[laluks]

Day 6, September 17th, 2009 continued.
Magnetic Hill Videos

The videos of magnetic hill as promised. Videos are from Saji.

Scorpios climbing up

YouTube - M2U01106

Scorpios climbing up in reverse

YouTube - M2U01108

Pajero Showing off.

YouTube - Movie

Continued...

[laluks]

Originally Posted by mjothi

Again, do you really think its easier then travelling as a co-passenger in chief's car

At one point I felt like crying, but could not

Originally Posted by mjothi

Lalu, excellent pics. Esp the blue sky. They have come out really well. And those windy roads. Super cool pics.

Thanks Mahesh. Me and Saji were having a small competition with Glenn supporting me for the Blues and against Nikon Blues. More of it in person when we meet.

Originally Posted by avasekeh

I can just imagine that!!!. I have travelled much but never once penned a travelogue because i am just not the type. I really have to appreciate the patience and perseverance of the likes of you and your ilk that pen these wonderful travelogues for us and for posterity <doffing my hat>.

Thanks GK. Was very much required. Drained fully by now

[laluks]

Day 6, September 17th , 2009 Continuation

Magnetic Hill - Leh

From Magnetic hill it is around 30Km to Leh. The roads were pretty good.

Pajero doing a right.


Pajero doing a left. What is happening. Why is he offroading?


Oh! The road curves to the left.


Finally got him going straight.


BRO has rightly mentioned on the road sides - "It's a highway, not a runway".




Some views on the Leh road.



What is that board?


Aha!! We have reached Leh. Hurray!



We reached Leh by 16:45PM and checked in. This was so far the earliest arrival in our trip till date.

Glenn and HVK immediately went to the nearby Mahindra service station and booked service appointments for their scorpios for the next day, just to check and be sure for the next runs.

This evening all the 7 vehicles in the convoy was at Leh, 5 Scorpios (HVK's, Glenn's,Rajiv's, Doc's, Vishal's(the lone white scorpio)), 1 Bolero (AB's) and 1 Pajero.

By 18:00PM, nothing to do made the RoadRunner team go crazy. I tried some Macro photography competition with Saji, who was overwhelmed by the guest house garden.






After a cup of hot tea I could coax Saji and GK to go to Leh Palace near by. GK climbs the hill to Leh palace in no time followed by Saji. I was trailing behind panting and puffing. We have done this since we were already acclimatised to AMS. Else do not climb this hill on the day you arrive at Leh.

Jama Masjid.


You have to take a dirty narrow road toward your right from here to reach Leh Palace. That was our short cut.

A view of the city at 19:00PM.


But we could not finish the climb. By 19:00PM it was pitch dark and we somehow made it back. It was one small adventure we will cherish in our memories. It was here that we accidentally clicked Milky way in Saji's camera. We were also scared to have sighted an UFO here. Saji please put up those million dollar photographs.

Had a nice dinner and retired. Today you can sleep as much as you want. Day 7 is a rest day.

[hvkumar]

AMS

Happily, we all took good care of ourselves to guard against high-altitude sickness:

- Diamox tablets from the time we left Delhi
- Lots of water drunk
- Electral mixed in water
- Gradual ascent, first staying at Patnitop, then Kargil, finally Padum
- Except for TsoMoriri (14,900 feet) and Tangtse (12,963 feet) , we did not stay anywhere at heights above 4000 metres

One of us did not have breathlessness and some had occasional bouts of headache, but for most part we all remained in good health, barring a couple of stomach upsets.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

you come to the round which claims to have the highest petrol pump in the world

But then is it a contradiction with the Petrol pump which claims the same in Kaza?

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by hvkumar
you come to the round which claims to have the highest petrol pump in the world

Originally Posted by laluks

But then is it a contradiction with the Petrol pump which claims the same in Kaza?

11,225 feet - Altitude at the Leh petrol pump
12,073 feet - Altitude at the Kaza petrol pump

Kaza wins!

That is why I said that Leh PP "claims" - fact is different.

[laluks]

From Day 6 onwards we used to hear JULE (pronounced Joo-lay) often. It meant Hello, Please, Thank You, Good bye - what not. The meaning depends on the context. But the tone was good enough to give a relaxing feel in our tight runs.

JULE!!

[avasekeh]

Originally Posted by laluks

By 18:00PM, nothing to do made the RoadRunner team go crazy. I tried some Macro photography competition with Saji, who was overwhelmed by the guest house garden.

After a cup of hot tea I could coax Saji and GK to go to Leh Palace near by.

Had a nice dinner and retired. Today you can sleep as much as you want. Day 7 is a rest day.

Haha, i remember both of you going around in circles in the garden trying to out-macro each other...just kidding

Actually, all of us climbed up to Leh palace quite easily. Remember the dirty alleys and underbelly of leh to get to leh palace, the point from where we clicked the milky way?.

The climb in darkness was to "tsemos castle" if i remember right. In hindsight, it was quite risky.

And, as you so rightly say, one of those rare days in the trip without an alarm next to Saji's ear. (He was the official bell ringer every morning)

[deky]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

AMS

Happily, we all took good care of ourselves to guard against high-altitude sickness:

- Diamox tablets from the time we left Delhi
- Lots of water drunk
- Electral mixed in water
- Gradual ascent, first staying at Patnitop, then Kargil, finally Padum
- Except for TsoMoriri (14,900 feet) and Tangtse (12,963 feet) , we did not stay anywhere at heights above 4000 metres

One of us did not have breathlessness and some had occasional bouts of headache, but for most part we all remained in good health, barring a couple of stomach upsets.

I am glad none of you were affected by AMS, other wise it can be a major spoil sport

The best remedy to ease out breathlessness is too smell Camphor, I realised that on my Kailash trip in Tibet. It really works wonders to get your breathing to normal.

Along with Diamox it must be added to the list of "must take items" for high altitudes.

LALUKS:- From Day 6 onwards we used to hear JULE (pronounced Joo-lay) often. It meant Hello, Please, Thank You, Good bye - what not. The meaning depends on the context. But the tone was good enough to give a relaxing feel in our tight runs.

Could the reason be that after day 6 you were in Leh which is predominantly Budhhist and before that Kargil/ Srinagar is other religions?

@Laluks:- the photographs are stunning and the narration is precise, keep them coming

Cheers.

[avasekeh]

Originally Posted by laluks

Pajero doing a right.

Pajero doing a left. What is happening. Why is he offroading?

Finally got him going straight.

Lalu, your style of narration is too good!. The way you pepper it with humour really makes for good reading.

Originally Posted by laluks

It was one small adventure we will cherish in our memories. It was here that we accidentally clicked Milky way in Saji's camera. We were also scared to have sighted an UFO here. Saji please put up those million dollar photographs.

Yes, a memory for a lifetime!. Your pics and travelogue in combination with Sajis pics really make for a wonderful reading.

[sj_koova]

UFO! Lalu, You want to see me getting some kicks on back?

[laluks]

Originally Posted by avasekeh

Haha, i remember both of you going around in circles in the garden trying to out-macro each other...just kidding

You too noticed it?

Originally Posted by avasekeh

Actually, all of us climbed up to Leh palace quite easily. Remember the dirty alleys and underbelly of leh to get to leh palace, the point from where we clicked the milky way?.

The next day when we went there again in the morning I had made some pictures of that alleys. But the dirty alleys and the milky way, the difference is stunning.

Originally Posted by avasekeh

The climb in darkness was to "tsemos castle" if i remember right. In hindsight, it was quite risky.

Risky. Too risky. I still remember what prayers I had in my mind. You guys were pretty OK, think about me sliding to glory!!

Originally Posted by avasekeh

And, as you so rightly say, one of those rare days in the trip without an alarm next to Saji's ear. (He was the official bell ringer every morning)

Originally Posted by avasekeh

Lalu, your style of narration is too good!. The way you pepper it with humour really makes for good reading.

Yes, a memory for a lifetime!. Your pics and travelogue in combination with Sajis pics really make for a wonderful reading.

Thanks GK.

Originally Posted by deky

Could the reason be that after day 6 you were in Leh which is predominantly Budhhist and before that Kargil/ Srinagar is other religions?

@Laluks:- the photographs are stunning and the narration is precise, keep them coming

Cheers.

Thanks Deky.
Regarding JULE I guess your explanation fits. It was such a music to ears, that we got so relaxed hearing it. At times I could see HVK shouting Jule to up his spirits as well.

Originally Posted by sj_koova

UFO! Lalu, You want to see me getting some kicks on back?

Why not? How about the milky way?

[sj_koova]

Lalu, the Milky way is not really visible in the pic.

At Leh palace in the night


Leh town in the night


Leh town view for Leh Palace


Prayer wheel in the night


Leh Airport takeoff


Inside Thiksey Gompa


Thiksey Gompa


Thiksey Gompa


At Thiksey Gompa


At Leh

[hvkumar]

@saji, correction - the Golden Buddha is Thikshey is the view before that.

[sj_koova]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

@saji, correction - the Golden Buddha is Thikshey is the view before that.

Hey HVK Thanks. In fact I had a confusion on this.
That means all the pics I named with Hemis is actually from Thikshey.

We reached the Hemis by late eveing, so I do not have great pics.