[smsrini]

Originally Posted by Coooolcat21

Srini, Thank You. I did post a few pictures of the Fortuner though I guess we could have had more. Should have the rest of the pictures up by tomorrow.
Regards.

Oh no! please do not post any more pics of the vehicles. This tlog is wonderful as is, and the 'absence' of such photos is what makes it unique here!

[columbus]

Coooolcat

Brilliant travelogue and equally good pics to match. Brings back fond memories of my trip to Ladakh.
You did miss the sunset at Pangong but you managed to shoot the lake, at that time, from a position which no one has till now. The "first view" is truly a wall hanger .
The roof carrier looks intersting. Please share more details about this accessory.

[Coooolcat21]

Originally Posted by smsrini

Oh no! please do not post any more pics of the vehicles. This tlog is wonderful as is, and the 'absence' of such photos is what makes it unique here!

Righ Srini, shall do. Regards.

Originally Posted by columbus

Coooolcat

Brilliant travelogue and equally good pics to match. Brings back fond memories of my trip to Ladakh.
You did miss the sunset at Pangong but you managed to shoot the lake, at that time, from a position which no one has till now. The "first view" is truly a wall hanger .
The roof carrier looks intersting. Please share more details about this accessory.

Thank You, We were rather looking forward to a evening on the banks of this phenomenal water body so the angst.
The roof box is of 'Thule' make and can be googled. These products are available in India and the addresses of the retailers are also available. They make roof boxes, railings for carrying bicycles and other such lugguage carrying solutions for vehicles. Various models are available for different needs and vehicles.
The box we have is very convenient to carry soft lugguage in smaller bags convenient for a long trip as this one. It locks and is water and dust proof in addition to being very easy and quick to fix on the roof or take it off after a trip.
Regards.

[Coooolcat21]

August 31, 2011.
We woke up very early in the morning to find that it was still dark outside and the sun was just a hint of light from behind the Mountains. It was windy and bitterly cold. I went back to my tent and pulled our my Camera to take a few snaps.
A view from inside the Resort Compound looking towards Pangong.



The Flag fluttering in the strong wind, we could hear the fabric snapping in the wind through out the night, not to mention the entire tent doing the same.


In the Morning light with the sun-rays not yet touching the water, the lake appeared to be a grey slate.




A wider shot from within the resort. The waters were turning Blue.


There was nothing left to do, we cleaned up the best we could in the Cold Morning and went to the Dining Tent to have a quick Breakfast and move on towards Nyoma. We were surprised that quiet a few of our fellow boarders were there waiting for the Breakfast to arrive. It looked like not many had slept well.


After a quick Breakfast we left towards Spangmik, Man, Merak and Khaltse Villages. Spangmik had a few more Tented Resorts and boards of Home Stays. Rest of the Villages appeared to be totally deserted with no one in sight and few Houses with fields that had been harvested. We by-passed most using the multiple paths that were available to us in the open wilderness that this place was..
The following set of photographs were taken travelling along Pangong, The sun was low in the east and the surface of the lake was like a piece of Glass reflecting the hard light.


The Colours changed from second to second even the breeze across the water surface sending a ripple of change across the lake. It was amazing.


One can see the Tents and other Resorts at the edge of the lake at Lukung.


Looking South the waters appeared lighter in the Sun.




The low Sun gave us some interesting Lens Flares. The Hoods that we had were useless specially on the wide angle lens I had on my Sony.






Pointing the Camera Down at the lake standing on an elevation did the trick. The reflections off the Water ripples were like Diamonds Reflecting in a Blue Setting.


The water lapped rather gently along the shore, there was even a little surf.


The Tourist wondering if he can risk jumping into the water without being howled at for getting himself wet.


The Road moved sometimes right next to the lake and sometimes a little further Off.

[Coooolcat21]

It appeared that the Lake was fed from snow melt from the surrounding Mountains, we saw numerous dried water ways sloping into the lake, there were also a few 'back-water' like pools, some of them quiet large, separated from the main lake.
Though the surrounding mountains were grey the lake bed and the area surrounding the shore was bleached white.






The harsh glare cast the entire picture into deep shadow by contrast making it almost a monochrome scene.




There !! he was up to something again !!


Riding by the Lake.


Give it a few years and I can assure you there will be resorts all along this shoreline. .


Shades of Green and Blue can be seen merging into one and another. The scene was simple fantastic.














Looking straight down, one saw crystal clear water with the lake bed full of soft rounded multicolored stones.




At places there were long sand bars running deep into the lake.




This is the cleanest water body I have seen in my life.
A place where one should spend atleast a full day driving along the shores without time constraints.

[maheshramaling]

Cooool writeup, cooool son, cooool fortuner, Cooool photos by Coooolcat21 from Cooool place!!

I am wondering which of the photo should I use as my computer wallpaper?!! You got some amazing talent with camera...Are you by any chance a professional photographer working for a large media house!! If not - pls. apply to us...will hire you!! Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience and great photo's.

Rating a well deserved 5 stars!

[Coooolcat21]

At certain points there was this lush growth of flowering plants.
Pretty little Purple flowers.
Attachment 958988

Attachment 958989

The second attempt by the Tourist to get into the lake came a cropper too.
Attachment 958990

We found Prayer Flags and Prayer Stones all along the lake shore. It was obvious that this lake was revered and had a religious significance to the locals.
Attachment 958991

This was a underwater jungle of some sort of grass like plant growing in a pool of stagnant water next to the Road. The water was dark, however the Sun which was a higher in the Sky allowed us to photograph these mysterious green scene underwater.
Attachment 958992

Attachment 958993

The above two photographs are of the pond to the right of the road.
Attachment 958994

A Gull flying over the lake, there were very many birds in the Lake, they were difficult to photograph due to the harsh light reflecting off the water.
Attachment 958995

Attachment 958996

We were slowly swinging away from Pangong Tso.
Attachment 958997

Attachment 959000

Attachment 959001

Attachment 959002

This was a strange scene, these trees were enclosed within a Stone Compound. We could not fathom if it was to protect the trees or if the place had any Religious Significance. However the trees were of impressive size for the location.
Attachment 959003

Khaltse village in the distance
Attachment 959004

Looked like a Mani Wall in the making.
Attachment 959005

We came across this curious heap of bones with prayer flags. Most of the bones were of sheep or goat. There were a couple of these in a short distance. I personally thought it looked like Black Magic against the neighbors across the Border.
Attachment 959006

Attachment 959007

Pangong Tso in the distance.
Attachment 959008

This was even more powerful magic. .
Attachment 959009

[jaysmokesleaves]

Originally Posted by Coooolcat21

Glad to see that the 'Masters' are finally taking notice. .
Thank you Sir for the update on the Berries.
The Diesel fumes were hell. Could not use the roof-rack as we had fixed a thule box instead, you can only store stuff in soft bags inside. Hard plastic cans would have been thrown all over and leaked as there is nothing to anchor such cans inside the box or keep them upright. you only get two belts that can be used similarly like the belts inside a suitcase to strap down a soft pile of clothes or similar things.
The 5 Lt Bisleri Cans are good but these too have to be kept strictly up-right.
We have since obtained imported Plastic Jerry Cans that are meant for such tasks, though they were a little expensive, have to test them yet though. Regards.

Lovely musings and pics. Im thoroughly enjoying it. Thank you for sharing. Brought back memories of my 2011 trip and I cant wait for my repeat run coming up in September this year.
We stayed in the same hotel in Leh and Dorjee was a nice chap. We got our own permits however since we did Marsimik La and Wari La including the drive beyond Loma to the last frontier village.

I had 2, 20 liter Bisleri Jerry cans with diesel which served wonderfully well and I never had any diesel fumes problem throughout the entire trip. Its a very inexpensive fule transport solution and stays upright when supported with other bags in the boot.

[Coooolcat21]

Originally Posted by jaysmokesleaves

Lovely musings and pics. Im thoroughly enjoying it. Thank you for sharing. Brought back memories of my 2011 trip and I cant wait for my repeat run coming up in September this year.
We stayed in the same hotel in Leh and Dorjee was a nice chap. We got our own permits however since we did Marsimik La and Wari La including the drive beyond Loma to the last frontier village.

I had 2, 20 liter Bisleri Jerry cans with diesel which served wonderfully well and I never had any diesel fumes problem throughout the entire trip. Its a very inexpensive fule transport solution and stays upright when supported with other bags in the boot.

Hey Jay,
Thanks. I guess Mr Dorjee recommends the same hotel to his clients. We did Wari La too and on through Loma to Karzok.
Do the 20 L Bisleri cans have a screw cap ? I have used the 5 L cans which do have a cap. However I agree Bisleri cans stood upright are a very cost effective and disposable option.
Regards.

[Coooolcat21]

I have re-posted the above set of photographs as there was a problem in loading them and they were not visible. I time lapsed trying to correct the same by using the 'editing'. I request the Administrator to kindly delete the improperly loaded post above.
Here are the pictures.
At certain points there was this lush growth of flowering plants.
Pretty little Purple flowers.




The second attempt by the Tourist to get into the lake came a cropper too.


We found Prayer Flags and Prayer Stones all along the lake shore. It was obvious that this lake was revered and had a religious significance to the locals.


This was a underwater jungle of some sort of grass like plant growing in a pool of stagnant water next to the Road. The water was dark, however the Sun which was a higher in the Sky allowed us to photograph these mysterious green scene underwater.




The above two photographs are of the pond to the right of the road.


A Gull flying over the lake, there were very many birds in the Lake, they were difficult to photograph due to the harsh light reflecting off the water.




We were slowly swinging away from Pangong Tso.








This was a strange scene, these trees were enclosed within a Stone Compound. We could not fathom if it was to protect the trees or if the place had any Religious Significance. However the trees were of impressive size for the location.


Khaltse village in the distance


Looked like a Mani Wall in the making.


We came across this curious heap of bones with prayer flags. Most of the bones were of sheep or goat. There were a couple of these in a short distance. I personally thought it looked like Black Magic against the neighbors across the Border.




Pangong Tso in the distance.


This was even more powerful magic. .

[jaysmokesleaves]

Originally Posted by Coooolcat21

Hey Jay,
Thanks. I guess Mr Dorjee recommends the same hotel to his clients. We did Wari La too and on through Loma to Karzok.
Do the 20 L Bisleri cans have a screw cap ? I have used the 5 L cans which do have a cap. However I agree Bisleri cans stood upright are a very cost effective and disposable option.
Regards.

Yes they do have a screw type cap and are spill proof even when they topple.

[Coooolcat21]

Originally Posted by maheshramaling

Cooool writeup, cooool son, cooool fortuner, Cooool photos by Coooolcat21 from Cooool place!!

I am wondering which of the photo should I use as my computer wallpaper?!! You got some amazing talent with camera...Are you by any chance a professional photographer working for a large media house!! If not - pls. apply to us...will hire you!! Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience and great photo's.

Rating a well deserved 5 stars!

Hey Mahesh, Thank you for the kind words. Really not a Professional Photographer or anything even close, Most logs of Ladakh will have similarly good photographs, the subject is exquisitely beautiful.


Carrying on with the Journey...


As we approached Chushul the valley widened. We could see the bunkers of the Indian Army on the Mountains to the Right of the Road, though I was told the the Chinese Border was still some ways off to the left. I believe that when the British left the Indian Border was about 200 Kms further in to what is now claimed by China.
The Valley was full of yellow flowering shrubs.




We went in to hand over a set of our Travel Permit here as we had been asked to do, the doors were open but there was no one there.






Chushul Village in the distance.


The place of the Supreme Sacrifice by the 13th Field Gurkha Regiment in the 1962 war. A little further off we would find the Rezan La Monument. This was a place of Soldiers of the Indian Army and legends of their bravery and sacrifice

[Coooolcat21]

More Pictures of the Chushul Memorial. The bodies of the Martyrs found in the succeeding summer after the war ended were buried in the same place and the Memorial erected.










The Rezang La Memorial of the Kumaon Regiment was just a little further away.


Miracles in this remotest of lands far away from what we view as the Nation of India.
Human sacrifice in the name of a Nation and the Natural miracle of life in this inhospitable land.




We saw this magnificent birds far away on a marshy plain. The Black Necked Crane.

[rkbharat]

wow, lucky to have a glimpse of black neck crane

[laluks]

Originally Posted by rkbharat

wow, lucky to have a glimpse of black neck crane

We too found these fellows here in our trip which would be 1/2 weeks behind Coooolcat21. So I guess this is the place they hang out