Shaam bhi thi dhua-dhua, husn tha kuch
udaas-udaas,Dil ko kayin kahaniyan yad-si aake reh gayi....
It was the eve of my 24th bday,july. At home in evening planning 2 do something different that day, got the idea of trying out the ladakh marathon. Since i stay single, first I thought am i serious or it's just a spree. The next day I contacted the organizers for ladakh marathon and booked the tickets. Finally the trip 2 ladakh arrived.Since I was travelling solo I had 2 prepare a lot myself for the trip.
First Leg:
Started from Bangalore airport in evening and had booked in Kingfisher flight.So my pulses were bit high concerning the cancellation of the flight But fortunately the flight was on-time. On flight the next to me was a big fat gujju/marwadi but surely a rich 1, with all white dress and a thousand rupees bundle in pocket. Normally I donot talk 2 people while fly coz of the uneasiness, in the midway he asked me in a hard voice "Beta Dilli ja rahe ho ???" , me "Uncle ea flight delhi ja rahii hai" ,aamirs line from Dil chahta hai . Then I came 2 know he had a construction company in delhi and was from mumbai and has got projects in delhi, bangalore and mumbai. Then suddenly my uneasiness just faded away since I like people who have reached a good scale in business. After reaching Delhi, the new IG airport terminal-3 was just wow!!. The next flight 2 leh was early morning. Had 2 rest in the airport for the whole night.
DAY2
Finally reached leh, just enjoyed the view from the flight. The iced caped Himalayas was surely a photographers delight. After reaching leh first went to the marathon organizers on the changspa road, which is the center market of leh. All the arrangements from the organizers was truly a help. I stayed at a guest house whose owner was also a runner. Hotel Padmaling in changspa road with a tariff 400rs per day, the room was just basic 1, no tv(not required),attached bathroom with hot water. Since it is advised to take rest on the first day coz of altitude sickness, I took a full day rest. In the evening visited the famous Shanti stupa of leh. The medtation hall of Shanti stupa will just slowly insinuate the filling of divinity into your blood. Advisable things to do on the first day are: Collect the innerline permit which is must for all visits on mountains, drink plenty of water to subdue the effect of altitude sicknes.
I had arranged a river rafting trip on sharing basis through Splash adventures. Splash are the pioneers of river rafting in that area. The rafting was on the Zanskar river till the sangam of Indus and Zanskar. The route was 28km long,takes around 3hrs to complete. On the trip mate some other solo travellers and got some tips for safe solo travelling.
Day4
Trip to the World's highest motorable road. Aah woke up early in the morning and hired a bike for full day and a mechanic for full day at 800 rupees extra. Khardungla pass is at 1850ft and is the world highest motorable road. Road till half way(South pullu) was good but after that only bullets can cross because of many landslides and snow slides.After reaching the Khardungla pass visited the army canteen at that point which serves hot tea and maggi. Trust me hot maggi at 1850ft and -2 degrees will just taste the best. On the way enjoy the views and the bikers,cyclists group from all over the world.
It was the day of marathon . As usual woke up early and did my regular exercise. The run was scheduled at 6.30 from shanti stupa . I ran the way till shanti stupa which would be around half kilometer uphill. Had a nice warm up, when I reached there was quite nervous as it was slightly drizzling and the temperature was 8 degrees. I registered for the half marathon(22Km). The run started at 7 am. Me and my ipod are the bst friends while running. I stared slow as usual. On the way crossed the army basements and some great scenic places. The speciality of the marathon was that the first lap was down hill then plane then dusty beside a river and finally the uphill. I was completely burnt out during the last phase where I met a army kernel 42yrs old and on the way we bonded really well on some intellectual talks from him and some spiritual talk from me. Till the end I was not knowing he was a kernel in the army. It was at end when he gave me a lift to home in his equipped gypsy. Then came the best part when he invited me to an army party in the evening. My God it was truely a life time experience inside there. As a reached just got a warm welcome from all and a glass of juice from kernel "Man just have any thing u like", me "sir aau kya kya hai",Kernel taking back the glass of juice from my hand "saab hai scotch whiskey bear, what u like ", me "Sir I don't drink",Kernel "Aah nt a prb bt get wht u wish" then some talent shows from the army people continued with some adult jokes .
Visit to Pangong Lake, place where the last scene of 3idiots was shot. The same way arranged a sharing cab and started. The lake is 150km away but would take 4hrs to reach since u have to cross the changla pass, worlds third highest pass. On the way u will see great scenic views and some free horses and not exactly some mouse, do not really remember the name but are funny to see. To pangong u got 2 start early coz u do not know when there will be a land slide and u will be stuck.
It was the eve of my 24th bday,july. At home in evening planning 2 do something different that day, got the idea of trying out the ladakh marathon. Since i stay single, first I thought am i serious or it's just a spree. The next day I contacted the organizers for ladakh marathon and booked the tickets. Finally the trip 2 ladakh arrived.Since I was travelling solo I had 2 prepare a lot myself for the trip.
First Leg:
Started from Bangalore airport in evening and had booked in Kingfisher flight.So my pulses were bit high concerning the cancellation of the flight But fortunately the flight was on-time. On flight the next to me was a big fat gujju/marwadi but surely a rich 1, with all white dress and a thousand rupees bundle in pocket. Normally I donot talk 2 people while fly coz of the uneasiness, in the midway he asked me in a hard voice "Beta Dilli ja rahe ho ???" , me "Uncle ea flight delhi ja rahii hai" ,aamirs line from Dil chahta hai . Then I came 2 know he had a construction company in delhi and was from mumbai and has got projects in delhi, bangalore and mumbai. Then suddenly my uneasiness just faded away since I like people who have reached a good scale in business. After reaching Delhi, the new IG airport terminal-3 was just wow!!. The next flight 2 leh was early morning. Had 2 rest in the airport for the whole night.DAY2
Finally reached leh, just enjoyed the view from the flight. The iced caped Himalayas was surely a photographers delight. After reaching leh first went to the marathon organizers on the changspa road, which is the center market of leh. All the arrangements from the organizers was truly a help. I stayed at a guest house whose owner was also a runner. Hotel Padmaling in changspa road with a tariff 400rs per day, the room was just basic 1, no tv(not required),attached bathroom with hot water. Since it is advised to take rest on the first day coz of altitude sickness, I took a full day rest. In the evening visited the famous Shanti stupa of leh. The medtation hall of Shanti stupa will just slowly insinuate the filling of divinity into your blood. Advisable things to do on the first day are: Collect the innerline permit which is must for all visits on mountains, drink plenty of water to subdue the effect of altitude sicknes.
DAY3
I had arranged a river rafting trip on sharing basis through Splash adventures. Splash are the pioneers of river rafting in that area. The rafting was on the Zanskar river till the sangam of Indus and Zanskar. The route was 28km long,takes around 3hrs to complete. On the trip mate some other solo travellers and got some tips for safe solo travelling.
In evening the best thing was 2 pick up a bullet and drive through the city.There were some cultural events happening in the tsoori auditorium. At night the temperature was 5-6 degrees. Ladhakis local soop is called as thupa which is a must try.There are many local shops from where you can hire a bullet for 350 halfday and 850 for full day.
Day4
Trip to the World's highest motorable road. Aah woke up early in the morning and hired a bike for full day and a mechanic for full day at 800 rupees extra. Khardungla pass is at 1850ft and is the world highest motorable road. Road till half way(South pullu) was good but after that only bullets can cross because of many landslides and snow slides.After reaching the Khardungla pass visited the army canteen at that point which serves hot tea and maggi. Trust me hot maggi at 1850ft and -2 degrees will just taste the best. On the way enjoy the views and the bikers,cyclists group from all over the world.
DAY5
It was the day of marathon . As usual woke up early and did my regular exercise. The run was scheduled at 6.30 from shanti stupa . I ran the way till shanti stupa which would be around half kilometer uphill. Had a nice warm up, when I reached there was quite nervous as it was slightly drizzling and the temperature was 8 degrees. I registered for the half marathon(22Km). The run started at 7 am. Me and my ipod are the bst friends while running. I stared slow as usual. On the way crossed the army basements and some great scenic places. The speciality of the marathon was that the first lap was down hill then plane then dusty beside a river and finally the uphill. I was completely burnt out during the last phase where I met a army kernel 42yrs old and on the way we bonded really well on some intellectual talks from him and some spiritual talk from me. Till the end I was not knowing he was a kernel in the army. It was at end when he gave me a lift to home in his equipped gypsy. Then came the best part when he invited me to an army party in the evening. My God it was truely a life time experience inside there. As a reached just got a warm welcome from all and a glass of juice from kernel "Man just have any thing u like", me "sir aau kya kya hai",Kernel taking back the glass of juice from my hand "saab hai scotch whiskey bear, what u like ", me "Sir I don't drink",Kernel "Aah nt a prb bt get wht u wish" then some talent shows from the army people continued with some adult jokes .
DAY6
Visit to Pangong Lake, place where the last scene of 3idiots was shot. The same way arranged a sharing cab and started. The lake is 150km away but would take 4hrs to reach since u have to cross the changla pass, worlds third highest pass. On the way u will see great scenic views and some free horses and not exactly some mouse, do not really remember the name but are funny to see. To pangong u got 2 start early coz u do not know when there will be a land slide and u will be stuck.
DAY7
Finally it was time to return. Beaded adieu to the owner and boarded the flight back to delhi and then bangalore. Do not know this time the new IG airport didn't charm me and the flight seemed much longer than usual.
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