[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

We cannot reform the whole world.
We cannot carry our garbage in our car all the while.
All we can do is to reduce the garbage that we generate and dispose it off responsibly.

Hi,
Really appreciate that. (As has been made clear in later posts). Else it just becomes a case of clean conscience rather than clean environment.

Elsewhere in the world, the rule is 'leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories'.

Regards
Sutripta

[rkbharat]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Leh

So we reach Leh?

High Altitude sickness - Nah! That is for those who fly into Leh, they need a day's rest to adapt to the sudden ascent, not us, we have already been to higher places before reaching Leh, we are set to go!

Hotel bookings - Nah! Peak season in Ladakh is not like being in Ooty or Shimla during the holidays. The place is pleasantly populated by a large floating population, but every second building seems to be a guest house, run by friendly owners who are either "PWD" engineers or just families. We do not make advance bookings, we walk into the selected hotel (we have already done our research ahead) and haggle, so we get good rates which I find are often 50% or less compared with agent or advance booking rates

Auto town - what a relief for the cars, at least this is one town where you have service centres for Maruti, M&M, Tata & Toyota, a place for them to rejuvenate. Lots of workshops with migrant mechanics who can overhaul an engine in 1 day flat!

Permits - all journeys ahead are into restricted areas, and the DC's Office is the place to shop for permits

ATMs & Internet - we come back to the modern world, Leh has 3 ATMS - SBI, HDFC and PNB (and also J&K Bank and Axis?) and internet cafes

Mobile connectivity - for the first half hour after arrival, the entire team is seen huddling in various corners conversing with family, friends and updating their FB status!

No doubt you get so much relief reaching leh. Feels like half done.


strangely, HVK and myself first met face to face in Leh at Druk

[JeepCaptain]

Originally Posted by shipnil

JeepCaptain, I too would like to join 2012 expedition , provided there is a place available. Also, is it necessary to be on FB to be able to participate in the discussions? I am a bit averse to the social networking sites in general.
Would the 2012 team be going to Ladakh only or to some other place?

Dear Shipnil, You are always to join us.Send me a pm and I will send you my contacts and we can be in touch. No need to be on FB. But this time we used a FB group and it was so effective in planning and discussions prior to the trip and also bonded all team very well even before we met each other.
We still dont know which part of Himalayas we will be going. But will go for sure in 2012.

Originally Posted by //M

I would like to join the 2012 convoy too. I have sent you a request in FB and I will be glad to be a part of all the discussions regarding the same. I have been following HVK Sir's FB page for quite some time and really wish to be a part of his team.

Dear //M, Thanks for adding in FB. You are also welcome to join the team. It will be pleasure to have as many travellers and bhpians with us next time.

Originally Posted by laluks

Well that's it from my side for today, my Diwali gift!
Happy Diwali everybody

Dear Lalusir, Happy DIWALI! Your last 2 days of pics was indeed a treat and a diwali gift to all of us. After seeing your amazing pics now I am in doublemind about posting the pics which was clicked in my point and shoot camera. They are nothing compared your professional clicks.Anyways I will post them today.

[JeepCaptain]

Jeep Captains Photologue...

Day 9
20th August 2011

[JeepCaptain]

Jeep Captains Photologue...

Day 9
20th August 2011

[JeepCaptain]

Jeep Captains Photologue...

Day 9
20th August 2011

[Sunney]

Happy Diwali to all !!

Amazing landscape, so barren, loose soiled; seems on Moon !

If not already crowded, I too join you next year, if don't mind, with a Linea.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by Sunney

Happy Diwali to all !!

Amazing landscape, so barren, loose soiled; seems on Moon !

If not already crowded, I too join you next year, if don't mind, with a Linea.

The more the merrier

Infact the sheer joy of travelling together and helping each other makes the drive a lifetime full of memories!

[JeepCaptain]

Jeep Captains Photologue...

Day 9
20th August 2011

[Sunney]

My complaint: Jeep Captain is too miserly on narration of every frame of photo.

I boast of 'the tough' but some stretches of roads make me shuddering

Same time agree if there are highways, the 'adventure' is gone, the pristine-ness is gone and the place will become a heap of rubbish...

[JeepCaptain]

Jeep Captains Photologue...

Day 9
20th August 2011

[JeepCaptain]

Originally Posted by Sunney

My complaint: Jeep Captain is too miserly on narration of every frame of photo.

Dear Sunney, The narration and experiences enroute is already done by Lalu & HVK. I am just following them with more amateur pics from a different angle.

Also I wasn't there for this Kaza to Leh sector. Only my Bolero & camera was there. Bcos I was busy doing another Kaza-Cochin-Kargil Expedition which is mentioned earlier.
Hence no narration. Narration will continue from Kargil onwards after I join back the IPHE team.

[JeepCaptain]

Jeep Captains Photologue...

Day 9
20th August 2011

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Hotel bookings - Nah! Peak season in Ladakh is not like being in Ooty or Shimla during the holidays. The place is pleasantly populated by a large floating population, but every second building seems to be a guest house, run by friendly owners who are either "PWD" engineers or just families. We do not make advance bookings, we walk into the selected hotel (we have already done our research ahead) and haggle, so we get good rates which I find are often 50% or less compared with agent or advance booking rates

50% is quite a big number. Does it mean that the prices are highly inflated on the internet? What is the average price for a nights stay during this trip? Also, when you move in such a big convoy, did you face a parking problem at the hotel anytime during this expedition?

Originally Posted by JeepCaptain

Dear Shipnil, You are always to join us.Send me a pm and I will send you my contacts and we can be in touch. No need to be on FB. But this time we used a FB group and it was so effective in planning and discussions prior to the trip and also bonded all team very well even before we met each other.
We still dont know which part of Himalayas we will be going. But will go for sure in 2012.

If FB is that useful/effective, then I'll join that site but maybe I'll restrict myself to only the 2012 Himalayan Expedition .

[JeepCaptain]

Jeep Captains Photologue...

Day 10
21st August 2011