Micro Travelog | Crossing Through Malling As the travel forums start getting abuzz with talk about passes opening and plans for Ladakh and Spiti, thought I would share an episode from the infamous Malling pass which acts as the gateway to Spiti which I visited two Septembers ago: So in the spirit of twitter and tumblr, here is a micro travelog:
The newly constructed road towards Malling is as smooth as butter
The switchbacks hugging the river make for an exhilarating drive
We fly past a small temple and a buddhist shrine to take a turn and suddenly the tarmac top disappears, road narrows, small pebbles roll down the hillside
Trouble! a truck heavily laden stalled in the middle with traffic building up on the other side
I leave the innova and wander off on foot to take photos of the infamous Malling dropoff and see how close to the edge I would have to drive
I analyze what lies beneath in case someone slipped
And then meander across the middle where a fast flowing stream has created a rut filled with shiny pebbles
And then look up at some falling pebbles to see what lies above (notice the bus?)
An hour of the truck crawling inch by inch with the truck driver removing the airfilter (to allow the truck to suck more air), the cleaner shoving stones below the tyres and using a crowbar (to leverage the truck forward), and my man friday sitting in the cabin stomping the accelerator (someone has to drive the truck!), it finally makes it to the other side
We run back to the car and pay our respects at the shrine
And move on to experience the greatest reward of all: Spiti!
Still sends a thrill down my spine when I look at the photographs, and I trust this is enough incentive for you to plan a trip out there and experience the rush! |