Leh

As we reached Leh, I was curious to find out if the city was like the way I imagined or was it even more exotic. Our stay was at Hotel Singge Palace, it is a beautiful comfortable place with good food and most importantly in the center of the market. We were greeted with white ladakhi silk stoles and there was a nice spread of breakfast waiting for us in the dining hall. We had rest of the day to ourselves but we also had an optional activity if we were interested ;) and hell I was ready for it.

We were heading towards our destination when the driver stopped and asked, "this is a famous photo spot, would like to take photos?"I jumped out of the car saying of course :) I had no idea about this place, it was the Indus- Zanskar confluence. I was amazed at how these two rivers came together with complete different properties and color maintaining the boundary. You can see a clear line of separation. A thought struck to my mind- People always look at this in amazement, talk about it, take pictures but not notice something that I had or probably overlook the fact that even these rivers merge together completely further down. Even nature understands this but people don't. We humans can likewise live together in harmony even after our differences in religion, culture, thinking or color.

I tried something which I never thought I would in my life. I went white water rafting into the Zanskar river located at a height of more than 12,000 feet above sea level, it was 17 km ride. It was an adventurous experience along with spectacular landscape views of mountains with snowcap. I got my gears, changed and was ready for some action, I was so scared that I kept quite until it was done. We were given training for initial 15 minutes and then it started, to be honest it was quite tiring. There were much rapids but whatever it was, was enough! We also stood on the raft with our feet on the edges, leaning on our paddles placed on the center vertically, I could last hardly five seconds on that moving raft :P Later, we were literally forced to jump into the water voluntarily or we would have been pushed. The water was ice cold! people started crying out to pull them in. One kid literally lost it, he was shivering like hell and could not paddle anymore. I was pulled in last, he was a mean guide :/ The adventure ended at the confluence of Indus and Zanskar river. 

Kargil Memorial Hall

I am a patriot, I should clear this before I say something. I really felt sad and uneasy when I saw victories of the war because whenever there has been a war, we have lost lives, our fellow humans. I am not taking side of anyone but humanity. I don't like the thought of killing anyone no matter who he/she is. Kargil was a big war and our army protected our land and I am very proud of them. I wish there was some other way, but we all know that can only be a dream. There were photos and description of how our army survived and fought in extreme weather on these mountains.  A salute!

By this time we were quite late for lunch, it was 15:30 already. Singge palace staff was so nice to save some food for us :) I had a shower freshened up and we again headed towards Shanti Stupa.

Shanti Stupa
This place was very serene and beautiful overlooking the leh city. This was built by Ladakh and Japanese Buddhist to promote world peace. There was a meditation hall as well, I wish I could have gone there alone to meditate for a while. This dome structure situated on a hilltop had two levels, the second level is quite interesting which has paintings depicting life of Buddha along with other small paintings. We stayed there until moon rise, and the structure light up with beautiful lights.

Sarchu- Leh

High Altitude Desert

These mountains of Sarchu are hard and barren, standing there waiting for their one true love 'Snow'. He visits them every year and wraps these mountains with his blanket of love. I wonder if some year the snow doesn't come, will these mountains move on, or will they wait forever?

 

While moving ahead from Sarchu, we ascended towards 21 Gata Loops. The 21 hairpin bends (elevation 4190 to 4739m, KM 256) with Tsarap Chu River flowing at the bottom. On the way, I came across a strange temple with water bottles all around it. At first I thought people were throwing waste and was disgusted with the sight but later I got to know it was a memorial built to pacify the Ghost of the cleaner who died stranded on that road with thirst and hunger. These roads are now hunted by his ghost begging people for water. Quite scary ha!

 

Ghost memorial photo courtesy - http://tourdeladakh.in/2013/11/25/day4part1/

In Pang, I saw stunning views of sand and natural rock formations along the Sumkhel Lungpa river. It felt like temple like structures were grown out of the mountains. Sometimes I saw cluster of such formations which felt like a mob of people standing there guarding a secret hidden in these mountains.

Taglang La

I didn't realize where the time passed traveling through Kelong. I reached Taglang La, it is the world's second highest motorcycle-able pass at an elevation of 17,480 ft. I was so mesmerized by the beauty around that I didn't realize I was getting a little breathless. I was in a confusion, was my heart pulsating so fast because of the beauty around me or was it altitude. I started taking frequent long breaths, sucking the cold air into my lungs. 

 

Sarchu

En-route Sarchu-

The roads were steep but the surrounding was beautiful. There was fear in my heart and a long way to go. I went ahead with my journey listening to Mohd. Rafi's- Mai zaindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya and looking back at the journey of my life and I felt really happy with where I was. Life is beautiful, it is the perspective with which you look at it.

I was taking a power nap when I was woken up with a jolt, our car had met an accident! There was a bike right in the middle of the road crushed, petrol leaking from it and a guy under it. Our car had crashed into the mountain wall and front end of the car was damaged. Our car driver started shouting at the motorbike driver "You wrong", the other guy was confused and terrified. He wasn't Indian, he was from Germany and did not understand how to explain or discuss what happened. I felt sorry for him, he kept saying that the car was on his line which I knew could have been true because I had seen the car driver driving on the middle of the road. After long discussion, other bikers intervening and police a settlement was made. I was relived that the German guy was alive and nothing happened to us. One small mistake and a life can be lost on these roads.
I am not here to judge but I was really disappointed with my fellow passengers reaction to this particular incident. They blamed the biker completely for the accident, they suggested filing a case on him and all that stuff which didn't feel right. I wish people had more compassion!

Another car was arranged for us, thanks to our group leader Mr. Vinay. He always made sure about our safety. We resumed our journey and made a stop at the ZingZing Bar 21kms from Baralach La. I felt the hit of cold and the water was almost ice. For some reason I liked it, I felt a little nostalgic, I missed UK. I had a cup of hot tea to comfort my soul and absorb everything I was experiencing in quite. It was good!

Sarchu-

After few more hours of journey, we reached Sarchu. I was starving! I dumped my stuff into our tent and rushed into the canteen to have some food. It was quite cold, Sarchu is at 14,070 ft altitude. Everyone rushed back into their tents after food as they couldn't take the cold but I wasn't ready to sleep. I was here to experience all this, I wanted more! It was a starry night and moon looked beautiful, I walked around the tents taking deep breaths inhaling the cold air. I was so happy that I was there and doing this, I was actually jumping there with joy :D I headed back to my tent to sleep but the cold was catching up, I couldn't get to get my feet warm no matter how long I kept the hot bottle under it. I had a sleepless night! Once, I woke up and started giving myself Reiki, energizing my body to produce some heat. I am not sure if it worked but I guess my subconscious was satisfied and I went back to sleep luckily waking up again only in the morning. I did not leave the tent before I got ready for the journey because I was in no mood for going in and out of the tent in that cold. But I was so wrong, morning was beautiful, sun shining right through the mountains, warm light touching my body and barren beauty all around me.

Random Thoughts

Mountain Rock

I see this hug rock with marks of harsh weather, tested with time for years. But he stands strong, higher than you with the will to survive because everything around him depends on him. He falls, everything does!
He is just like a father who has stood strong supporting his family through ups and downs. Loving them, expecting nothing in return. I am no father but I am the rock, because I am nature!

Pine Trees

Standing tall and green, sheltering millions of birds
Mountains are their home, where they do the wait
Holding so much love and longing it in return
You have admire their beauty, but would never stay
You have to return back to your safe nests
Do you dare to have the passion of these trees?
Can you love so much and wait forever?

Hope

On my way from Manali to Sarchu I saw rocks fallen from the mountains due to land slide, shattered  into pieces. Plants had grown through them, around them. Life had found a way to survive through all these calamities, just the way water flow going pass all its obstructions. Nature always has hope and finds a way to exist. Can we?

Manali

We checked into Hotel Himgiri in Old Manali for a day to acclimatize. In the afternoon we went to Naggar Castle for Lunch, it was the residence of Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu now converted into a rest house. The castle is made of stone and wood work, it has a spectacular view of Kullu Valley standing between the forested hills.

After lunch we headed to a private Apple orchard in Jana Village. There were Apple orchards everywhere, Apple trees on road side and also private houses. We walked through narrow path where different fruits and vegetables were grown. I got to pluck an Apple from the tree and bite it, it was so fresh and tasty.  I could see more Apples on trees than leaves!

Packing my bags

I have finally decided to do a solo trip to push myself out of the comfort zone, and my destination is Ladakh!

So, here is the itinerary:

Day 01:Pune to Delhi by train

Day 02:Take a Volvo to Manali 

Day 03:Local sightseeing and night halt in Manali to acclimatize
Day 04:Manali to Sarchu : Enroute visit Rohtang Pass (13,360 Ft.), Keylong, Bara-la-Cha Pass (16,000 Ft.)

Day 05:Sarchu - Leh : Enroute visit Tanglangla Pass (17,400 Ft.)
Day 06:Local sightseeing at Leh and night stay at Leh
Day 07:Leh - Khardungla pass(18,360 Ft.) – and stay at Nubra Valley
Day 08:Nubra valley – Leh and night stay at Leh
Day 09:Leh – Pangong lake and night halt at Pangonglake
Day 10:Pangong lake – Leh and night stay at Leh
Day 11:Leh – Delhi by air and dep. to Pune by train
Day 12:Arr. Pune

Things to do:

Oxygen levels are quite low in Ladakh and it leads to acute mountain sickness.  Diamox can decrease headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath that can occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes (generally above 10,000 feet/3,048 meters). It is recommended to start taking this medication two days prior to your journey.

I will also be carrying iBrufen, Combiflam, Avomine and Electral Powder as they come in handy.

I am really worried about my skin as I will be exposed to sun at high altitude, so I will carry Sunglasses, Hat and the most important thing Sunscreen! I have bought Lotus 3in1 40sp with matt effect.

Borrowed my sisters backpack and stuffed all my woolen clothes in order I will be wearing them. I think that I have gone over 15kg, but I need them all :P

My backpack looks bigger than me!!