Whenever you visit any place you have a couple of location that have been recommended to you, which you have read about and which you know you need to visit otherwise you would have wasted a trip. So for the next few days it would be all about being a tourist, rather than a runner.
The first stop was Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world, at over 18000 feet. The road leading to the top, twisted and turned up the mountain slope, like a snake hugging on to its prey. The journey and the sights, left us in awe, a bit speechless and frightful, thanks to the narrowness of the road, the steepness of the climb, the drop next to the road, the oncoming vehicles and military trucks, a bit shaken, due to the condition of the road, and of course breathless with majestic view it showed us and also because of the thinness of the air.
So 18380 feet later we were literally on top of the world. Air cold against skin, sent shivers down the spine, made you even more respect the soldier manning the post at such a high altitude. Though the air was cold but the view was breathtaking (I told you I would be using these words once too often). So you clicked pictures, admired the view, and all this needs to be done in under 10 minutes, otherwise you would be fighting breathlessness and headaches, brought on by it. My concern was mum, but again the lady was gung-ho and surprised me with the way she took to the weather condition. So that left me and my crazy self, which in the end got the better of me and I climbed even more higher to see where those stairs which I saw led. The view on top was beyond words, stunning majestic and simply awesome. Felt a little worried that I was pushing myself, but hey the adventurous spirit got the better of me.
From the highest of high it was time to go to the lowest of low (at least lower than Leh, lower than Ladakhi standards), to Nubra Valley we went. Not before stopping on the way to click pictures with mountain goats, sheeps and even yaks, taking pictures by rivers passing through mountains and enjoying a sumptuous breakfast of aloo parathas.
Reaching Nubra Valley (or at least the start of it) we once again visited another monastery. Though there were well over 50 stairs to climb, mumma surprised us all by climbing all those stairs without much uttering a single complaint. She climbed up slowly and steadily, with Prerna and me for company, for support. Words deserts me to say how proud I feel of how much she made me proud. Ah yes, in between, we indulged ourselves riding ATB (though not me and mum) and yet again photo shoot. We even stopped to clicked pictures near a statute of giant deity.
Reaching Nubra, we searched for a place to stay, finally settling down for camping place called Apple Cottage. Now the tents here were spacious, they even had a bed, a charging point, and attached toilet and bathroom. The place was filled with beautiful flowers that were all in bloom and wonderful vegetable garden. So got yet another camping experience in just under a month, even if it was just an overnight stay.
After dropping our stuff we went to a place where they had two humps camel, which you could ride. Mumma was first hesitant, but in the end gave in too everyone’s persuasion. She seemed to enjoy every moment of the ride. I was a little worried of her loosing her balance but all my fears were for naught, she took in every experience.
Now the place felt like a congregation of runners, people who we knew and a few who we befriended. We once again enjoyed ourselves wetting our feet in the cold stream, clicking pic and laughing and enjoying and chatting.
In the end it was time to retire to our camp and bring an end to an adventurous day, not before experiencing the joys of camping, albeit a bit comfortable one, wondering what adventures and sights the next day had in store for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment