[Coooolcat21]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Not inside, but strapped to the side of the box. A little spillage would not have mattered as the odour would not have filled the cabin.

Edit: P.S. - Which hotel was this at Diskit? Looks nice.

Hey SS Traveller, sorry about any confusion I may have caused, meant 'Master of the Game'. I was happy to see you read my t-log. I have followed the masterly accounts of your travels over the past couple of years. In fact on your advice we had carried two portable cylinders of Oxygen on this trip for any emergencies and the little one. There was no call to use them at any time though.
Regarding strapping the Cans outside the box, I do not think it would be possible as the box occupies almost the entire width of the roof and overhangs quiet a bit over the front and the rear of the roof railing. When the Bolero was traveling with us we did do what you have suggested to the railing of the Bolero as shown in the pictures at the beginning of the log.
The name of the hotel was 'Standel'. It was a lovely place to stay.
Thank you and regards

[Coooolcat21]

As I said before the Road was perfectly made single track sticking to the middle of the valley. You felt that you were driving on a dry river bed with a road surprisingly built in the middle. There was not a soul in sight, for an Indian this was a eerie sight, we are never alone !!


As we approached Agham, we started seeing some attempts at Greening of the land. There were strips of land with tree saplings growing that were fenced in, I guess to save them from various herbivores and cattle.




We finally reached Agham Village. We did see a few families working in the fields far away, upon waving our hands at them the entire group stopped work and waved back vigorously. We did not take any photographs of them, felt that we would be intruding on their privacy. They truly lived on their own taming the lands and nature in this harsh and remote lands


The Bridge across what I think was the River Shyok.


The fork is just after the River and we took the right one to Wari La, Shyok Village would have to wait for our next trip here.


The Pristine Waters of the River, It was this Water that was powering the Agricultural Growth around. Water truly is that magic portion that makes this world go around.


A Farmhouse amidst fields far away. We climbed away from Agham towards Wari La.


We found this excavation atop a Hill side on the way a little after Agham, I do not think anyone was digging for water, it was just about 15 feet deep and lined like a well with stones.


Chorten Ruins.






More Chortens. They represent the five basic elements, Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Ether. All living creatures break down to these elements at the end.


We had reached Wari La. It was unlike any pass we had crossed earlier. Atop a flattish mountain face. The climb up had been long and gradual, we had passed a changing landscape that became more and more rugged. The Black Top too seemed to have deteriorated completely.




The rocks here did not have the rounded surface we had seen earlier. Had these broken out of the surface of the earth much after the rise of the land from the sea?


Towards Sakti




Step Farming on a Mountain Top far across the valley.


That I guess the Water Storage facility of the Village. Pure and Chilled Water all day long .... Problem was the Storage Facility buried you in the stuff for half the year each year.

[Coooolcat21]

The Roads towards Sakti. We were driving downhill again.






The Widely spread out village. We would intersect the Karu - Changla Road here.





Signs of Human Presence. A Calf.


And signs of Rodent Presence. This Field Mouse (I think) was a frisky fellow.


A Yak


A Marmot. All these Animals seemed to be out enjoying the Sunshine.


As we entered Sakti, we found that it was decked up and full of People. There was some Religious Ceremony in Progress and all the local VIP's seemed to be in presence.
The decked up streets.


these Chortens had a more 'cared for' look.


The Sakti Monastery.




Part of the crowd of participants.


There were a row of Covered Prayer Wheels along the Road, all freshly painted with a few more under construction.


Fields along the road as we exit Sakti.




Ruins of an old fortifications near-by.


We reach the Junction and take a right towards Chang La.


Blue Mountains towards Chang-La.

[DKG]

Looks like an epic travelogue, would need to see the pictures over a few weeks

Amazing vistas captured beautifully. Please don't mind my saying this but the Ladakh pictures are a tad bit over doctored losing some of the natural magic already manifest in every scene.

monumental effort to post the travelogue, thanks for sharing.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by Coooolcat21

I was happy to see you read my t-log.

Thank you for boosting my ego! Not everyday that a lady compliments me for driving around the country and elsewhere, and my wife was definitely upset about my making her sniff diesel fumes all over Ladakh! However, I'd already noticed and rated your thread right back on page 2 (post #26).

[Coooolcat21]

Originally Posted by DKG

Looks like an epic travelogue, would need to see the pictures over a few weeks

Amazing vistas captured beautifully. Please don't mind my saying this but the Ladakh pictures are a tad bit over doctored losing some of the natural magic already manifest in every scene.

monumental effort to post the travelogue, thanks for sharing.

Thank You DKG Sir, it was a trip of epic proportions.
I guess quiet a few of the Pictures may apear to be a little over-done.
Keep reading. Regards.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Thank you for boosting my ego! Not everyday that a lady compliments me for driving around the country and elsewhere, and my wife was definitely upset about my making her sniff diesel fumes all over Ladakh! However, I'd already noticed and rated your thread right back on page 2 (post #26).

You are Welcome !!
I empathise with your wife, it is difficult.
I did go back and check on page two Thank You, my apologies.
Regards.

[rkbharat]

nice,

BTW and I have seen those stone wells used for safegaurding sheeps at night

And I think from Sakti Junction you take left for Changla , right is Karu

[Coooolcat21]

Originally Posted by rkbharat

nice,

BTW and I have seen those stone wells used for safegaurding sheeps at night

And I think from Sakti Junction you take left for Changla , right is Karu

Bharat,

So I guess they lower the Sheep into the well, cover it from top and then in the morning pull them all out. Explains those 'Wells' Thanks.
You are right its not right but left, in this occasion left is right and right is wrong (as it does takes you to Karu). Thanks again for putting it right.
Regards.

[laluks]

About those wells, from one of the documentaries I have seen some years back, it is used to hunt down foxes by the gypsies.

A sheep would be kept in this kind of well. The sheep's cries will attract the fox/wolf and they in the interest to get an easy prey jump into the well. Then the gypsies will stone them to death.

[Coooolcat21]

We continued on towards Changla. There was more traffic now as we had hit the main route from Leh to Pangong Tso.
We came across these beautifully camouflaged birds running across the road, I really doubt that we would have seen them if they had not been crossing this contrasting black coloured background.
Attachment 957390

Attachment 957391

We managed to get one close-up. They just kept sprinting.
Attachment 957392

ZINGRAL !!!
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Who can resist posting this snap ?? Not me...
You can not only feel, from your straining vehicle, but also visually see the steep climb to Chang La.
Attachment 957394

More of the Beautiful Sky and the Roads.
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Attachment 957396

The Chorten at Chang La with Prayer Flags fluttering in the chill high wind.
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We saw this behemoth being carted across Chang La. The Massive Truck was performing admirably at this altitude and incline.
Attachment 957398

More of Chang La.
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There was a canteen at Chang La and We grabbed noodles and some tea here. They tasted lovely in the Chill and the view was breathtaking.
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The surrounding Mountains as we moved on.
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Attachment 957418

These Horses looked wild, though I guess they must have belonged to some nomadic Shepherds.
Attachment 957421

Photographing this stream was to cost us a couple of hours and the sun set at Pangong. A Heavy price.
Attachment 957419

Attachment 957420

[Coooolcat21]

We continued on towards Changla. There was more traffic now as we had hit the main route from Leh to Pangong Tso.
We came across these beautifully camouflaged birds running across the road, I really doubt that we would have seen them if they had not been crossing this contrasting black coloured background.




We managed to get one close-up. They just kept sprinting.


ZINGRAL !!!




Who can resist posting this snap ?? Not me...
You can not only feel, from your straining vehicle, but also visually see the steep climb to Chang La.


More of the Beautiful Sky and the Roads.




The Chorten at Chang La with Prayer Flags fluttering in the chill high wind.


We saw this behemoth being carted across Chang La. The Massive Truck was performing admirably at this altitude and incline.


More of Chang La.




There was a canteen at Chang La and We grabbed noodles and some tea here. They tasted lovely in the Chill and the view was breathtaking.




The surrounding Mountains as we moved on.




These Horses looked wild, though I guess they must have belonged to some nomadic Shepherds.


Photographing this stream was to cost us a couple of hours and the sun set at Pangong. A Heavy price.


So inviting blue waters capped with white.


Mountains in the distance.

[Coooolcat21]

We came to a beautifully laid Road, it looked so fresh that one could smell the hot tar.
Next to the Road a Chorten was being refurbished. Surprisingly the intricate motifs were being worked in Cement and mot POP as we had imagined.


The reason we could smell the Hot Tar. We missed passing through by a Whisker. They had just closed the road after having opened it to allow the traffic on both sides to pass. We remained stuck here for about 2 hours. It was frustrating as we were fast loosing light and Pangong was slipping into darkness.


We consoled ourselves by photographing the surroundings.
We caught this shadow of a Dragon passing overhead, we did not see any in the sky, guess the Chinese had supplied it with a cloaking device.


Far away mountains.


We moved on finally.
More Horses


More Wild Flowers. The land was comparatively less barren here.


The Mountains were turning yellow in the setting Sun. We were for the first time in the trip literally racing to the Lake. We paid a heavy price for the delay and missed photographing some of the most beautiful sights along the way




A strange amalgamation of white and chocolate coloured rock


A herd of Sheep.


We stopped and the shepherd immediately picked up a lamb and got it close to us for inspection. It was a pretty little fellow.






The first view of Pangong. It was a Turquoise coloured emerald in a rustic setting.


We rushed on to catch the magic in the setting Sun as we had to leave early the next day and this was the only chance we had. We rushed along the road to get the right angle and the reflections in the water.
As you can see we were not very lucky. We had a booking in a tented accommodation here and as it darkened drove back to find it.










Find it we did. The Tourist settling down to a well earned nights sleep.

[Coooolcat21]

Originally Posted by laluks

About those wells, from one of the documentaries I have seen some years back, it is used to hunt down foxes by the gypsies.

A sheep would be kept in this kind of well. The sheep's cries will attract the fox/wolf and they in the interest to get an easy prey jump into the well. Then the gypsies will stone them to death.

So it was like a trap ! makes sense, specially if you lack fire-arms to kill from a distance. Thanks for the clarification. Regards.


Tomorrow was the day we would be driving along the Chinese Border towards Man, Merak, Chichul, around the Loma bend and Nyoma. Nyoma was our night halt. We had no booking here and would have to find a Home Stay of which we were assured there were plenty and easy to find. Mr. Dorjey of Overland Escape had urged us to experience some village life.
The next day we were to drive through Mahe and our final destination in the wild Karzok on the banks of Tso Moriri.

We loaded all the Diesel into our tank and handed over the empty Plastic Cans and all our excess packaged food to the owners of the Resort. We were rewarded with a huge plate full of scrambled eggs on the House. .

We had a quick Dinner and tried to get some sleep. Unfortunately it turned out to be a night filled with disturbances.
First off it was very windy and the Tents shook like they were possessed, secondly there was a huge group of Bikers who had an animated and loud discussion going on, till well past midnight and robust and fit fellows that they were they were at it again at about 4.30 AM..
Looking back, I do recall hearing a lot of clinking glasses, but for the life of me cannot fathom what could have caused it in this remote location.
It was a frustrating night..
We made the best of it as we could. Hopefully there would be no Diesel fumes in the vehicle tomorrow.

[smsrini]

Perhaps the most detailed t-log on Ladakh till date.. and only a lady can bring out the details so beautifully. Bravo! Simply fascinating and fantastic photographs!

If any other petrol head had written this, I'm sure there would have been plenty more pictures of the t-fort and the bolero all decked up in mud!

[Coooolcat21]

Originally Posted by smsrini

Perhaps the most detailed t-log on Ladakh till date.. and only a lady can bring out the details so beautifully. Bravo! Simply fascinating and fantastic photographs!

If any other petrol head had written this, I'm sure there would have been plenty more pictures of the t-fort and the bolero all decked up in mud!

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.