Travel Diaries - Mesmerizing Leh & Ladakh - Part 3

Scientists categorically and unequivocally aver that time machines aren't practically possible. Even the exceptionally genius Stephen Hawking is of the same opinion with his experiment. However, the irony is that time machines have already been found in this world and the cacophonous joke is that everyone, Okay mostly!, of us is using the time machine without realizing it. Don't look flummoxed and have a bemused expression. You also know it. In fact, you are carrying it everyday with you. 

You still didn't get it? 

The time machine's nothing but a CAMERA.

Confused?

Thinking How so? 

When you're taking a picture of the present and then look back at those fond memories after 5 or 10 years later, what you are effectively doing is then to turn the time to the past through the photographs by being in the future present.

Sounds confusing?

To laymanize it further, supposing you want to show your kids of your wonderful wedding album. You lovingly open it and show them what and how your dream marriage unfolded by those memorable photos which were taken long ago. Hope you have understood now. 

What relevance does it have with Leh and Ladakh?

The two families who got hospitalized were discharged and so the entire group along with the guide proceeded to Khardungla Pass through the serpentine roads which were good at some places and really pathetic at others. What else can you expect at altitudes above 17500 ft. But, what was unexpected were the stunning and arresting sceneries all around you which were simply remarkable that you get highly besotted by the surrounding ambiance.

You cannot get enough of the clicks on your mob cam or DSLR, if you possess one. Please get yourself a DSLR or any high res cam if you are planning to go to Leh. I mean it as it's worth for the staggering and stupendous  natural settings that's right in front of your eyes which you can relive whenever you want in the future. Now, I hope you would have understood as to why I brought in the Time Machine reference into the picture, pun intended, earlier in the blog.

It's not just about the destination but the journey to the final stop that is pure feast for your eyes if you can overlook the back breaking, literally, ride. At long last, we arrived at Khardungla and got the much needed respite from the mind-blowing and tiresome travel. Climbing on the snow-rich mountains and playing with it was white fun. A word of caution. Don't ever remove your gloves even for a moment by challenging yourself that you can be without it. Your hand will get numbed with no sensation whatsoever for some time.

Once sufficient time was given to be there as that wasn't our end halt, the van proceeded to the I-forgot-the-name-of-the-valley for the night stay. It was a tough task for the drivers as well because the roads became too narrow at certain spots and one wrong move would have hurled us down into the plunge like Iron Man speeding downwards from the top without his suit malfunctioned. 

After what seemed like eternity, the I-forgot-the name-of-the-valley was reached where dinner and coffee was served with explicit instructions that no power would be there until the strike of morning. Catching a good night's sleep due to the toilsome and arduous journey, we stopped at a gigantic Buddha temple where the sun was at its glowing best by shining in a beast mode. From there, it was time for camel ride. Not the Rajasthan-esque camel. This breed was different. Nevertheless, It was a jolly good one. 

Short stops at a Gurudwara like Temple and Magnetic Hill before proceeding to Alchi. It was so quite that you could actually listen to the rustle of the leaves. Yep. It was another ancient Buddhist temple. Purchasing a couple of Buddhist statues for home, Alchi bade us goodbye and grinding through the torturous and windy and finally through normal and straight roads, our hotel was in plain sight much to my relievement as the next day was also a tedious journey to Pangog Lake. 

Oh. By the way, those who are interested in Rafting can do so in a place called Zanskar River.at your own personal expense. From what I heard by the guide, there weren't many rapids and the cost was a bit too high. So, I stroked it off ASAP from the list as it wasn't worth my money. But, there were still many takers for it. If you feel like doing it, you can very well involve yourselves in the Rafting.

I have reserved the super special Pangog as the final blog in my Travel Diaries not only as it was the last place that was there in the itinerary but also the place deserves an exclusive and separate blog by nature, pun intended.

                                                      X---To be Concluded---X