Zozila was a back breaking ride and I had to undergo some agonizing moments.Scooter too was subjected to some
merciless torture on Zozila.Only silver lining in that black cloud was that it was dry.But it was very dusty and
deposited sand had burried the pits and it was impossible to spot them. Other big vehicles in front me were creating a thick cloud
of dust making me almost blind.I was totally riding in the dark and was at mercy of God.

I kept the frist gear engaged kept riding tossing in the air and landing in the pits(Khuds).That ride on the gray gravel
filled Zozila was scary and adventureous and I really enjoyed being tested to my limits.That adreline flow brought me
here.I was able to maintain the balance of scooter for most of the Zozila crossing but suddenly a car in front of me stopped
and due to thick flying dust,I could not see it from a safe distance.I had to brake hard very near to the car and almost
collided with car.That sudden braking resulted in a minor fall,which was inevitable and i was ready for this fall.

Kick started again and reached on the tiled flat top of Zozila pass and welcomed by the ever present green sign board
announcing the begining of Ladakh
.
Kashmir valley ends here.I had arrived in Ladakh,the land of passes.

For uninitiated,Zozila was captured by Pak attackers during 1947 war,so was Drass and Kargil.Land access to ladakh was blocked as Pak
attackers had entrenched themselves in the heights of Zozila,giving them advantage.Very few Indian soldiers were holding
the posts Leh and other places in Ladakh waiting for reinforcement from Kashmir side.It was a very precarious situtaion
and Ladakh was hanging with a delicate thread and could fall any time.

Uprooting the Pak attackers was the top most task for Indian Army and this task was given to Gen Thimmaya.And the man did
the unimaginable....He put Tanks on the heights of Zozila.Never heard before in the history of world military.

Pak soldiers were caught napping and Indian tanks devasted their trenches/bunkers they were hiding in.
Gen Thimmaya wrote his name in the annals of Indian Army with golden words.


Down hill ride starts after green board and road improves and in very short time we found ourselevs in a green pastures
of Gumri village.

"The grass is greener at other side""

Tiny yellow and violet flowers doubles the beauty of this Gumri grassland.A well deserved place for coming out of the
nightmares of Zozila.
Camera came out of the bags and shooting begins.

After this camera work,we proceed and reached Drass and visited Drass War memorial for a quick visit.I also stopped at
JK help desk at Drass to meet Salim,who works there and helped me before in booking rooms during my last two visits.
Unfortunately we could not find him at the reception as he was in Srinagar on that day.We found another courteous man
at the JK office whom we enquired about possibilty of doing Umba la pass.He advised us to seek permission from JK
Police.We went to police station nearby and talked to in-charge.The In-charge advised against going to Umba la pass
as it is a tough and broken roads and snowbound at that time.I assured him that we are three people and would not do any
risky and stupid activity on the pass,he gave us go ahead.

We marched towards Umba la pass and soon after Umba village,road condition worsened .Big boulders were lying everywher
on the road as had not been cleared for months.
Being on the two wheelers,we somehow kept moving and reached very high on the Drass-Sankoo road.Midway,I saw a young
sheperd waving his hands at me.I stopped my scooter,the young boy came and pleasantly surprised to see a vehicle there
on this deserted road.He asked me about my destination,i replied that we are going to Sankoo via Umba la pass and we have
permission from Police.He told me that policeman who gave us permission is actually his father.I shared few Cherry with
him and talked to him for few minutes.
We kept going upwards and when we were very near to the top,found the road blocked by a huge snow glacier type obstacles.
My second attempt to cross Umba la pass failed.....sigh....However it was a very adventure and fun filled ride on
that section and we had some amazing time pushing our bikes on that heights.

We had to retreat to Drass and resume our onward journey towards Kargil on usual NH 1 D and reached Kargil around 9 pm.
Road between Drass and Kargil was a pleasant smooth tarmac.We emjoyed a pretty high speed.
Our room at Kargil JK GH was booked ,so instantly settled in the GH and crashed for the night due to tiredness.