By the time we woke up the next day it was already late! However we quickly got on our way and the climb to Khardung La was breathtakingly beautiful!!!!!!!!! Every turn on the road broad us a view we'd wanna capture forever in our minds...at times when we saw the roads we were leaving behind it would just strike us as to how big these mountains truly were!!
The roads are absolutely gorgeous till about 8 KMS from the pass. Then begins he trek for our vehicle.. the last stretch roads are rocky and scary. Sometimes as I gazed out of the window it almost seemed like a miracle that we hadn't yet fallen into the gorges below. By now we were very wary of the driver on our vehicle, after umpteen advice he seemed to be driving with some sympathy for the people in his car!!
Closer to the pass we started seeing many signs about how this was the highest motorable pass etc. Some of these need to be updated since the chinese have already constructed roads that are now higher than this one. However there is no disputing that this is an experience to cherish.
The weather on the pass was wonderful and we stayed nearly 45 mins. This time we were all better acclimatized and hence the time spent was more enjoyable! There is a canteen and a souvenir shop apart from a temple. The tea and maggi in the canteen is something that is not to be missed!
After all this fun we ensured that we posed as a group with a back drop that was to die for!! :DD
Some more monkeying around and then it was time to drive on...the anticipation was huge as we began our journey towards Nubra Valley. Anyone who's been to Ladakh talks non stop about Nubra and it's beauty!! But there was a landslide just after Khardung La that delayed us a bit. BRO cleared it out in no time and we stopped at the military camp near North Pullu. For us just standing on our feet was a task but here the military guys were playing cricket!!!! The views were needless to say mind boggling!!
The roads were once again amazing!!
Enroute we stopped for a photo shoot. It was a lot of Masti as even Sangeeta joined the fun this time around!! I did miss her a lot in many of the places- but she had more severe high altitude sickness than any of us and so had missed out on many occasions!! Not this time though :) AJ was also up to his usual antics playing the quintessential romantic hero!! :)) This was the first time this gang was seeing his act, so they took it all too seriously!! :DD
Once again we set off and reached the Khalsar Loop- this started with a 5KM stretch on what was once an ocean bed! Oooooh what a road!! It was flanked by the valleys, we could see the river at a distance and then these huge mountains by us!! Many of them even slept on the road and got some swanky pics!! Roopa and I did a lil dance and we tried our darndest best to get Anindita going but in vain, so we gave up before just settling by the road!! :) One pic of me that AJ has clicked sure adds perspective...for once in my life with the Mountain for a back drop I look TINY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rather reluctantly we set off again!! As we look back this particular road looks sooooooo amazing!! We keep clicking away to glory!!
Do zoom into the above image to see the road distinctly! :)
Our next destination was the Diskit Monastry- perched on a mountain itslef, it offers some great views of the valley! The peace and quiet in the prayer halls make it so easy for the mind to go blank and thereby concentrate on one's breathing. We sat in meditation for half an hour- a 30 mins that proved to be life changing for me and AJ. We delved into our thoughts to such an extent that there is no more to think and soon, a sense of satisfaction at belonging to this nature and beauty replaced our thoughts- we felt truly LUCKY and BLESSED that we had undertaken this journey. All the fatigue and apprehensions were behind us, a smile crept onto us that just wouldn't go away! :) A small hope crept in that we would return one day to spend more time in this monastry, but until then it was time to move on so we don't delay the group.
From here we went on to Hunder- to see one of th ehighest deserts n the world. When people talk about this pace what we don't realize is how wondrous the sight is- we see huge sand dunes right next to the abundant Shyok River, flanked by HUGE mountains that are snow capped and a lush green valley by the river... surely words can't do justice to this place!! Let the photos speak for themselves...however do keep in mind that nowhere in Ladakh can a photo capture what the naked eye sees...
For 150 Rs per person we got to ride the Bactarian Camels (Two humped camel- making it ideal for riding); straight away we noticed how much shorter and stouter these camels were compared to the ones in Jaisalmer!! The guys weren't too gung ho about riding a camel, Ashish was the only one who went with us. Turns out Roopa's camel was called Bipasha Basu and Ani's camel John Abraham...ahem.. surely this couple hadn't broken up as mid-way thru our trip they started cuddling up!! :DD We sure had a good laugh!! At the end of the ride it was time for another group pic! :) By now we had all also become quite comfortable in each others presence.
Some of us got our feet wet in the river. AJ and I hung around for some more time trying to capture the sunset pics before joining the others at the sand dunes.
Even as we got there Roopa was allowing th esand to seep through her hands, Giri was lying on the sand and acting like a butterfly, Girish Kulkarni spent sometime in meditation! It is amazing how the Himalayas has a way of getting to you! There is something so incomprehensible about this place that sets your mind thinking...seeking desperately to understand what the eyes are seeing and the heart is loving... the beauty and glory seep into you and set you free...our folk lore about people heading to the Himalayas to become a hermit became so much more comprehensible now...
We headed to the hotel (Snow Leopard) rather late, by which time he had given away our rooms to someone else, so after a bit of drama we managed to weedle some 4 rooms which meant all the gals had to share a room. We had lotsa fun exchanging our stories... also showed me how litlle I knew about Roopa despite knowing her for more than 5 years!!! A night out always does that I guess, you get to know your roomies better as conversations flow through the night. Great memories stem around Sangeeta and Roopa's description around their "special"" experiences!! We sure had a god laugh...and scared the living daylights outta Anindita!! At the end of it all I don't even remember when I dozed off in the night!! The other thing was the Mafia game we played that night!! I was such a nasty brat that Anindita just stopped short of wringing my neck!! :DD
Was it just a day of activities this....?? Wow, I wish we'd spent more time in each one of these places!! Even as I think back there is a tug at my heart that says I HAVE to go back................
Everyone was set for the parade to begin. The parade began at around 10 AM, the colors and outfits were amazing!! Troups after troups came out in splendid outfits and walked the main street while also showcasing a bit of their act that was to come later at the Palace Grounds.
We followed the parade through the markets to the grounds, it was fun to see everyone having so much fun!! :) <Ok I know there are 2 funs in the statement here..!! > We also crept between the groups and took some close up pics thanks to Roopa's ability to lead us! :)
Once at the grounds we managed to sit right upfront, however other last minute entrants got to sit even ahead of us!! The events started with a speech by the J&K tourism minister. It was a pleasure to listen to his speech. He spoke about how Ladakh always welcomed suggestions for improvements, however in recent times people had suggested they bring cable cars and amusement parks to this region!!! He thought it was ridiculous to even suggest such things. He also spoke about how Ladakhi culture that was on display through this festival was a thriving one, not one from the past that could be showcased. He signed off by saying that wwe would best enjoy the culture if we participated in it as opposed to merely watching the show! Well done, I say!! :)
