I Got Leh'd
I know that seems like a really fun title and you won't believe me but I did buy a tee with literally the same written on it. I don't think a major part of you guys know but I had been on a trip to Leh-Ladakh and that is exactly what today I am going to post on.
You don't need to have your bags packed and yet I'd take you on a journey that'd make you wish for having your bags packed and running off to Leh. First things first, this wasn't a planned trip. This happens for most of the trips I take recently upon choosing a career in engineering.
I choose not to post the itinerary of the trip here but in case you need mine for the referral purposes, you could drop a mail and I'd happily send it to you.
Let me put this out there, I was scared for taking this trip. Yes, I was extremely scared and worried when we were putting the plans for this trip into execution. This was due to 2 reasons:- 1. I was going to be traveling with my family i.e. my mom and dad. Both age over 50 and that just added more to the worried feeling. 2. The whole region runs under a limited amount of oxygen supply which may lead to various health issues and troubles like altitude sickness and so on. I have heard stories about how a place like Leh-Ladakh ends up being a risky destination to travel.
But I do not want any of you to repeat the mistake I did. Do not go visiting and holidaying around Leh thinking something wrong will happen. This just puts unnecessary and tremendous pressure of your thinking and more wholely your brain. Make sure you carry all the medicines that have been prescribed to you and take care that you consume them at their appropriate time. Apart from all this, the tablet Diamox helps well in cases of altitude sickness but do take it as prescribed by your physician only. Diamox may lead to loss of electrolytes in your body and in order to avoid that you may be advised Potklor also. Carry an ample amount of sunscreen and lotion with you because the skin is bound to dry up in such cold weather. Lastly, DO NOT FORGET YOUR LIP BALM. Irrespective of the gender you belong to, a mild and long lasting lip balm will go a long way in protecting your lips from drying up.
The connectivity is pretty low there and in most cases not even possible. Only postpaid sim cards of operators like Jio, Airtel and BSNL work there. So make sure you inform your peers about your disconnectivity well in advance. Take a good book along with you because there is nothing as peaceful as reading good words while sitting amidst the snow-clad mountains and sipping from a cup of hot coffee.
The trip was special to me not only because Ladakh is extremely beautiful and has mesmerizing views but because I could disconnect and connect with nature, the valleys, the mountains, the rivers. I played cards with maa-baba almost after I don't even recall how many years. I slept early around 10 and woke up around 6 only to be staring at these beautiful views forever. We played carrom and I guess that is the first time I have ever played carrom with my dad. Well, obviously I lost and also bled my finger but the memory is going to last for so long.
The Pangong lake, the Nubra valley, the monasteries and the palaces, all of them are beautiful but they only become mesmerizing when you see them with your own naked eyes and not just through someone's pictures. Pangong Lake changes colors in probably each minute and you are lucky if you could even witness a bit out of it. The camels of Hunder in Nubra valley have two humps and are extremely strong enough as they could carry me and roam along. The monasteries made me fall in love with Buddhism each moment a time and I learned so much more about Buddhism from the person who was chosen to escort us from one destination to another. The name of the person is Mr. Jigmet and again I'd happily give you his contact details if you mail me regarding the same. He is a gem of a person and I cannot say this with any more confidence that he made sure we had a safe trip to Ladakh.
Lastly, I saw so much of the Indian army there. The respect I had for each one of the instantly doubled up. I wanted to visit the Siachen Glacier but I don't think that is a possible thing for me. A huge, huge amount of respect and a big salute to the jawans who stand tall to protect us in heat, snow, water and height. We do not know what we would have done without you.
You may not always mandatorily need the oxygen but do buy the cylinders on rent for the days when you are visiting Nubra and Pangong via Khardungla and Changla pass respectively.
I plan on posting the Ladakh vlog on a YouTube channel.
The link is here:-
https://youtu.be/mFGjNNn7REI
Any more queries related to the trip, mail me or post it in the comments, I'll revert ASAP.
Tashi Delek ( Ladakhi: Thank You)
Julley( Ladkhi: Namaste)
You don't need to have your bags packed and yet I'd take you on a journey that'd make you wish for having your bags packed and running off to Leh. First things first, this wasn't a planned trip. This happens for most of the trips I take recently upon choosing a career in engineering.
I choose not to post the itinerary of the trip here but in case you need mine for the referral purposes, you could drop a mail and I'd happily send it to you.
Let me put this out there, I was scared for taking this trip. Yes, I was extremely scared and worried when we were putting the plans for this trip into execution. This was due to 2 reasons:- 1. I was going to be traveling with my family i.e. my mom and dad. Both age over 50 and that just added more to the worried feeling. 2. The whole region runs under a limited amount of oxygen supply which may lead to various health issues and troubles like altitude sickness and so on. I have heard stories about how a place like Leh-Ladakh ends up being a risky destination to travel.
But I do not want any of you to repeat the mistake I did. Do not go visiting and holidaying around Leh thinking something wrong will happen. This just puts unnecessary and tremendous pressure of your thinking and more wholely your brain. Make sure you carry all the medicines that have been prescribed to you and take care that you consume them at their appropriate time. Apart from all this, the tablet Diamox helps well in cases of altitude sickness but do take it as prescribed by your physician only. Diamox may lead to loss of electrolytes in your body and in order to avoid that you may be advised Potklor also. Carry an ample amount of sunscreen and lotion with you because the skin is bound to dry up in such cold weather. Lastly, DO NOT FORGET YOUR LIP BALM. Irrespective of the gender you belong to, a mild and long lasting lip balm will go a long way in protecting your lips from drying up.
The connectivity is pretty low there and in most cases not even possible. Only postpaid sim cards of operators like Jio, Airtel and BSNL work there. So make sure you inform your peers about your disconnectivity well in advance. Take a good book along with you because there is nothing as peaceful as reading good words while sitting amidst the snow-clad mountains and sipping from a cup of hot coffee.
The trip was special to me not only because Ladakh is extremely beautiful and has mesmerizing views but because I could disconnect and connect with nature, the valleys, the mountains, the rivers. I played cards with maa-baba almost after I don't even recall how many years. I slept early around 10 and woke up around 6 only to be staring at these beautiful views forever. We played carrom and I guess that is the first time I have ever played carrom with my dad. Well, obviously I lost and also bled my finger but the memory is going to last for so long.
The Pangong lake, the Nubra valley, the monasteries and the palaces, all of them are beautiful but they only become mesmerizing when you see them with your own naked eyes and not just through someone's pictures. Pangong Lake changes colors in probably each minute and you are lucky if you could even witness a bit out of it. The camels of Hunder in Nubra valley have two humps and are extremely strong enough as they could carry me and roam along. The monasteries made me fall in love with Buddhism each moment a time and I learned so much more about Buddhism from the person who was chosen to escort us from one destination to another. The name of the person is Mr. Jigmet and again I'd happily give you his contact details if you mail me regarding the same. He is a gem of a person and I cannot say this with any more confidence that he made sure we had a safe trip to Ladakh.
Lastly, I saw so much of the Indian army there. The respect I had for each one of the instantly doubled up. I wanted to visit the Siachen Glacier but I don't think that is a possible thing for me. A huge, huge amount of respect and a big salute to the jawans who stand tall to protect us in heat, snow, water and height. We do not know what we would have done without you.
You may not always mandatorily need the oxygen but do buy the cylinders on rent for the days when you are visiting Nubra and Pangong via Khardungla and Changla pass respectively.
I plan on posting the Ladakh vlog on a YouTube channel.
The link is here:-
https://youtu.be/mFGjNNn7REI
Any more queries related to the trip, mail me or post it in the comments, I'll revert ASAP.
Tashi Delek ( Ladakhi: Thank You)
Julley( Ladkhi: Namaste)
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