, but finally I saw the door, and which was just a door to the village, still you have to walk about 10-15 minutes to reach the temple, and on top of everything, If the whole trail wasn't enough to drench your feelings and drench you in sweat, the final few ladder steps to the temple will :) 

                        Stairway to heaven , well not heaven but its heavenly up there and, its believed you'll end up in heaven if you take a bath in ice cold water, not in a single but 108 Taps and if that's not enough, dive in two ponds with almost frozen water ;)


But its all worth it though ;)

Spiders

Spiders of Nepal

Here are few of the Spiders that I found during a recent trip around different places of Nepal. I'm not sure enough about them, there might be few mistakes on my identification. As I've just started to work on spiders and I don't really have a proper identification keys. I used the internet and few of the only books that I could find and help from few people working in the same field but in different countries. So here's an small attempt of mine!! 

                                               

                                            A Wolf Spider (Baglung)
Wolf Spiders belong to the family Lycosidae. They are named Wolf spiders, on the basis that they have furry legs and body. They have long legs and have excellent vision. They are mostly solitary and hunt alone. The female wolf spider carries her eggs by attaching the egg sacs to the spinnerets. They are found in wide range of Habitat and they are capable of defensive bites! This particular Species was found in Baglung, Nepal. 

Found this guy at an Altitude of about 3500 meters in Muktinath -Mustang Nepal

Not yet sure about what this species or to which family it belongs, but I guess this one is a Wolf spider as well. The interesting thing is found this one in a very cold place, and was walking/running around in snow. 

    Most Probably a Golden Orb Weaver (Not sure) (Chitwan)

                         
This one has to be a Golden Orb Weaver ( I guessed it as I don't have proper identification keys, Since I couldn't get one in the book store or the internet haha). But anyways, If it is a Golden Orb Weaver, then, also commonly called Golden orb-weavers, Giant Wood spiders, or Banana spiders. They are widespread around the warmer regions of the world. I found this one in Chitwan and if you're looking for one in Kathmandu you can see plenty of them in Sundarijal area or while hiking from Sundarijal to Chisapani.

                                    
                              Cellar Spider  (Chitwan)
Cellar spiders belong to the family Pholcidae and they are also known as Daddy long legs, or Skull spiders. They have extremely long legs and delicate bodies. They hang upside down mostly on ceiling of house. The female after laying the eggs wraps the eggs around her fangs with silk and when threatened they many species retreat into the web and become almost invisible. They fairly poisonous as well. I found this particular species in Chitwan. 

                                

                          
                           St. Andrews Cross Spider (Chitwan) 
This one here is a St. Andrews Cross Spider, named so after their web which looks like the Cross of Saint Andrews. Which you can see in the second picture above. I found this one in Chitwan. They are also Poisonous, but not that harmful to humans (as I've read, I was almost bitten by it though) haha! 

Spider (not Sure which one haha

                             Funnel Weaver (I think) haha!