[SS-Traveller]

We love to find hard-to-reach places. Not the kind you need to trek 2 days through snow to reach, but those hard-to-reach places in the middle of nowhere that test a driver and his car to the max. And of course, we keep hoping that cellphone signals won't be omnipresent in those places.

But how can one find directions to reach the middle of nowhere? Don't ask me, but the State Bank of India has set up a branch there! And we arrived here only to discover that SBI has beaten us to it!

Followers of my roadtrips know that our usual travel companion is the Hawk-on-Fours® (H-4®). So where did this new travel companion come from?

Read on to find out more...

[SS-Traveller]

The middle of nowhere is in the middle of the mighty snow-capped Himalayas. The plains of north India simmer and bake in the summer heat, but the snow has not quite melted in the middle of nowhere! For parched eyes which feel happy if they see mirages of lakes in the distance, while the furious summer dries up all the water in ponds, lakes, rivers and taps, the images below are like a refreshing cool towel to the face while resting in an air-conditioned room.

[SS-Traveller]

Reaching the middle of nowhere (M-O-N) is no mean task. The road to the M-O-N is treacherous. It's sometimes muddier than a Mississippi mud pie, and at other times, it's rockier than driving on the moon. If anyone hasn't had the chance to sniff the odour of a burning clutch yet, this road offers ample opportunities to make sure that you do - especially in a 2WD, but even in a 4WD. Suspensions confirm the existence of bump stops, and brakes leave enough brake dust on wheels to change their colour. Sudden rockslides can block roads and cause traffic jams for miles in either direction.

Yet, the brave drivers of M-O-N soldier on with bald tyres and 2WD, with full faith in the Almighty to protect them from skidding off the mountainsides.

[SS-Traveller]

M-O-N has its fair share of biological diversity. Meet some of the inhabitants of M-O-N that can fly, hide, buzz, bark, bite, graze, moo and neigh.

Spot the insect here!

[SS-Traveller]

The middle of nowhere (M-O-N) is a colourful place when it comes to plant life. In the winters, the land remains covered in a thick coat of white snow. As the summer advances, the trees and flowers blossom in a riot of green, yellow, red, blue, brown and purple colours.

[SS-Traveller]

Look around closely in M-O-N and you also discover beautiful handicrafts. Richly decorated lanterns, napkin holders, cups and other trinkets might give you some clues about where the middle of nowhere is located!

[SS-Traveller]

And finally, of course, there are the beautiful people of M-O-N. By the end of this post, you, dear reader, should be able to guess where this M-O-N is...

So let the picnic begin!

[mobike008]

Note from Mod : Thread moved from Assembly section to Travelogues Section. Thanks for sharing

[vasanthn21]

Nice photos, not much information on the travelogue though. Liked the pictures of the flowers and the people of M-O-N.
Surprised to see a Tata Indigo in this terrain. Did you seriously go with Bald tyres!?

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by vasanthn21

Nice photos, not much information on the travelogue though. Did you seriously go with Bald tyres!?

The details will follow soon, meanwhile there are ample clues in the photographs to allow an educated guess about where M-O-N is. And does the bald-tyred vehicle really look to you like what our ride, shown in the first post, might be?

[phamilyman]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

The details will follow soon, meanwhile there are ample clues in the photographs to allow an educated guess about where M-O-N is. And does the bald-tyred vehicle really look to you like what our ride, shown in the first post, might be?

Nice teaser-log

btw, vasanth - the fortuner has excellent tread visible in the picture

[akshay4587]

Nice Pictures SST sir
Upgraded from the Hawk????
@vasanthn-that Bald tyre is of a Bolero not a fortuner

[mac187]

Originally Posted by akshay4587

@vasanthn-that Bald tyre is of a Bolero not a fortuner

Thats a Sumo.

SS-Traveler: Do share us the how Fortuner fared compared to Safari.

[akshay4587]

Originally Posted by mac187

Thats a Sumo.

SS-Traveler: Do share us the how Fortuner fared compared to Safari.

Oops my Bad,looked again and it indeed is a Sumo.
Btw he has a Scorpio 4wd not a safari

[Biraj]

Nice teaser there. It definitely is not North India. Now the possible options are West Bengal (Kalimpong) and the North Eastern States. Let me spend some more time on this.