AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH...

Exploring Zanskar valley with a posse of Harlistas

- ARJUN PARMAR

The can of Red Bull let out a satisfying hiss as I pried it open, watching the tail lamp of the previously stricken biker making its way into the distance tentatively. I greedily gulped down the caffeinated liquid, grateful for the burst of energy it provided as we descended slowly from Shingo La and towards the Zanskar Valley. The radio crackled, my coordinates were demanded, and after assuring those ahead that all was well I downed the rest of my beverage before swinging a leg over the Pan America and took off towards the rest of the pack.

The light-headedness that accompanied picking up multiple bikes that had tipped over at 15,000 plus feet above sea level had abated, and was replaced by piercing clarity of thought as I proceeded on my way. Now that I thought about it, the juxtaposition of the Red Bull and a Harley-Davidson couldn’t have been more apt. The brands are two of the world’s most successful marketing exercises – in both cases the products are immensely successful, encapsulating what the brand stands for in a tangible form. The energy drink stands for fearlessness, pushing boundaries, straying from the boring norms of convention and so much more. Harley-Davidson represents iconic motorcycle badassery in the best possible way, but most importantly the spirit of motorcycling brotherhood, fraternity and community. Both have their naysayers – for some they just leave a bad taste in the mouth – but for ardent loyalists the brand symbolises nothing less than a deep devotion and a way of life!