Sundays are supposed to be lazy.
And it was indeed a lazy sunday.
We were the only guests in the hotel, so no central heated water, just hot water buckets.
Today's agenda was just to go to the gurudwara, and maybe shanti stupa, and most importantly, do a minor service of the safari.
Since today was a sunday, and anyways the Tata service center here is a service center only in name, I would have to do the service.
First step, drain the sedimenter.
Thankfully, it was warm now, the clouds had gone, and nothing was frozen.
Opening the sedimeter was a revelation.
It was full of water.
Why no warning then? Well the contacts were full of dust. So it was confirmed, it has not been opened at the service done just before the trip.
Thankfully after the cleaning, the idle settled down to a more docile 850-900. Slightly erratic sometimes due to cold engine and high altitude, but nothing problematic.
I did take some pics from the hotel with the panny
Shanti stupa as seen from hotel
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A butterfly, its a rarity in Delhi
The snow covered mountains. The clouds had not given up. Hopefully, day after tomorrow will be clear?
Rudra's phone was still out of reach. Spoke to Ajay and I got to know Rajiv(rkbharat) had graciously left his tripod. Thanks Rajiv!
Now I had 2 tripods. I started the trip with 0
The hotel guys cleaned up the car, and then we headed towards the car wash guy. He has pressurised air.
I removed the filter(Last trip I had accumulated all the tools needed to disassemble an entire car, this was just the air filter) and the guy cleaned it up for 20 Rs.
After that it was like a new lease of life for the white elephant, and we rode the runway.. oops highway for the Gurudwara.
The Army men over there were same as last time, and they recognized us too! After some chit chat and delicious langar we discovered that for magnetic hill and Sangam (35kms one way trip) foreign tourists are charged 3000-4000/trip, and Indians are asked for 1500 minimum. Since its a taxi union in Leh which does not allow outside taxis(even with national permit to ply), you cannot bargain etc.,
This time Taxi union was not happy as Manali Leh which is favorite with westerners was closed, and mostly Indians were roaming about, and Indian's like to bargain, right!
What a racket!
Thankfully, the white elephant can make this trip for 300rs of fuel.
Anyways, some pics of the road
Imagine, if the entire road was like this, we would reach leh in 2 days from Delhi
After that it was time to get some Shanti at Shanti Stupa.
Lot of noisy tourists ensured only Shanti Stupa, no shanti
View of the city
Close up of the stupa with wide angle
Castle Tsemo
Parting shot
After that it was time to get back and relax
16 hours driving had been a wise decision. Today we could fully recharge and relax, with no agenda.
Tomorrow was going to be a busy day with permits, 2 meets and Magnetic hill, Sangam.. And planning. Today was Sunday, and on Tuesday, the real journey will start!