This is going to be just a rough overview of my latest adventures.. After I came back from Tso Moriri, I left again to go to Pangong Lake, another very, very beautiful and scenic place in Ladak. After hiking half the day around with a bottle of wine, I met three girls and two guys and we were hanging out for a couple of days together. This very night I've also witnessed the longest and brightest shooting star I've ever seen!! (the wish to bang one of the girls didn't came through ;)
For having a rental bike I decided to move on quickly and I made 3400km in 15 days, what was pretty much a rally. But went from Leh to Kargi and the next day to Srinagar, where I stayed at the plain center and in a horrible hotel.. I didn't like it at all and was happy to get out of dodge the next day. It was cloudy and raining in the morning and there was still lots of traffic out of Srinagar. I took some back road, ended in a small village and the next day I made it to Mandi, where I already knew a good place to stay. from There over the mountain to Kullu valley and back to Manali, where I met my friends from Leh. We had a very international day out and I was doing some small hiking around Manali, but there are not many places to go.
Then I heard the road to Nako was open and I can get my bike. So I took a jeep into Spiti valley and from there a guy dropped me close to Nako (Spiti - Nako road was still closed). I hiked back to my bike and drove it out Kinnaur valley.. same way I got in. Had a leaking engine block (hitting some stones a month ago) and someone stole petrol from the tank.. but could buy along the way and epoxy helped sealing the engine.. it's working up to the present day ;)
encountered three times falling rocks on the road and there was a big road block due to road works and I had to stay a night in a strange guesthouse. also had a flat tire that day :P
So the next day I made it to Ani, before the Jalori pass that I already passed twice. The next day all the way to Manali.. getting soaked on the way. And then some bright light at the horizon.. I met a Israeli girl and we had great two weeks together! really GREAT!! :D
I participated one day in Manali in a movie about drugs, sex and violence and had to smoke joints and Shisha and drink beer.. earning 40USD for it ;) that was pretty funny! :)
then I went with Bar (Isreali girl) to Spiti valley and we explored every corner together on the bike. Went to see Mummy and some monasteries and tripped out together.. was just amazing!! Bar.. still missing you!
she had to return to Israel and I went for another trip out and Chander Tal.. a lake at a very beautiful place! from there again two days to Leh.. but this time with my own bike. Actually... doesn't matter if riding an Enfield or my bike.. can handle both and they are not too different in the end.. I mean.. they are both bikes ;)
when I got back to Leh, I figured out that I can't get a special permit to visit some special places.. in fact, I've ridden everywhere where I can go already. So I decided spontaneously to climb Stok Kangri.. my first 6000 meter tall mountain. That was good fun!! :D I was in a nicely set up expedition with Nepali Sherpa that was twice on Everest summit and he brought us up smoothly, just in time for the sunrise.. WOW!!! that was mental! after this I rested for one day and went on a three day hiking trip just on my own. Met some nice folks along the way and we played cards at night and had good laughs.
Coming back to Leh the weather was pretty shitty.. well.. at least it was dry during the time when we were hiking (but cloudy). I stayed about four days in Leh because of weather and I eat a bad piece of apple pie. Should have puked it up in the beginning, but I thought my stomach can handle it.. no, it couldn't. I was puking and shitting water all night long and then my stomach was out for another two days.. but I got a pretty good recovery. as soon I could eat and keep the water inside, I took my bike and drove to Kargil again, but taking a slightly different route. I also had to wait for my passport, that accidentally has been taken to Tso Moriri (one guy from the agency was driving the whole night to get it back for the next day).
Passing Kargil and staying in some strange guesthouse again and then one long day to Padum. A pretty big place at the end of the road (well.. big compared to what I've seen along the way). The next day I ventured further out with the bike to see some monasteries and an old palace. Did some Yoga along the way and back to Padum for the night. Then I tried to get to Phuktal monastery and ended up having a flat tire (again :P ) had to drive 10km without air (very stressful) just to figure out that the both shops are closed because of voting day. also a joke.. because only two guys from the same party were available to vote for :P
I took it pretty relaxed (compared to other times when this happened). But I was a bit pissed as well, because stupid me still don't have tools and pump to change a tire. After Alaska-Argentina (56000km) with only one flat tire I got a bit overconfident. But now I bought all the keys, wheel arms and pump plus two spare tires. I should be OK now (If I manage to get the tire off the rim :/
so I started for Phuktal one day later.. I drove and hiked, stayed for one night and then tripped to Phuktal (most epic trip since Machu Pichu!!) also having some good rum with me ;). This day I was so much hoffmann-powered that I visited the monastery and all the way back to my bike, driving it to Padum and staying for the night. A very long day!! ..next day from Padum to Kargil.. 240km bad road and mostly taking two days, but I'm just a monster on the road! :D haha.. really.. I am some kind of 5-star-general if it comes to riding bikes! another night in Kargil in a stinky room and then one more day to Srinagar, where I arrived before yesterday. Was better than the first time.. better weather, less traffic.. and getting to Srinagar I found a Hero dealership and the guy fixed some stuff on my bike in no time. I found a really cozy houseboat to stay on a lake with stunning sunset view and yesterday I visited the Palace here in Srinagar.. it's probably the most impressive structure I've seen so far. high up on a hill with thick walls and hundreds of arrow-slits. must have been standing solid for decades! too bad you can't take pictures, because the army holds it now as strategic point for defending the city against Pakistan. The same applied for the Hindu temple on another hill top (the view is despite the humidity totally awesome!! :D ..when I was at the fort, a hawk came checking me out, flying past the tower only two meters away, throwing an eye in.. WOW again! :)
then I visited two gardens on the other side of Dal lake.. not too impressive, but worth the 10Rs to get it (it's more like a park with lots of flowers). and today I will take my bike to drive outside of town and check the area towards Pakistan. Not staying for too long tough :P there are frequent attacks on military convoys and places.
well.. that's it.. that rounds up the last couple of weeks.. looking back and thinking about, it's not too bad ;) and now I'm looking forward to closing the chapter of Jammu&Kashmir, Himmachal Paradesh and driving through Uttarakhand to Nepal. Then I'm done with India and only two months on two wheels remain, discovering Nepal. ..yes.. time passes.. but I'm also doing a lot. So it's pretty much as epic as epic can be over here! ;D
my best wishes and greetings to you and take care!! see you again one day!
happy trails and be blessed!
For having a rental bike I decided to move on quickly and I made 3400km in 15 days, what was pretty much a rally. But went from Leh to Kargi and the next day to Srinagar, where I stayed at the plain center and in a horrible hotel.. I didn't like it at all and was happy to get out of dodge the next day. It was cloudy and raining in the morning and there was still lots of traffic out of Srinagar. I took some back road, ended in a small village and the next day I made it to Mandi, where I already knew a good place to stay. from There over the mountain to Kullu valley and back to Manali, where I met my friends from Leh. We had a very international day out and I was doing some small hiking around Manali, but there are not many places to go.
Then I heard the road to Nako was open and I can get my bike. So I took a jeep into Spiti valley and from there a guy dropped me close to Nako (Spiti - Nako road was still closed). I hiked back to my bike and drove it out Kinnaur valley.. same way I got in. Had a leaking engine block (hitting some stones a month ago) and someone stole petrol from the tank.. but could buy along the way and epoxy helped sealing the engine.. it's working up to the present day ;)
encountered three times falling rocks on the road and there was a big road block due to road works and I had to stay a night in a strange guesthouse. also had a flat tire that day :P
So the next day I made it to Ani, before the Jalori pass that I already passed twice. The next day all the way to Manali.. getting soaked on the way. And then some bright light at the horizon.. I met a Israeli girl and we had great two weeks together! really GREAT!! :D
I participated one day in Manali in a movie about drugs, sex and violence and had to smoke joints and Shisha and drink beer.. earning 40USD for it ;) that was pretty funny! :)
then I went with Bar (Isreali girl) to Spiti valley and we explored every corner together on the bike. Went to see Mummy and some monasteries and tripped out together.. was just amazing!! Bar.. still missing you!
she had to return to Israel and I went for another trip out and Chander Tal.. a lake at a very beautiful place! from there again two days to Leh.. but this time with my own bike. Actually... doesn't matter if riding an Enfield or my bike.. can handle both and they are not too different in the end.. I mean.. they are both bikes ;)
when I got back to Leh, I figured out that I can't get a special permit to visit some special places.. in fact, I've ridden everywhere where I can go already. So I decided spontaneously to climb Stok Kangri.. my first 6000 meter tall mountain. That was good fun!! :D I was in a nicely set up expedition with Nepali Sherpa that was twice on Everest summit and he brought us up smoothly, just in time for the sunrise.. WOW!!! that was mental! after this I rested for one day and went on a three day hiking trip just on my own. Met some nice folks along the way and we played cards at night and had good laughs.
Coming back to Leh the weather was pretty shitty.. well.. at least it was dry during the time when we were hiking (but cloudy). I stayed about four days in Leh because of weather and I eat a bad piece of apple pie. Should have puked it up in the beginning, but I thought my stomach can handle it.. no, it couldn't. I was puking and shitting water all night long and then my stomach was out for another two days.. but I got a pretty good recovery. as soon I could eat and keep the water inside, I took my bike and drove to Kargil again, but taking a slightly different route. I also had to wait for my passport, that accidentally has been taken to Tso Moriri (one guy from the agency was driving the whole night to get it back for the next day).
Passing Kargil and staying in some strange guesthouse again and then one long day to Padum. A pretty big place at the end of the road (well.. big compared to what I've seen along the way). The next day I ventured further out with the bike to see some monasteries and an old palace. Did some Yoga along the way and back to Padum for the night. Then I tried to get to Phuktal monastery and ended up having a flat tire (again :P ) had to drive 10km without air (very stressful) just to figure out that the both shops are closed because of voting day. also a joke.. because only two guys from the same party were available to vote for :P
I took it pretty relaxed (compared to other times when this happened). But I was a bit pissed as well, because stupid me still don't have tools and pump to change a tire. After Alaska-Argentina (56000km) with only one flat tire I got a bit overconfident. But now I bought all the keys, wheel arms and pump plus two spare tires. I should be OK now (If I manage to get the tire off the rim :/
so I started for Phuktal one day later.. I drove and hiked, stayed for one night and then tripped to Phuktal (most epic trip since Machu Pichu!!) also having some good rum with me ;). This day I was so much hoffmann-powered that I visited the monastery and all the way back to my bike, driving it to Padum and staying for the night. A very long day!! ..next day from Padum to Kargil.. 240km bad road and mostly taking two days, but I'm just a monster on the road! :D haha.. really.. I am some kind of 5-star-general if it comes to riding bikes! another night in Kargil in a stinky room and then one more day to Srinagar, where I arrived before yesterday. Was better than the first time.. better weather, less traffic.. and getting to Srinagar I found a Hero dealership and the guy fixed some stuff on my bike in no time. I found a really cozy houseboat to stay on a lake with stunning sunset view and yesterday I visited the Palace here in Srinagar.. it's probably the most impressive structure I've seen so far. high up on a hill with thick walls and hundreds of arrow-slits. must have been standing solid for decades! too bad you can't take pictures, because the army holds it now as strategic point for defending the city against Pakistan. The same applied for the Hindu temple on another hill top (the view is despite the humidity totally awesome!! :D ..when I was at the fort, a hawk came checking me out, flying past the tower only two meters away, throwing an eye in.. WOW again! :)
then I visited two gardens on the other side of Dal lake.. not too impressive, but worth the 10Rs to get it (it's more like a park with lots of flowers). and today I will take my bike to drive outside of town and check the area towards Pakistan. Not staying for too long tough :P there are frequent attacks on military convoys and places.
well.. that's it.. that rounds up the last couple of weeks.. looking back and thinking about, it's not too bad ;) and now I'm looking forward to closing the chapter of Jammu&Kashmir, Himmachal Paradesh and driving through Uttarakhand to Nepal. Then I'm done with India and only two months on two wheels remain, discovering Nepal. ..yes.. time passes.. but I'm also doing a lot. So it's pretty much as epic as epic can be over here! ;D
my best wishes and greetings to you and take care!! see you again one day!
happy trails and be blessed!
