[lordofgondor]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Hats off to the Indian Army!!!

I envy you for having received the offer for Boat Ride on Pnagong, but wouldn't liketo go through like you did to receive it.

Next time I am gonna visit the workshop, not for the same reasons, and request one.

Originally Posted by 9tMax

Fantastic travelogue with mindblowing snaps. Keep them coming.
BTW, noticed an AP registered bike in one of the snaps. Was he a part of some group or a solo adventurer?

Thanks man. There were two bikers from AP riding on seperate machines.

Originally Posted by sudev

Loved your description of interactions with Jawans and the officers. Having experienced it personally one thing which comes out is They are as happy, if not more, to have company other than the routine.
The ability to get things done at remotest places was one of criterion of choosing Ambassador over Fiat/Padmini in the long past. I am glad to see army guys treating Gyps's cousin Esteem with ease and familiarity.
So what next...???

Yes sir, that's exactly what the OC told us. He seemed pretty pleased to spend time with us telling us that he rarely gets to interact with civilians in there. So we're a nice break from his monotonous routine.

The army mechanics were pretty apt in handling the car. The MASS people seemed surprised that they were able to handle the gearbox. I felt like giving the MASS guy a piece of my mind when he said so, but refrained myself.

Actually sir, I wan't able to carry any more pics with me as I got just a day's notice before leaving. Feeling apprehensive about putting text only accounts.

Originally Posted by phamilyman

honest question. Is that SOOC or heavily PPed pics. Those are the kinda pics I wanted to take but got much dull ones IME.

An honest answer, no photoshop used. What's SOOC?

I used the vivid/landscape modes with different in-camera/custom white balances. Maybe that's why.

Originally Posted by harishnayak

My God , Can those pics get better than that. I doubt no..Keep it rolling.

Thanks man. Beauty's in the eyes of the beholder.

Originally Posted by Zensi

Lordofgondor - unbelievable pics. I have never ever seen such beautiful pics of the region. Hats off to you

Thanks for sharing, ive downloaded a couple and put them up as my wallpaper!

btw - which lens were you using with the Alpha 100?

Thanks buddy! I used the sony kit lens 18-70 mm. Was also carrying the 70-300 mm one, but hardly used it. Was really wanting a good wide-angle lens.

Originally Posted by Indizen08

Interesting blog, informative and entertaining, and well illustrated with beautiful pictures.

Thanks for the applause mate.

Originally Posted by rkbharat

whoa, what an experience of life time. and without a doubt amazing pics.

Yup it sure was. Dreams came true, challanges overcome and plenty of adventures.

[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

Reached Sarchu around 12 noon, and now were in a dilemma whether to stop there or carry on till Pang. The words of caution against staying at Pang given by Kumarji rang in my head, and it was decided that Sarchu was gonna be our halt for the day.
Attachment 163203

Excellent write up with excellent shots. One small question though. Why did you keep your camera setting at vivid?

Going by your shots..must say you had clean weather right through.
Here is the same place what I saw through my camera in 2006. Sky was like this most of the time.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

What's SOOC?

Straight Out Of Camera!
But then, cameras process already! Unless you're shooting RAW.

[lordofgondor]

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

Excellent write up with excellent shots. One small question though. Why did you keep your camera setting at vivid?

Going by your shots..must say you had clean weather right through.
Here is the same place what I saw through my camera in 2006. Sky was like this most of the time.

Attachment 172193

Thanks for the compliments Rudraji.
I kept them at vivid cause I feel my camera brings out colors better in that. I'd even modified the Saturation & Contrast levels a few times and kept playing with the white balance.

Yup, mostly we had clear skies. But while going to Khardung La, Chang La and returning from Tangtse there were a lot of clouds. We even experienced rain, rather a slight drizzle, in Leh for more than an hour. And to top it all, a Rainbow too!



Taken from our hotel window after the drizzle.

Originally Posted by anupmathur

Straight Out Of Camera!
But then, cameras process already! Unless you're shooting RAW.

Thanks for clarifying that Anupji.
RAW is not cup of my tea, as I've experienced from a Goa trip earlier this year. More than 500 images are still lying in RAW mode only. I'd thought I'd try my hand at PhotoShop and do something with those images but gave up after sometime.

I feel happy with what processing the camera does. Maybe when I become a professional photographer I'll start shooting in RAW!

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

.... Maybe when I become a professional photographer I'll start shooting in RAW!

Entirely open for debate, LOL!
Is the professional better or the committed amateur?

[lordofgondor]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

Entirely open for debate, LOL!
Is the professional better or the committed amateur?

Anupji, how do you always manage to strike the cord?

[harishnayak]

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

Thanks for the compliments Rudraji.
I kept them at vivid cause I feel my camera brings out colors better in that. I'd even modified the Saturation & Contrast levels a few times and kept playing with the white balance.

Yup, mostly we had clear skies. But while going to Khardung La, Chang La and returning from Tangtse there were a lot of clouds. We even experienced rain, rather a slight drizzle, in Leh for more than an hour. And to top it all, a Rainbow too!

Attachment 172430

Taken from our hotel window after the drizzle.

Attachment 172431



Thanks for clarifying that Anupji.
RAW is not cup of my tea, as I've experienced from a Goa trip earlier this year. More than 500 images are still lying in RAW mode only. I'd thought I'd try my hand at PhotoShop and do something with those images but gave up after sometime.

I feel happy with what processing the camera does. Maybe when I become a professional photographer I'll start shooting in RAW!

I like the rainbow , nice catch. I've missed Leh this year , hopefully will make it next year.

[Joy]

Wow! That's what I have in mind. My ultimate dream driving destination. What lively pictures? What lively travelogue? My mind is numb at present. Can't write any more because I want live this photos bigtime. I will let my thought flow write something later.

Hats off to you and your beloved esteem. Don't know when my dreams will come true.

Hats off to you.

[harishnayak]

Originally Posted by Joy

Wow! That's what I have in mind. My ultimate dream driving destination. What lively pictures? What lively travelogue? My mind is numb at present. Can't write any more because I want live this photos bigtime. I will let my thought flow write something later.

Hats off to you and your beloved esteem. Don't know when my dreams will come true.

Hats off to you.

To be honest i think 80% of the BHPians want to do this but are not able to due to some or the other constraint.

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by harishnayak

To be honest i think 80% of the BHPians want to do this but are not able to due to some or the other constraint.

After reading Suman's and then L.O.G's trip log, I couldn't stop myself from not doing Ladakh this season. I guess the biggest problem with most of us is the time required to do Ladakh and distance from most places, especially if you are in South. It is one place I feel needs to be done by road rather than just flying in and out

[lordofgondor]

Hey friends, I am back! Reached home yesterday morning to spend a glorious Sunday with the family. Feels great to be back.

Originally Posted by harishnayak

I like the rainbow , nice catch. I've missed Leh this year , hopefully will make it next year.

Sad to hear this mate, but I guess this will just enforce your resolve to be there in the coming year. Wish you loads of luck.

Regarding the rainbow, I kept peeking out of my room's window as soon as the rain stopped and caught it just in time as it didn't last for long.

Originally Posted by Joy

Wow! That's what I have in mind. My ultimate dream driving destination. What lively pictures? What lively travelogue? My mind is numb at present. Can't write any more because I want live this photos bigtime. I will let my thought flow write something later.

Hats off to you and your beloved esteem. Don't know when my dreams will come true.

Hats off to you.

Thanks Joy! Ladakh sure is a heavenly destination for us motorheads. Wish you all the best for your dreams.

Originally Posted by harishnayak

To be honest i think 80% of the BHPians want to do this but are not able to due to some or the other constraint.

+N to the power M to that.

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

After reading Suman's and then L.O.G's trip log, I couldn't stop myself from not doing Ladakh this season. I guess the biggest problem with most of us is the time required to do Ladakh and distance from most places, especially if you are in South. It is one place I feel needs to be done by road rather than just flying in and out

Hey bro, I read you man. I always prefer to drive down to whatever destination I have in mind, and because of that have been unable to check out so many places, especially in the North-East.



Guess I need to check where I'd reached on my Ladakh trip and will soon continue from where I'd left off. In the meantime, am posting some pics of the car's perspective.

Towards Barlacha La





Smooth tarmac near Barlacha La













Around Sarchu










Nearing Kangla Jal



Kangla Jal







Morey Plains







Towards Tanglang La

[rabnawaz_b]

Amazing pics lordofgondor.. Frankly speaking I never liked Esteem apart from its pickup. After seeing these pics that the type of roads Esteem has handled, my respect for this car has gone up.

[MileCruncher]

Welcome Back, man!

If I remember correctly you left us at Paggal Nullah and went away

[Sli_ce]

By Far, The best pictures i've see of the Drive to Leh and the Region. Simply stunning work, my friend. a great, detailed and interesting write up to accompany it, specially your humbling experience with the Army makes all us Indians Proud of who we are!

[wanderernomad]

Nice that you were treated the true army way. Also the bus ride would be a true highlight that not many can boast of here. Nice to see you back and in high spirits but on the hind sight you should have gone on to Pangong tso