If you love outdoors but hate the rain, head straight to Ladakh. For those eager to travel in the rain, get your bags waterproofed Time To Play YANA BEY The rucksack may travel with you on your back, raft, bike or a jeep but always pack it in such a way to ensure that everything inside remains dry

OR adventure sports lovers there are two options to spend the approximately two-and-a-half months when the monsoon lashes the plains and Himalayan foothills of India.

One, if you hate rain, is to escape to the dry environs of the cold desert plateau of Ladakh.

The monsoon clouds cannot cross the Himalayan mountain barrier and so the rains never reach Ladakh. You can trek, raft, bike, climb and drive to your heart’s content in and around Leh or further afield. The other option, especially if the monsoon is a season you enjoy, is to do activities in the rainy outdoors.

The rain-washed outdoors can be truly delightful if the monsoon is your favourite season. You have to be prepared to get wet but with a bit of planning and caution, it is possible to protect yourself and your possessions (read the

contents of your rucksack, your portable home) from rain.

Whether you go on a trek or rafting, biking or jeep safari, you will usually be carrying the things you need in a rucksack because it is the most convenient way to carry them.

Depending on the activity and your personal choice, the rucksack might travel along with you on your back, raft, bike, jeep, or be carried by a porter or mule. However, you will always have to pack it in such a way as to ensure that everything inside remains dry.

First and foremost, get hold of a very large bag made of thin transparent plastic.

Mattresses, large cushions, and many household items are sold packed in such bags.

Choose one that is the right size for your rucksack. A too small one will not keep your things dry while a too large one will have to be bunched and folded over and will add to both bulk and weight. Line the inside of the rucksack with this bag and then put your things inside.

After everything has been packed tightly into the rucksack, gather the top of the bag and twist or fold it down and tuck inside the rim. Then bring the flap of the rucksack over and buckle tightly. With this kind of packing the rucksack can be carried in torrential rain without water getting inside.

Good rucksacks use fabric which is waterproof to an extent and will suffice for short periods of exposure to a light drizzle. However, no rucksack is completely waterproof in pouring rain so the plastic lining is essential in all rucksacks. In addition, it is

a good idea to put certain crucial items into individual plastic bags. Electronic items, batteries, torches, matches and lighters, toilet paper and notebooks should be packed like this.

For high altitude trips, pack your sleeping bag and down jacket also like this though you might want to use the manufacturers' waterproof carrybags which have the added benefit of compressing the sleeping bag and jacket into the smallest possible shape.

When camping, carry an ordinary sheet of coloured plastic and spread it on the floor of the tent this will keep your mattress clean.

It should be spread so that it covers the area between the mattress and tent door. The water and mud that will come along with your shoes will get deposited on it, keeping your mattress and sleeping bag clean and dry.