Back to Leh and a hurried leave for Nubra
After that fantastic Leh-Pangong-Hanle-Tso Moriri-Leh loop, we thought of taking it easy on Oct 15, 2010, plus had some work emails to be sent and like that.
Now Leh was scheduled to hold the LAHDC [ Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) on October 16, 2010. This is an important election just like our state elections.
So on October 15, 2010, suddenly came to realise that with all the election busyness, the district administration is going to close down for the next 3-4 days as the officials become busy for election arrangements and oversee.
And suddenly that morning of Oct 15, 2010, that we thought would rest out began in a hurry.
Immediately we headed to the DC office for permits. By this time the permit persons has started recognizing us as someone who are coming up with unusual places and they helped me out with getting the permit anyhow from the busy DC office during election times just before it shut. Off-season travel does bring out many a personal interaction that would be otherwise be just straight faced official work.
Now with the permits in hand, something crazy again come down in my head. Why not drive to Siachen base camp.
Now we dont have any contacts anywhere and it had been just good luck for us with permits till now - whether it be in North and East Sikkim permits or the drive to Bumla Indo-China border in the Western Arunachal trip.
Headed from the DC office to the Leh Army GQ Headquarters with the very vague idea of getting the Siachan permit.
Now this was an adventure in itself!
Asking people around, reach Army Headquarters and just like any sensitive installation was stopped way before the main gate and on asked by the guard on whom we were planning to see, the reply was "anyone who can help us give the Siachen base camp permit"
Anyway as much as the guard was flummoxed and confused, we were let in and quite a hurry took place regarding our query! To cut the story short, one army gentleman really tried hard and we got the permit almost but got stuck at one higher level clearance whereby we were told to send some fax and papers to Delhi.
With time running out as we had to leave for Nubra by this evening only as there was going to be restriction on vehicles also during election day, we had to drop it, as the whole process was going to take another day, like sending an application, faxing identities and then whether the actual permission would have been given was not uncertain.
But our many thanks for the army gentleman who really tried hard and went about with our papers, so that we get the drive up to the Siachen base camp permit. That would have been a drive, surely next time/one day would be doing that!
Anyway after all these things, it was quite late we left for Khardung la and then for Nubra.
We reached the Khardungla pass at around 5 pm and luckily the weather was good. It was cold but no snow and by the time we were going for Hunder it was pitch dark.
Somehow found our way after seeing a signboard of Habib guesthouse of Hundar and again what wonderful hosts they were. I would of course recommend this guesthouse, a laid back yet clean and most wonderful people to interact with.
We reached something like 9 pm or around, as they were surprised to see guests at this hour, we were also relieved to find a place to stay. Met up with a group of tourists from Bengal and in dinner time after some gossip, it was time for sleep and much needed rest.
Next day, Oct 16, 2010, a lazy start and then drive till Turtok was done.
Up away to Khardung la for Nubra And at the pass The wonderful hosts of Habib guest house at Nubra Next morning, on the way to Turtok
This was the day we just ambled around leisurely, so did not go the main market area of Turtok. A much better pictures of Turtok village per se can be seen in the vardhan.harsh's fantastic travelogue.
And the day ended with the guest house owner's son and our son sharing some kind of activity. Next morning we meet the most inhabitants of Hunder, the double-hump camels. contd...