We were meant to visit another lookout point that afternoon. Instead, our guide Raju asked if we would like to meet his aunt in a village above Manali. There were twelve of us around a long wooden table by the time lunch was served.
We helped roll the parathas, learned about the family's apple orchards, and watched our children chase butterflies with the neighbour kids while the elders swapped stories in a mix of Hindi, English and laughter.
The snow line at Rohtang Pass was spectacular. But it was that table we talked about on the flight home. Travel is at its best when it gives you a seat at someone else's table.
