Day 5                                                                                                         9th June 04

       After a bad tiring day, now I was feeling fresh again. Time to forget all else and start a new beginning. So I left Pang and for sure next destination today was Leh. I was unaware of what lies ahead but I had a clue of wat next was on way ahead. I left Pang at about 0800hrs heading for an all uphill climb for another 10 minutes and I headed to More Plains,
Man-o-Man. This was certainly an amazing drive surrounded by mountains but still had to drive for about 40kms with a bumpy roads and dry deserted mountains on both sides. This was seriously something Amazing and different type of drive never expected but it was 40 kms and roads seems to be not coming to an end. Among mountains what da hell's god creation. But none da less it all went wonderfully Good.
        Next up was Tanglang La - World's second highest Motorable road at 17582ft. The uphill climb after the drive on plain didnt seems to have made it tough but I was pulling up real hard. Once I was at the top- Baralacha La - I feel relaxed and as if I was in comfort of the God. After once I touched baralacha La, it was all downhill driving through snow once again for about 10 minutes... I almost fell again as driving on snow is terribly a tough experience. It was just muddy road and bloody truck waala's (not every1 is nice amongst few). At this height it was almost impossible for me to get my Jess up again. I waved to trucks out of which some assholes were not even willing to look at me. But after again five trucks passed by and sixth truck stopped nd co- helper of the truck just pushed it out of snow.. Nd I thanked him by offering him some toffees, which I was giving to all the kids on the way. Still a nice experience. After I did a downhill it was another small village Rumtse where I distributed toffees to kids again nd YO - I do feel happy. Next up on the way was Gaya.
Small village with beautiful Gompa's all done wonderfully well.
         Something unimaginable - Red mountains - WHeEEW- It wasnt Shade on mounatains but real red colours of the mountains. Again God's Creation. A sign Board reads - "First View Indus River and Ladakh Valley". - Just crossing the Indus, which flows into Pakistan. It was another small village Upshi. I was exactly a thousand kilometer away from my home at this point with 24000kms reading on my Odometer.               Water of Indus was so clean so pure - I have never seen, never imagined but it was truly crystal clear water, one can see the stones Beneath the waters and what a wonderful view of nature. 
         Now After upshi, leh was a merely Hour away drive, with a dozen of small villages with Indus crawling along the road for another 10kms. But now was the time to catch the Traditional Gompa's. I reached Leh at 1410hrs with first thing was to call at home. Just a small message after whole 5 days that I was all fine and in Leh. Next task was to find a suitable place to live in for next few days. I saw four guest houses but then finally found a one to my liking away from husle busle of the crowd. It was that expensive just at 125Rs seems quite acceptable to me. I unloaded all my stuff quickly with a Hungry stomach. I searched for a place to eat and landed up eating Cholla- kulcha's. Though going back to room I found myself shopping in jewellery shop some traditional ladakhi's jewellery - Damn Good - I bought amazing jewelery at 1090rs discounted at 1000Rs. Some of the other few things I have to buy was a towel (as mine was left at the last spot in pang), Duracells - for my DG cam and Vaseline jelly, for my cracked lips.
          By evening I went to Shanti Stupa at the top of hill - where i was almost out of my breath climbing about 150 stairs at such a height seems like a Herculean task. Beautiful, nice and peaceful place to be. You can see whole of Ladakh from this place. In evening, while returning I met Sapan with whom I met some other of his localite Friends. And indeed a wonderfull experience. out of all the Things I did learn a word in ladakhi language "Jullay" meaning hi, hello, and bye. It all seems so Homely. Back in Room - Dead Tired for the day - I Slept in Cozy for 4 hours and cudn sleep anymore.

 

Starting point at 23866kms Pang. 0730Hrs
Destination at 24044kms at Leh. 1410Hrs
Total distance traveled 178 kms.
Total expenses 1352 Rs.