2021 Summer Road Trip

Hello ALL

It was a good trip. The hangover is still on which goes on to indicate the depth to which influence/impact happened. Just beautiful is all I have to say - rest anyone who wishes to tread this route can get in touch and I'll fill in. 

Let the photo journey begin.

23rd June - Day 1 - 3am start - fresh looks

Day 2 - Climbing Sach Pass

Not so fresh traversing through Pangi Valley

Day 3 - Detour from Manali Leh highway

Piss Break and such are the scenes you are stunned with

Exclusive Views at Shinku La Pass - not a soul in sight throughout - just nature in
its pure magnanimity - truly blessed experience

Just Pure BEAUTY

Covid check post - entering Zanskar - lookout the Lama in PPE

Purney - Maggi by short and sweet Ladakhi girl

Day 3 halt at Padum - you may think you will visit again next
year - but you never really know - came back to
Padum after 12 years !!

Day 4 - on way to Zangla - enroute Leh - enjoying generously
packed breakfast by our Padum hosts

126 RCC - SABSE SAHASI - brave men making ways for future
generations in those terrains - zoom in and read

Need I say more

Beautiful - Lingshet turn which clearly states
TOURISTS ARE PROHIBITED

Never ending climb to Singe La pass - longest that I have ever
 done - beautiful shot - FORD should pay me !

Finally - Singe La Pass - heads bowed - you gave the 
most elaborate foreplay

and then we had another one - Sirsir La Pass - post which is just downhill all the
way to Wanla village before joining Kargil Leh highway a few
kilometres short of Khaltse

Day 5 - rest day with local sightseeing - Pathar Sahib Gurdwara and
Army welled up emotions, Shanti Stupa reminded of pic with 
Karan in 2008 and then Hemis monastery with its 
beautifully done museum - must visit

Evening well spent - Lehchen Bar & Restaurant at Leh, run by
an enterprising yet chilled out Ladakhi; Gyatsu - had fun
sipping beer after so long and getting to know Gyatsu

Day 6 - Pangong Tso Lake - again - this happened after 13 years - just go
out and do it, one never knows when and if at all a revisit
would be allowed - I am lucky

Day 7 - Leh to Manali - Sarchu reminded me of my Desert Storm rally
days - good fun just powdered blinding dirt all around - enjoyed

Day 8 - Manali walking through the forest had a great time just
whiling out there

Family time at Kasol; heading back home on 9th day

Experiencing this after a long time now; having a hard time getting back into this way of life. Questioning, examining and re-thinking many things in my life journey. Truly blessed that the trip was allowed to follow pinpoint itinerary (which is a big thing in these terrains) and that the Ford beast lived up to its image. Had a wonderful experience sharing this journey with Sonia, she did a wonderful job as a co-driver and a teammate. We both enjoyed. Thank skies - they allowed us to.

<folded hands; head bowed>