Published on: August 16 2010
We decided to go “slow” the next day, if there is such a thing for us, travellers!
We planned to visit the Hemis & Thikse Gompas and the Shey Palace. Hemis is the farthest on this route, so we decided to drive up there first. As luck would have it, we soon discovered that we had a flat tire. While Tsiring, our driver, was working on changing the tire, Rahul decided to check-out something he saw at a distance. It turned out to be a hand-pump. The presence of the hand pump in the middle of the desert brought home to …
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Published on: August 15 2010
July 15
That was one really long night!
R was very sick in the night. It was an attack of the digestive system. He spent better part of the night in the toilet. There was no electricity and it was cold. We had a torchlight to find our way around the room. We managed to light a candle for the bathroom. We did not have the right medicine with us, since we forgot one of the medicine pouches at Leh. Not sure what had caused this stomach problem. Could have been the water or the food he ate during the day. R …
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Published on: August 14 2010
14 July 2010
We were still recovering from the aftermath of high altitude stress from the trips of the last two days, but the excitement of going on the highest motorable road in the world was too tempting. We decided that we would break our journey and spend at least one night at a village across the Khardung La Pass. KhardungLa Pass is the highest motorable road in the world (at 18380 feet).
After a delicious breakfast of Ladakhi bread, apricot jam and tea, we set out towards Khardung.
Here is how the road starts to wind up the Ladakh Mountain Range starting …
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Published on: August 02 2010
13 July 2010
We headed out west from Leh on the Leh-Srinagar highway. We wanted to see the ancient monasteries of Lamayuru, Alchi, Rizong and Likir.
On the drive we saw breathtaking views of the Zanskar mountain range and Stok Kangri, a difficult but popular peak for climbers visiting Ladakh.
The road circuits along the Indus river for a while. We came across an interesting cable car that is used by villagers to cross the river. Rahul absolutely had to try it!
Trying out the cable bridge
Rahul and Tsiring crossing the Indus in a self-propelled cable crossing
Rahul & our driver Tsiring …
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Published on: July 30 2010
One of my childhood wishes was going to be fulfilled! We spent many summer months with family in Kashmir but never managed to go to Ladakh. There was always a really good reason to keep it for “next time”. The reasons ranged from “road washed away”, “an avalanche has blocked the road”, “heavy snow and difficult driving conditions”, “road blockade because of a security alert”, …. You get the picture. In those days it took a good 3 days to travel from Srinagar to Leh and it was not meant for the faint-hearted. It needed serious preparation and planning and …
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