Today was our rest day and hence no hurry worry at all. Got up around 7:30 Am, and took a nice view of the Chitkul village. One could see the whole place at one galnce.
Took seat on a dump of stone chips in the front courtyard of the hotel. The tea came there itself, and I sipped it comfortably while soaking in the sweet morning sun amidst snow capped mountains. The fun started soon.
The minister had come in a convoy the earlier night and stayed. In the morning none of his convoy vehicles would start. The hotel guys (all hotel guys I mean) started pushing around the gypsies, boleros and the lone ambassador around, resulting in plenty of amusements for us.
They pushed the vehicles, changed batteries, poured hot water, cursed each other, we laughed, suggested stuff... cars did not start.
The police man who was to drive the gypsy looked especially harrowed.
Among all these I thought of checking my car as well. And surprise! The gypsy guys turn to laugh...
Thankfully a few of the cab drivers were awake now. They asked me to pour some boiling water on the diesel pump and crank it up. The pump is like a rubber baloon, initially it was rock hard, but after pouring ample boiling water it became softer and I could squeeze it with my hands.
After a long crank (must be at least 2-2.5 minutes), the safari starts. A LOT of black smoke came out, to particular discomfort to an elderly gentleman whose milky white monkey cap got suitably sooted.
One of the drivers checked my engine oil, and it was some black! I had changed the oil at 10000 kilometre service and thought of changing after the trip. That was stupid! I should have changed the oil before embarking on such a long trip.
The cab guys assured me that I would get oil changing infrastructure at Reckong Peo. They also advised me to park my car in a way that the nose is hidden from the direct cold wind. They said it would be a good idea to open the bonnet and lay newspaper on the top on the engine at night. This would help especially if it would be snowing in the night. This would keep the engine somewhat insulated. Valuable lessons learned - again.
Little later when my car had started and had been idling peacefully, we started walking down the gravel path towards the river bank.
The walk is fairly easy if one sticks to the main path. There is also a shortcut, which is not advised for pot belied gentlemen, like me. Plus I have an unnerving repulsion to all kinds of shoes. Hence I carried my woodlands all across the Himalayas, but never took them out of the plastic bag they travelled in. Now, slippers will slip on rocks like these!
The river is as beautiful a mountain river can get.
The pictures are just humble compared to the real thing.
I tried some close ups.
The sunlight reflecting from the fast flowing blusih waters vcreated some dazzling efect.
The water was crystal clear, I could see everything through the water.
We loitered around the bank for a long while, tried to step on the stones to get a little inside the flow. But, the water was ice cold.
There was a building on the bank of the river, which we earlier presumed to be some under construction hotel. And hence doubted if our Pure Bong Panchali Resort was indeed the last one on motorable road!
Down to the river bank, we could read the writing on the wall, it was the Govt. High School of Chitkul!
The river bank is full of many wild flowers -I tried to snap some of them.
After lounging around a while more, we came back to the hotel compound, for some more tea.
I must have had ten cups of tea that morning. Sipping a cup hot tea while basking in that sweet sun and lazily looking down the valley surrounded by ice capped peaks, one needs to be there to know that.
Now, my wife is a character who doesn't give much for peace, tranquility and all that jazz. While I was having my peaceful 11th cup, she was looking around. And, she spotted this!
I immediately ordered my 12th cup! I needed time to work out some excuse not to hike that bloddy hill.
Well, as you can see below, reluctantly I start trailing her.
We started to hike the hill to the left side of the valley. From the hotel compound, we could see a walk-able path across the hill, gradually going upwards. THe valley looked very nice from there. I told my wife that we have had the great view, so lets go down!
After about 25-30 minutes more walk up that road, we spotted a trail going steeply upwards.
A local casually walking down the main path tells us that the straight path goes to some farming fields down the valley and the upwards trail is used by grazing cows and goes particularly nowhere.
Guess what?! We took the cow path.
It was very steep and I was wildly slipping on cow dung. 20 minutes later we reached near the top of that hill. The absolute peak was still about another 50 feet higher from where we reached, but now I PUT MY FOOT DOWN.
The snow capped peaks looked a lot closer from here. And that in my opinion was enough reason to call it a hike!
Now it's time to return.
After coming out from that monkey/cow/goat trail, I regain my humor.
The village looks tiny from here.
After one comes to the main path, it's easy peasy.
We spot hoards of bengali's down there. It was quite funny situation - we were snapping them, and they were snapping us! Guess who's the monkey kinda contest!
Another 15 minutes down the path, we would be back to the safety of our hotel.
After coming down, I announced the closure of all physical activities for the day. Had lunch and slept!