Day-1 29 May 2022- Blaze the Rough (Delhi to Manali)
Start Time -0530 Hours
Ø Target Destination- Manali
Ø Pit Stops of 20-25 Minutes- 04
Ø Arrival Time- 2130 Hours
Ø Vehicle Experience- Super and Easy
Reasons for Delay- Traffic Jams enroute near Manali Tunnel Zone and encountered 10000 Sheep and Goats on inner arterial roads in Naggar area, Manali where we were staying for 3 Nights!!!
DDay-2 30 May 2022- Blaze the Rough (At Manali)
A leisurely day with the sounds of flowing rivulet and winds whistling through Deodar trees. Nature at its best and oxygen building up the lungs.
Took a local cab of Prakash, an ever-smiling Pahari, and went around to Old Manali. Visited Manu Temple and took a gentle walk down the Old Manali road, visiting shops and meeting with unknown humans. The book The Millennial Yogi by Deepam Chatterjee is travelling with us and was introduced to many people enroute. A great experience to strike conversations and understand the human feelings. Nothing comes closer.
Found a master embroider in Mohammad Jilani who is doing my special embroidery for my Blazer and the Pandubbi Wala Peer Logo for the T shirt.
Aparna as always went in for silver buys and I too (finally) got my Himachali cap!! A light lunch of Momos and Noodle with hot lemon-ginger tea as rain came crashing to lower the temperature.
The evening was pleasant as all in the property sat together for some exotic singing time. Super songs, great Whiskey and local vegetables as we acclimate for the next leg beginning 01 Jun 2022.
Day-3 31 May 2022- Blaze the Rough (At Manali)
Sleeping in a wooden log hut next to a flowing river slowly cutting the rocks is a surreal sound experience. As the head hit the pillow, the snores emerged immediately. The beauty of a snore is that it never troubles the snorer! Awakening again to the river's sound is a sure sign that some karma in life is paying back. Now I know why people use these sounds to calm their minds in the cities where sound pollution and humming machines fill the ears and mind.
The day was brighter with Sun rising behind the tall mountains and we began a trek to a waterfall. This is a virgin waterfall where tourists have not been able to reach and the You Tubers. There are meanders in the river and at each turn and corner the white surf fills the atmosphere with the most of water. The chilled water is great to touch and even better to drink. We walked up the river through a narrow path with its share of slush, stones, and heights.
The time spent at the waterfall cannot be summed up in words. We sat on the stones and meditated with the sounds of the water taking multiple dimensions. The sand beach was a testimony that once there stood mighty stones which have simply been worn out by the flow of water!
After an amazing trek to the waterfall, an accident as Aparna and young Ishan slipped into a 10-foot-deep fall. The Mother Earth gave the cushion even as the thorns opened multiple lacerations for both. Immediate dip into the cold river to numb the pain and we all thanked the Almighty for the small mercies. It could have been a bad day at work. The water therapy helped, and both walked back to the safety of the home.
Despite the injuries both Aparna and Ishan kept in pace with the other inmates of the home as the evening was a special celebration for a couple celebrating 44 years of togetherness.
Aparna, the brave Mizo Warrior clan blood holder, did not care for her pains and aches to cook a sumptuous Khao Suey (A Burmese Delicacy) for 17 folks! The dish disappeared in no time as the evening went into a musical extravaganza. Ah! What a reminder of good old days when families would sit around for days during the weddings.
Laughs galore as the day was lived well and the Grey Fox (Mahindra Thar) was given a wash to be ready for the drive to Jispa on day-4.
Day-4 & 5 01 & 02 Jun 2022 - Blaze the Rough (Manali-Jispa- Leh)
The cue for naming this trip Blaze the Rough was its gruel and overcoming our own challenges. I would dedicate this entire trip to my beloved Lady Aparna for having: -
A) Trust in me and supporting my driving plans.
B) Wholeheartedly supporting my decision to get the Mahindra Thar and christening it Grey Fox.
C) Never complaining as I cruise roads untraveled to quench my thirst of meeting humanity.
D) Creating conversations with absolute strangers and leaving an indelible mark on their lives too.
E) Never complain about her own aches, pains and fighting stoically against diabetes.
I can go on and on, but I would round it up with a warm Salute and Hug to her.
Day -4 from Manali took us through the majestic Atal Tunnel. The cruise was smooth as we enjoyed the serenity as the landscape changed dramatically once we moved across the North gate of the tunnel. We are also travelling the book The Millennial Yogi by Deepam Chatterjee/Fox/75 in this trip and we clicked the book at locations and with strangers. It has been a great experience folks!
Our Day-4 stop was at Jispa which is about 100 kms from Manali. We drove leisurely, met young bikers from Andhra Pradesh in a roadside cafe where we chatted over the book and some hot pizza. They were elated to pose with the book and notice the happiness on their faces as we swallowed the generational gap. At Jispa Journey Resort, we stayed in a tented accommodation next to the River Bhaga. Surrounded by imposing mountains (some blanketed with snow), we had a bonfire dinner with a large family from Gujarat. The family had accomplished professionals and it was a pleasure to connect with them all. With promises to catch up at Leh, we settled for the night even as temperature dipped to -1°!
Day-5 brought the *Rough* challenge ahead. This day, we had to push ourselves (and test Mahindra Thar's performance). The off- roader had 2020 kms in its odometer, when I pushed its Petrol Automatic at 6.20 am up a steep climb out of the riverine bed area. The smooth petrol automatic purred quietly as the Fox in her took over.
We pushed the Thar and set it blazing as the road was a beauty. We crossed settlements and came across to Deepak Tal which is a little pond but with very clear waters. Linking with the family that manages a Dhaba at Deepak Tal, we opened the Parathas carried for breakfast. This is where the fabled Murphy had a good look at us. There was another Delhi family who were also at the Dhaba and trying to get some tea. Water takes time to boil, and we all connected.
We could not eat the Parathas as they were under- cooked, and tea was more of milk. With some water swallowing all along the way, we pushed for the first of the pass called the Baralacha La. The other driver did not take care of the constant hydration as the body ejects out fluids to manage changing temperature. Mr Murphy knew he stood a chance. We pushed our respective Mahindra’s (Thar and TUV 300) through some breathtaking scenic beauty coupled with good roads and patches of jumps/jerks. The Thar did the track in style as I pushed the gas at stages.
Crossing Baralacha La,
we gunned towards the Nakee La Pass which helps to cross Whisky Nalla.
This is where we slipped from Himachal into Ladakh. A check post entry and we
cruised along.
Hold your anxiety as
we stepped into an unknown territory and challenges of the *Rough* blazed
through us....More soon.
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