Day 09 Incredible India!!


30 August 2009
Ooops, it is 0405 hours and no one has woken up. Darn, late!!! But Cha was late too, phew!! I had a change of vehicle, Scorpio since it will be a long trip to PanggongTso. Our driver, JigmatAngchok is a 23 year old boy. 

The sky opened up and it was snowing. 
 
I reached Changla pass at 5360m, the highest pass I have been. Ok I am not prepared and was underdressed. Stomach was itching and I had to visit the toilet there. Grrrrr!!!
At around 0930 hours, I reached PanggongTso and the sun start peeking.

I came across a mother and son walking along. To where? There wasn’t any village  nearby.

There was ‘life’ at this place too 

The weather was extremely hot now. A short visit to a local village, I saw the farmers harvesting barley.

I simply couldn’t resist but had to steal a shot of this lady farmer.

I left the place around 1300 hours but stopped by a hill to pick up some garnet stone. It was time to bid goodbye to PangongTso, and this little girl did it for me along the way home ,

I finally reachedLeh at 1900 hours.

I had dinner at the guest house and turned in at 2230 hours.

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Day 08 Incredible India!!


29 August 2009
It was  a start to an early morning as I made my way to Thiksey monastery in Cha’s vehicle. Deemed to be the best monastery in Leh, I am so looking forward to this trip. Light was extremely good outside the monastery but since I was running a little late, I did not stop outside, for which I kinda regret thereafter. A quick snap on the way up at the staircase was all I had.

I headed straight to the prayer halls where there were monks sitting on the floor having prayers. There were quite a number of tourist already arrived sitting quietly at the back.  Light was pretty low inside, so  it is best to loiter outside the temple, 

and there were quite a few monks making their own coffeeshop talk too.
  
When light was streaming in at the entrance, I sat by the doorway to observe the prayer session.
 
Some young monks were engaging in their own private conversation, oblivious to the eyes of the tourist casting on them as they carried on with their prayers. A short break in between prayers,

and then there was one who is camera shy.

I did have my fair share of disgust as I bumped into a rude photographer blocking and knocking into me without an apology. He looks as if he is from China/Taiwan.
There was a monk walking around collecting the money for the entrance fee of 30 Rps/person. OOoops, I wasn’t told in the beginning. Nonetheless, this is a highly recommended monastery for a visit early morning. The blowing of the horn followed soon at the rooftop of the temple.

It was an eye opening experience,

At 0900 hours, I left for another monastery, Hermis. Entry fee was 100 Rps. My jaw dropped. It was so expensive and the monastery was only a so-so.

There was a museum inside, however no photography was allowed. If you are into antiques and history, then, this museum is for you. Next stop, Shey Palace. A 3 storey high palace, and it was only so-so. Lunch was served late again as usual, at Shay restaurant, at the basement of the palace.

Around 1500 hours, I made my way to Stok Palace.  However, I decided not to go in since there was already a NO PHOTOGRAPY allowed sign. The landscape outside was however, breathtaking.
  
It is going to be a 2 hours journey back to the guest house. I stumbled across a group of soldiers in civilian uniform in celebration. I hadn’t the faintest idea what this was all about. They were happily throwing colored powders at each other and dancing on the streets.
 
Over dinner, I was advised by an Indian couple staying at the guest house to practise caution on my intended stay in Delhi on my last few days.Wake up call tomorrow will be at 0300 hours since I will be leaving for PanggongTsolake at 0400 hours.

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Day 07 Incredible India!!


28 August 2009
I woke up at 6 am. The intention was to visit a stupa behind the guest house but I ended up spending half a day at Lamdon School. There was a hostel opposite the school. The day began with a simple shower out in the open for these school kids.

Wandering further into the school compund, there were  a group of students playing soccer in the main court.

School children started streaming in. One of the students approached me informing me of a small kindergarten up in the mountain. As I got closer to my destination,  I saw cute little boys and girls slowly strolling in.

I shared some sweets with them but ending up not enough to go around. Now I am feeling guilty! Ok now lets have a group shot shall we?

A short toilet break out in the open.

 And if you don’t have enough water.

The weather was extremely hot and burning my skin. I had a short chat with the school principal, Mr Tandroop. Apparently, class usually starts at 10 am and ends at 4pm. Only the middle and senior students were to attend the parade assembly.

Just like the junior school I visited yesterday, the assembly started with a prayer session.

I was about to make my way back to the guest house when I saw a group of junior students heading into the mountain a sports activity session. They have a PE teacher, MrSonamSpalbar in charge.

The kids had a great day kicking ball under the hot sun.


While some were chasing balls, others posed for the camera.

My session ended around 12pm

I made my way back to the guest house at 1pm for a short rest before heading to town at 4pm to catch a polo game. Along the way, you could find a stretch of shops, selling Naan (a local bread) and other types of bread.

Soon, I reached the polo ground. It wasn’t a proper polo ground but a shared ground for everybody.

The weather is killing me now. My plan to breakfast at Leh restaurant, I cancelled. Instead, I bought some fruits and juice and head back to the house. I met Cha over dinner to confirm the itinery and dinner was at the kitchen as it was getting chilly outside. Turned in at 12 am for a wake up call at 5 am tomorrow for a visit to Thiksey monastery. I am so looking forward to tomorrow. Sleep tight now.

6:20 AM | | 0 Comments  

Day 06 Incredible India!!

27 August 2009
As I was still feeling unwell, I decided not to fast for the day. Breakfast was served at 0630 hours. Toast, scrambled egg and porridge were served. Finally, I left the campsite at 0730 hours. Lets group for one parting shot, shall we?
 

Next destination: Leh . The view along the way was very majestic, passing by Pang-TangTangla.
 

The landscape is breathtaking,
 

and there were the unsung heroes of the Indian who built the roads.
 

Mountains after mountains I traversed through.
 

Around 1600 hours, I reached Leh and checked-in New Moon Guest House. I was supposed to look out for Mr Cha to firm up the ongoing travel plan in Leh but he was not contactable. The SIM card was no longer usable in Leh. No prepaid!!! Even my international roaming failed me. Very strange indeed.

I had to try my luck at a local travel agent to get some quote for my next few days stay of sightseeing. Ironically, San could find Mr Cha number when he had to borrow a mobile phone to contact Mr Cha. What a small world!!! I had dinner at Leh View restaurant where they was a rooftop view.
 
Finally, I got to meet Mr Cha who would plan my itinery for the next 4 days in Leh at 2130 hours.

3:54 AM | | 0 Comments  

Day 05 Incredible India!!

26 August 2009
I woke up at 6 am feeling very unwell. Not sure what was happening to me now. I vomited again for the second time during the trip. Nonetheless, I made my way into Keylong town for a quick morning walk and shoot.An identity of a place is normally associated with a portrait of the locals,


as well as families in tow,


the man working hard for a living,


and also taking the kid out for a walk.


At 1000 hours, I checked out of the hotel to make my way to Sarchu. 3 km into the journey, the car had a punctured tyre.  Bad luck!!
However, I had company on the roads while waiting for the tyre to be replaced.


Somewhere in Darchu at 1105 hours, I stopped for lunch for some rice with dhal at a tentage. Honestly the food sucks big time!!!


Along the way, I threw up BIG TIME. Stomach was getting very uneasy. Has it got anything to do with the food I ate? I finally reached Sarchucampite at 1500 hours. Altitude was around 4300m.

The place was very scenic, surrounded by beautiful mountains,


to the left and right.


The camp was very presentable with an attached bathroom.

Oh, did I mention, my friends and I were the only occupant at the campsite. Wohoo!
Dinner was served at 1930 hours by the camp caretaker, MrPraye. What is on the menu? Chapati (Indian bread), rice, dhal, sweet corn soup and vegetable mushroom. Air was chilly but manageable. San was down with severe headache and avoiding dinner. Altitude sickness ALERT!!!
It was time to run in but not before I took one last shot for the day of this beautiful place.

7:01 AM | | 0 Comments  

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