Chill in your spine on a hot morning… Sounds weird but yes, that’s how it was when this beautiful journey started. My adventure started right at the airport. The long queue and the never ending security checkin made me board the flight 5 minutes before the departure and that too because i managed to get a place in the cart post the security checkin as my gate no was 60 (the last gate) 😂
Finally, the journey started and the feeling when i landed was full of inquisitiveness, fear and excitement. Will i be able to breath? Will i feel lack of oxygen? What if the car doesn’t come to pick me at the airport? Nevertheless, all these questions took a standstill in my head the moment i took my first step outside the aircraft. Jaw dropping beauty with sky as clear and beautiful that one could feel prepared for all the beauty that will be revealed.
Then that first question popped.. Are you travelling alone? Oh! I am sure you are here for the marathon. Well, the answer to the second one was definitely a no.
As i reached the hotel, i was getting excited and nervous. Who all am i gonna meet? What if i don’t get along? The mystery continued till evening when finally, the entire group met for introduction. We met the captain “Hiren”. serious face and strict instructions. He shared about how he started this company and how the journey had been so far from 2008. Everyone started introducing each other and that’s when i realized that more than half of the group already knew each other because they were travelling with each other from Manali – Leh. Woahhh… Yes, all the more difficult to get into conversations and jokes cause you don’t relate to them as you weren’t a part of it from last few days. However, all i could understand in those few hours was that they had fun and i am sure, i ll say the same when the trip ends. They were a fun group and also, listening to there stories i was quite sure.. It ain’t going to be that easy… It is a tough ride and tougher to be a pillion rider for sure:)
The night ended with thoughts and excitement for what’s coming up the next day 🙂
The morning started with the sound of bikes going vrooooomm… vrooomm… Yes, it was the day for local sightseeing. Rancho school, Thiksey, Leh palace and all that we could cover, we did it all..
Like they say the cake is incomplete without the iceing that’s exactly how the feeling was when we finally went to “Hall of Fame” (google recommendation 🙂 and suggested by siddharth). We spent some good time there and even saw the last 2 shows, beat retrieval and the movie which showed the lives of our soldiers who guard the borders. Numb in my soul and with tears rolling down our eyes we gave a standing ovation. No words to express the feeling. Please don’t miss this out when you are at Leh for sure!!!
The next day was “Pangong” . The real ride begins. Everyone dressed like proper bikers and with sheer excitement the rode started. Well, can’t miss out to share that i was sitting behind the captain. Vroommmm, yes and then i realized that i was in the air.. Haha.. The real feeling of being on the bike.. Clouds, rain drops, road full of stones that’s how the next few hours were but, the real thrill was when it started to snow… Yes, snow fall! For the first time in my life, i saw those tiny lil snow flakes fall and the sight was awesome.
This was very close to Changla pass – second highest motorable road in the world. To add to what it is going to be like, 2 bikers specially on their own approached and said it is going to be really tough… Too slippery in short! Gasping for breath with that thought, the journey continued. Roads as narrow as a stream, army trucks, snow around, cold wind, people clicking photographs of the bikers.. well, that’s how we finally reached the pass.
Mesmerized by the beauty. I felt so small in front of those huge mountains and view. Felt that “life is sooo much beyond the material things that we run behind and look at this beautiful view which is untouched and raw”.
The journey continued and after 7-8 hours of drive we finally reached the beautiful Pangong lake.
My eyes were awestruck with what the place looked like. Blue, green, ivory, violet i think i could see all the colors in the water. Not to forget that the wind was so strong and cold that it was just making it all the more beautiful.
We finally reached our cottage. Even though the journey was so tough and with so many challenges the feeling after reaching was as if, the day had had just started. What an achievement! I wasn’t the rider though but felt so proud as a pillion. Deep inside my heart i felt that one earnest desire that i had was fulfilled:)
The evening started with tea and special bhajia made by the great team of dreamriders. They make you feel pampered in the mountains man… The team rocks!
Soon we started our game and “Uno” it was. The very thought of the game makes me 😁. We had an exciting time playing this game and that’s when we also finally got a chance to interact with the “Samba Boys” hahahaha… Well, thats how eventually they were called throughout the trip..3 childhood friends who had come together. They were fun and the game just brought out the real person out for eachperson in the group. This continued with dumb charades… The thrill, excitement, fights, crazy acting i think i will die laughing if i explain this more.
That’s how the night at pangong ended. The only thought that i had while sleeping was their is soooo much to see what god has created and this is just the beginning. Beautiful pangong… Much more in Leh which i ll surely share but Pangong.. Worth a visit and not just visit ..do it on a bike with Dream Riders !!!
Traveljin.. 