Day 6 (Sep 18): My encounter with The Himalayan Ibex
Woke up around 6 in the morning, we decided to stroll the village, an early morning walk in the fresh air in a place about 12000 feet above sea level, surrounded by mighty mountains under the clear blue sky, is one of a kind experience. The lake was a stone's throw away from the hotel. There is a small trek that takes you to the lake. One can spend some time on the lake and enjoy the views around it but we just clicked few pics then roamed the streets of Nako. Nako is a very picturesque village, rocky muddy streets, houses constructed with rocks and tin or wooden roofs, use of solar energy, prayer wheels outside houses, rocks carved with ancient scriptures, small farms, rocky animal enclosures for horses, sheeps. All this takes you back in an era where life was simple, love was strong, people were humble. Where life was about farming, growing crops, grazing animals, where mode of transportation was the horse and carriage. And then you see your bike, which all of a sudden starts to look like an Alien to you, such is the beauty of that place.
So, we came back from our memorable walk to the hotel, ate yummy paranthas with pickles and tea, then started packing our stuff. Today is when we would part ways. My destination was Dhankar and Deepak and Anupam were going to Kaza. They were quick at tying luggage, I started to realize that I have carried too much stuff, I was wasting well over an hour each day to adjust the luggage. Every time I tightened the ropes they got loose after every 60-90 mins. It wasn't the ropes fault, it was all my fault. I placed one of the bags on top of another, then tied both with ropes to the backrest. It worked well on butter smooth roads till Rampur but after that it turned out to be a pain in the Tashreef(bum). By the time I reached Nako Gompa, Deepak and Anupam were coming back. So, decided to skip the gompa and head for today's destination. We rode together for like 10 kms and Dammit, the ropes got loose and luggage started to fall apart. I asked Deepak and Anupam not to wait for me and continue their ride as they had to reach Kaza today and my destination was Dhankar. I enjoyed their company and actually missed them when I started riding alone again.
I could see that there was no love lost between the two bags, so I had to separate them. I took the smaller bag and hanged it on the handlebars, it did hamper the handling of the bike, but was a big relief to the sore and swollen hands. So, hopped onto the bike and I was good to go.
Mysterious caves near Sumdo, saw them at different places near Tabo, then again between Tabo and Kaza.
Approaching Giu Village
Giu Gompa, 500+ years old mummy of a lama ji discovered by Indian Army in the 70's.
On my way back from Giu, encountered a herd of Ibex, they were about 30, in the middle of the road. They must have heard the bike coming, before I could take my camera out, they all climbed a steep hill in a matter of 10-15 seconds. I was lucky to have captured some pics of them.
Vistas enroute
Tabo Gompa
Vistas En-route to Dhankar Monastery
Shichling village before Dhankar
Approaching Dhankar Gompa
Distant View of Dhankar Gompa
Reached Dhankar by evening, it started to get dark, so decided to visit gompa the other day.
The guest house was flooded with foreigners, 2 French men (one in 60's, the other in 40's), an Iranian(in his twenties), a British couple and a Mumbian(in thirties). There was no power, we all sat down together for dinner (except the British couple), it was a candle light dinner. I started thinking, you dont do a candle light dinner with men, that's weird, its supposed to be done with your date. There were several discussions on religions, western and Indian culture, About Spiti, Ladakh, etc... At a point the discussion on Indian culture was turning into a heated debate between the Mumbian and the younger French gentleman. The elder French uncle realized it...intervened and ended it. Later, we found out that the younger French man deliberately started the debate just to tease the Mumbian, so we all had a good laugh.Mark(the Iranian) wanted to accompany me on my bike to Pin Valley, but I respectfully denied as he had a huge bag and a guitar. There was no space for that much of luggage on the bike. Time was past 11pm, I was dead tired by then, so went to my room and slept.
Woke up around 6 in the morning, we decided to stroll the village, an early morning walk in the fresh air in a place about 12000 feet above sea level, surrounded by mighty mountains under the clear blue sky, is one of a kind experience. The lake was a stone's throw away from the hotel. There is a small trek that takes you to the lake. One can spend some time on the lake and enjoy the views around it but we just clicked few pics then roamed the streets of Nako. Nako is a very picturesque village, rocky muddy streets, houses constructed with rocks and tin or wooden roofs, use of solar energy, prayer wheels outside houses, rocks carved with ancient scriptures, small farms, rocky animal enclosures for horses, sheeps. All this takes you back in an era where life was simple, love was strong, people were humble. Where life was about farming, growing crops, grazing animals, where mode of transportation was the horse and carriage. And then you see your bike, which all of a sudden starts to look like an Alien to you, such is the beauty of that place.
So, we came back from our memorable walk to the hotel, ate yummy paranthas with pickles and tea, then started packing our stuff. Today is when we would part ways. My destination was Dhankar and Deepak and Anupam were going to Kaza. They were quick at tying luggage, I started to realize that I have carried too much stuff, I was wasting well over an hour each day to adjust the luggage. Every time I tightened the ropes they got loose after every 60-90 mins. It wasn't the ropes fault, it was all my fault. I placed one of the bags on top of another, then tied both with ropes to the backrest. It worked well on butter smooth roads till Rampur but after that it turned out to be a pain in the Tashreef(bum). By the time I reached Nako Gompa, Deepak and Anupam were coming back. So, decided to skip the gompa and head for today's destination. We rode together for like 10 kms and Dammit, the ropes got loose and luggage started to fall apart. I asked Deepak and Anupam not to wait for me and continue their ride as they had to reach Kaza today and my destination was Dhankar. I enjoyed their company and actually missed them when I started riding alone again.
I could see that there was no love lost between the two bags, so I had to separate them. I took the smaller bag and hanged it on the handlebars, it did hamper the handling of the bike, but was a big relief to the sore and swollen hands. So, hopped onto the bike and I was good to go.
Mysterious caves near Sumdo, saw them at different places near Tabo, then again between Tabo and Kaza.
Approaching Giu Village
Giu Gompa, 500+ years old mummy of a lama ji discovered by Indian Army in the 70's.
On my way back from Giu, encountered a herd of Ibex, they were about 30, in the middle of the road. They must have heard the bike coming, before I could take my camera out, they all climbed a steep hill in a matter of 10-15 seconds. I was lucky to have captured some pics of them.
Vistas enroute
Tabo Gompa
Vistas En-route to Dhankar Monastery
Shichling village before Dhankar
Approaching Dhankar Gompa
Distant View of Dhankar Gompa
Reached Dhankar by evening, it started to get dark, so decided to visit gompa the other day.
The guest house was flooded with foreigners, 2 French men (one in 60's, the other in 40's), an Iranian(in his twenties), a British couple and a Mumbian(in thirties). There was no power, we all sat down together for dinner (except the British couple), it was a candle light dinner. I started thinking, you dont do a candle light dinner with men, that's weird, its supposed to be done with your date. There were several discussions on religions, western and Indian culture, About Spiti, Ladakh, etc... At a point the discussion on Indian culture was turning into a heated debate between the Mumbian and the younger French gentleman. The elder French uncle realized it...intervened and ended it. Later, we found out that the younger French man deliberately started the debate just to tease the Mumbian, so we all had a good laugh.Mark(the Iranian) wanted to accompany me on my bike to Pin Valley, but I respectfully denied as he had a huge bag and a guitar. There was no space for that much of luggage on the bike. Time was past 11pm, I was dead tired by then, so went to my room and slept.
