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Re: Chronicles of LADAKH
Day 14
Friday - 19th June 2015
Today we had to book our bikes as luggage and catch train by night, but before that we had to get Siddhesh's bike running well in time. Reached garage around 10 in the morning, the mechanic had just arrived. He quickly understood the problem. The motorcycle ignition coil had went kaput and needed to be changed. He didn't have it with him so he asked the other guy to get it from other shop. I asked Siddhesh what if this problem had occurred on Leh - Manali highway far from localities or in Nubra valley where you hardly find a human being, finding garage was impossible. Siddhesh looked at me in a state of horror and said "Meloch asto yaar", we thanked god for not bringing any such problem to us during journey. Soon the guy brought the ignition coil and bike started in a swift after fitting it. This coil is quite small in size, but it can put you in unimaginably huge problems.
After sorting the bike issue, we returned to railway station premises which was right in front of our hotel. We were fooled by Mumbai agents, I did not want to take chance by asking agent to do the thing, so I asked the luggage officer about procedure, and he asked me to come back in the evening - 4 hours prior to the train departure time with required documents and fees. So now we had few hours in hand until 5 pm, our checkout time was 12 in the noon so we convinced hotel owner to keep our bags in the reception area till evening. It was time for lunch now, the only place struck into our mind was Kesar da Dhaba, so we visited it again to have lunch. Today I had limited food because heavy dose of Punjabi food made me sleep the whole day yesterday. Later we roamed around in the market area, bought a pair of Punjabi Juti for one of my very good friend, returned to hotel and passed next 3 hours sitting in reception area of the hotel we stayed for last 2 nights. Hotel Mehra Inn, people here are quite helpful, atmosphere outside was too hot and they allowed us to sit and take rest on sofas in an air conditioned reception area. Punjab it is!
Around 5:30 in the evening we visited railway station's luggage department, filled the forms, paid the fees and got our bikes fully wrapped in next one and half hour. The guys at luggage department asked us to leave it up to them and directly catch the train, they would look after bike loading thing. It was 7 pm by now, we took a walk around station and had light dinner at nearby restaurant and returned to hotel. Before finally leaving the hotel, we thanked them for the wonderful service and for allowing us to sit there, which did save quite a few bucks.
We arrived at railway station at around 8:30 pm and dumped ourselves with luggage in waiting room which was already full. Siddhesh took a walk around and I sat there talking to a Marathi family based out of Jammu, they too were travelling to Mumbai in the same train for a vacation. Called up home and informed that we are on our way back to home.
Mini Heart Attack
Soon the train arrived and we got onto our berths, settled all the luggage and ran towards luggage compartment to see if our bikes are loaded or not. You will not believe but I literally had a heart attack when I saw my bike almost upside down standing on its rear tyre and tail light. The luggage compartment was full and only my bike was left and with that little space available they kept my bike in that manner. My bike is very beloved to me and I just couldn't see it like this. I scolded the loader for treating my bike like that and asked him to re-arrange all the luggage in order to put my bike safely, to which he asked me to get aside and said "Gaddi bhejna hai to aise hi jayega, warna nahi jayega". I went up to the supervisor and asked him to take a look at this, to which he said "Yeh hamara roz ka kaam hai, kuch ni hoga gaddi ko saabji". I ran up to the Police officer standing nearby and explained him my problem and he ignored me like I did not exist. I was angry and helpless at the same time. There was nothing I could do about it. The guys closed the compartment door and sealed it, I was looking at whole scenario in a state of shock. The little faith that I had in train transport, vanished completely at that moment.
Returned to my berth in complete desolation and went to sleep in anguish.
In and around Amritsar
Total Distance Covered: 10 kms
Day 14
Friday - 19th June 2015
Today we had to book our bikes as luggage and catch train by night, but before that we had to get Siddhesh's bike running well in time. Reached garage around 10 in the morning, the mechanic had just arrived. He quickly understood the problem. The motorcycle ignition coil had went kaput and needed to be changed. He didn't have it with him so he asked the other guy to get it from other shop. I asked Siddhesh what if this problem had occurred on Leh - Manali highway far from localities or in Nubra valley where you hardly find a human being, finding garage was impossible. Siddhesh looked at me in a state of horror and said "Meloch asto yaar", we thanked god for not bringing any such problem to us during journey. Soon the guy brought the ignition coil and bike started in a swift after fitting it. This coil is quite small in size, but it can put you in unimaginably huge problems.
After sorting the bike issue, we returned to railway station premises which was right in front of our hotel. We were fooled by Mumbai agents, I did not want to take chance by asking agent to do the thing, so I asked the luggage officer about procedure, and he asked me to come back in the evening - 4 hours prior to the train departure time with required documents and fees. So now we had few hours in hand until 5 pm, our checkout time was 12 in the noon so we convinced hotel owner to keep our bags in the reception area till evening. It was time for lunch now, the only place struck into our mind was Kesar da Dhaba, so we visited it again to have lunch. Today I had limited food because heavy dose of Punjabi food made me sleep the whole day yesterday. Later we roamed around in the market area, bought a pair of Punjabi Juti for one of my very good friend, returned to hotel and passed next 3 hours sitting in reception area of the hotel we stayed for last 2 nights. Hotel Mehra Inn, people here are quite helpful, atmosphere outside was too hot and they allowed us to sit and take rest on sofas in an air conditioned reception area. Punjab it is!
Around 5:30 in the evening we visited railway station's luggage department, filled the forms, paid the fees and got our bikes fully wrapped in next one and half hour. The guys at luggage department asked us to leave it up to them and directly catch the train, they would look after bike loading thing. It was 7 pm by now, we took a walk around station and had light dinner at nearby restaurant and returned to hotel. Before finally leaving the hotel, we thanked them for the wonderful service and for allowing us to sit there, which did save quite a few bucks.
We arrived at railway station at around 8:30 pm and dumped ourselves with luggage in waiting room which was already full. Siddhesh took a walk around and I sat there talking to a Marathi family based out of Jammu, they too were travelling to Mumbai in the same train for a vacation. Called up home and informed that we are on our way back to home.
Mini Heart Attack
Soon the train arrived and we got onto our berths, settled all the luggage and ran towards luggage compartment to see if our bikes are loaded or not. You will not believe but I literally had a heart attack when I saw my bike almost upside down standing on its rear tyre and tail light. The luggage compartment was full and only my bike was left and with that little space available they kept my bike in that manner. My bike is very beloved to me and I just couldn't see it like this. I scolded the loader for treating my bike like that and asked him to re-arrange all the luggage in order to put my bike safely, to which he asked me to get aside and said "Gaddi bhejna hai to aise hi jayega, warna nahi jayega". I went up to the supervisor and asked him to take a look at this, to which he said "Yeh hamara roz ka kaam hai, kuch ni hoga gaddi ko saabji". I ran up to the Police officer standing nearby and explained him my problem and he ignored me like I did not exist. I was angry and helpless at the same time. There was nothing I could do about it. The guys closed the compartment door and sealed it, I was looking at whole scenario in a state of shock. The little faith that I had in train transport, vanished completely at that moment.
Returned to my berth in complete desolation and went to sleep in anguish.
In and around Amritsar
Total Distance Covered: 10 kms
good luck for future trips bro and wish to hear more excited trips from you, even you may release a book with title " Dream tour of Ladakh. "
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