Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh & Ladakh

Cool narration sister with a tadka of comic humor . Wearing camouflage pants with full armour ,you guys were like glowing bulb in front of Punjab police given the proximity to army garrison .

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh & Ladakh

CHAPTER 5 - “DAY 5”

“In the Shadow of the Mountains”

Day5 (Wed) - 17/06/2015

Route – Jalandhar - Pathankot - Jammu Patnitop

Kms – 287

I woke up with the heavy head because of less sleep and all the earlier night anxiety. However after swigging a cup of green tea we were all set to rocket down the highway on those curvy roads, I wasn’t even able to munch my breakfast however I was forced to eat and drink plenty of water so that I don’t mess up with my health. Lassi made my day again.

Lassi is Life saver...and yes dont forget to make white moustache




Seeing the Jammu board anxiety once again encircled my stomach and the zig - zaggy curls too started welcoming us.


Enroute Jammu





We did stopped few times for Water break - BTW dont miss out Sachin's Expression here !!



Some "Me" time with my lady while Sachin was on his natures call mission




On the way to katra we came across a massive Shankarji ka temple which was located at the very start of the ghat section we stopped there to pray for our safe journey since the real picture would roll out now panditji was kind enough to come out and serve us Prasad and wave us good buyie & happy journey..

jai ho Bhole Nath !!



Waheguru da Khalsa !! Waheguru di Fateh !! Gurudwara !! Somewhere near exiting Jalandhar --> Did not missed to seek blessing of every positive spirit we passed...



Proceeding with descent pace on Katra road we too seeked darshan of Vaishnodevi from far-off and prayed for our wellbeing.

I was sure that single lane wasn’t going to treat me smoothly as other roads did and I was also ready for the challenge. But when I actually started facing it damn it was nerve-wracking.

I was so scared riding on those curvy single lane of Patni top that whenever i saw any trucks coming towards me from opposite lane I thought that it would dash on my bike hard and I would become so panicky that I would wobble pressing both the brakes durably <I always had this nightmare right from the day I started riding in fact even before that like whichever vehicle I am sitting in <let it be train or whatever> would be crashed by any vehicle coming from opposite lane and since I was riding now my mind started acting in different manner that my bike is crashed by a truck coming from a opposite direction, it was kinda phobia like>

I did not even knew to ride my bike by holding the handle by one hand and waving from another so that I can ask Sachin to stop for a while and tell him what I was facing. I had a different conception all together that my arms doesn’t have a stiffness, how can I ride it by one hand.

In fact even when I had the hard urge of itching on my face or back or shoulder, I used to halt at the corner, do the needful and then resume with my ride, and Sachin stopping for me somewhere ahead glancing at me angrily asking “why are you stopping again and again” and I could clearly see through his red angry face saying that I want to kill you but my poor man had no other option to tolerate my nuisances and move on with it
<Seriously I was so stupid at that time now at this moment I can ride saffy even when I am not holding her But it is a saying that TIME TEACHES YOU ALL and that’s how your skills enhances>

After some more miles I started honking and blinking my passing light so that Sachin understands my signal and stop somewhere and yes my man did understood that something is going wrong with me since I was riding too slow.

He found a corner and parked his beast, I reached the spot 5 mints later and started explaining my situation to him <I was literally panting because of fear>

Sachin calmly said “Drink some water first” and then he explained me something which was like a finding a way in darkness. He explained me that “whenever you’re riding always try to keep an eye on the road your riding on and not on the trucks or any other vehicle coming towards you from opposite direction. Never measure the height of ghat by peeping from corner of your eyes to the edges it will frighten you. If you keep looking on trucks coming towards you I am not sure that person will dash on you but you will definitely end up doing so.”

<He knew it very well that I am even afraid of heights one more phobia >

I adhered to what Sachin explained me and guess what it worked. Any truck coming towards me instead of watching those dangerous scary horrifying facades of truck,
I tried to reserve my eye on roads and kept moving ahead. Every time I ignored those trucks coming towards me and passing them easily without applying hard brakes my confidence raised and happily and slowly the things started getting bit easy.

We faced traffic up over the Ghats in patnitop but it was manageable, also I was learning to deal with half clutch thing while ascending so I was not that pissed off.
Also Special thanks to the Aunty who was in a car taking a break from traffic. She offered us a chai from their thermos and biscuits while we were exhausted with the jam and taking a rest..

Finally the scary evening was about to end and we reached our planned destination for the day “Patni Top” this was my 3rd visit to the land of Jammu but this time everything seems so different and adventurous. We checked in to same hotel where I stayed for last 3 times with my parents.

This is the same hotel i stayed in with my Parents for all my last visits



View from our hotel window - Patni Top




Seeing smile on my face Sachin asked me “Everthing alright” I said “More than alright – Happy I am to make up till here SAFELY”

It was just 5.30 in the evening so we thought to take a small walk after our evening snacks. YES YES it was too cold out there <A sheer relaxation after facing 36 degree temp in last few days>


Ignore seeing me here !! look at the truck parked behind me !! doesnt it looks horrifying? Imagine your bike and this truck meets at one of the curve !! Wont you be petrified?




It was time to sleep in mountains in a chilly wheather !! Wuhuuuu !! Welcome to the Mountains !!


A rider has a solution to all his problems !! I cannot sleep with lights off <i have a Ghost problem> and Sachin cannot sleep with Lights on...So here is how he solves his problem





<A Confidence full DAY 6 where the single lanes became my best friends like never before. SINKING INSIDE THE MOUNTAINS>

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp; Ladakh

Great to hear that you lost your phobia of crashing into trucks so fast..
Single lanes are fun, everything is calculative, from turns to overtakes.
Nothing can be done with the ghost phobia... Lol :-))

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp;amp; Ladakh

Hahaha, yes i lost phobia of crashing into trucks but now i love single lanes more than highways and boring straights, but ghost thing is still there and Sachin also got used to sleep with lights on now

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Punjabis are awesome including me, and humour toh banta ha boss, we are here for only few things, Live, laugh, Eat, Ride, Repeat

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp; Ladakh


Snowcapped Mountain
Day6 (Thursday) - 18/06/2015

Small halt while exiting Patni top ...my all tym fav "V" pose



Sachin stopped here to take some time lapse from his Go pro <Can you see his helmet>





Its not a machine ...Its Alive and has soul in it !!

^stClear Blue Sky !!




Blue Sky, Blue Saffy, Blue Helmet......All in my favourite color

We stopped somewhere in Srinagar ghat to take some break from Adrenalifne and fuel break <biscuits i mean>....and can you locate the temple behind they were our motivation

When you stand at the corner of the road this is the valley you see... the valley became more dangerous as we proceeded ahead


Beautiful Dal Lake

Sonamarg <55 kms> that was our destination for the day

snow capped mountains, clean orange sky, flowing river Snow Capped Mountains !!Thats our hotel where stayed for night




View from our hotel balcony - Sonamarg



Snow Capped mountains indeed !! Hotel parking !!






^stZojila PassThat night in my dreams I was already home and sharing our adventurous stories with our families > DREAMS ARE WEIRD


Our Machines waiting for us early in the Morning - Eagerly waiting for there Riders !!

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp; Ladakh

While reading about the ghats in Kashmir, this pic struck my memory lane.
Took this pic on my official trip to Darjeeling.
Little offtopic but wanted to share these pictures. Mountains are like paradise on the surface of earth..

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp; Ladakh

Very very engaging writeup, we skip other works to read your logs ☺

You guys got very good narrating skills, makes us hungry everytime ... haha

Never thought the story will start and follow with so much thrill,

Beautiful pics, lovely poses, neat descriptions, keep rocking.

Waiting for rest of the episodes.


Same here .. 👅

Very Energizing words 🙌🙌

Same here .. bought on 24th march 2016 ✌
Not yet named.

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp;amp; Ladakh

[MENTION=81584]kaziroks[/MENTION] :- Truly mountains are like paradise on mother earth great you shared your pics "Darjeeling" is in our list too

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[MENTION=82758]PremSoni85[/MENTION]:- We always get so much overwhelmed by your every word. Thank you again!! and lakh lakh vadhaiyan ji for your new bike...Wish you millions of miles ahead..Dont forget to share the name

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp; Ladakh

by seeing that Jammu Srinagar Hillway, my memories of last year came back. I was there in Mid May & you were in Mid June (hard luck). I am surprised How you reached Srinagar in 6 hours when we in travelling in a Travera got there around 11 hours. That time the traffic was like alternate Days. On Sunday you travel from Jammu to Srinagar and Monday from Srinagar to Jammu (a lot of stone/mud sliding in that time, even some places in between no road was there at all. Very scary indeed).

I do not know your ahead write-up, but I feel that you might have missed snow in Sonmarg, as the season was already dying in May. But still waiting for your experience.

One complaint though....where are the Foods .....only Biscuit & Tea wont satisfy me at all...

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp;amp; Ladakh

Sure ... and thanks..

By the way,


The contents and even the comments in your threads are hard to miss,


And i am sure after reading your t-log, unmarried riders will add another question to their list while selecting bride.. that is ...


Do you ride a bike ? Or would like to learn and ride with me ? .. haha ☺

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp; Ladakh

This is awesome. I don't know how I missed it for such a long time. Let me read the full log right now

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp; Ladakh

great T log . all the best to both of you and wishing many more great rides in future.

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp;amp; Ladakh

[QUOTE=KiranSingh;1220211][MENTION=81584]kaziroks[/MENTION] :- Truly mountains are like paradise on mother earth great you shared your pics "Darjeeling" is in our list too

Do tell me when two of u plan so.. :-D
Waiting for day 7...

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp; Ladakh


CHAPTER 7 - “DAY 7”

“Into The Thin Air”

Day7 (Friday) - 19/06/2015

Route – Sonamarg – Zozila pass – Kargil war memorial – Kargil

Kms – 123 kms


It was too chilly <10 degree or something> I peeped out of my blanket and what I see Sachin was all geared up loading our luggage’s <Seems he was trapped more with anxiety than me>. He signaled me to sleep some more and give some more relaxation to mind and my mind was screaming impatiently that “GET UP LADY - Today is the day for which you were travelling and planning for so long”.

The day has come where we start our actual adventure for which we equipped ourselves for 6 long months. “YES IT’S THE DAY TO CROSS OUR 1st PASS” <My stomach was hurting because of all anxiety >

I woke up and took a quick look from our room window about what my man is up to and I saw that he is pampering saffy and touro by cleaning there chains and lubricating them…lifting my eyes what I saw aaahhhh the view was mesmerizing truly a Snow capped Mountain and sky lined with Saffron shades, river flowing bit by bit…I felt so Refreshed and positive!!

Gearing up I went downstairs to show my real riding skills for our most awaited day <ou hu hu hu it was coldy cold>. Closing our eyes & remembering our parents and the entire goddess who helped us to reach till here we left for our destination.

Of course breakfast was important so we stopped for breakfast in a nearby tent with the scenic view somewhere in Sonamarg < Which was some 25 kms from our hotel>. We had a completely different & Delicious type of egg dish made by a person who was in 1st year M.A < handsome he was…>

We enquired him about the Zoji la route to which he said “darawana tho lagta ha chotisi road ha, par gabrane jaisi koi baat nhe ha ji.. ho jayega” (Of course it’s dangerous and it looks dangerous too, very thin road but no need to worry …it will be fine) < Adrenaline again> I wasn’t able to swallow in my breakfast, I wanted to get back to Saffy and face Zojilla ASAP.

Somehow I had my breakfast much faster than usual just to take in “Diamox” tablet to deal with Acclimatization thing.

<Please note whoever says that Diamox isn’t necessary for AMS is doing the biggest mistake of their life. Find ahead what happened with us even after taking Diamox>

Well every person sitting there in the tent wished us luck, we thanked them <I WAS IMPATIENT to take a move from Sonamarg and to meet our 1st Pass and I even wanted to give this adrenaline thing a rest!!>

Just before leaving from Sonamarg, after our breakfast



Hold your breathe Zojila is about to start






Asking each other "Zozila kab ayega?Kab ayega zozila?" - Also needed break for natures call, Can you see the lane going upwards behind me



I was so Impatient that i moved ahead leaving Sachin behind !!

grin emoticon

Riding for some 20 kms all of a sudden we got a sharp turn which was also 70 degree climb with extremely rough and stony road , no sign board nothing at all and it was this “Shocking realization” that “The Zojila Pass” has started to which my mind said “Let’s rock these 11km.”

I somehow felt that my breath ratio was bit higher than usual may be due to low oxygen or cold or adrenaline or what don’t know. I wasn’t concerned about anything at that moment.

With full of alertness we crossed some heart throbbing roads <thanks to our newly fitted button tyres specially made for these kinda roads literally helped us immensely>

I did not even calculated how many times I saved myself and Saffy from skidding during that slippery pebbly water crossing <It was minor water crossing but I was new to it so for me at that moment it was heart attack kinda thing>


Mighty Zojila has just started and me riding on the middle of the road, Sachin appreciated saying that this is the correct way of riding on those loose roads. least he knew that i was riding in middle because i was afraid of the edges <height phobia>



This things is really scary, Zabardast Zozila again




After some 5 kms of our ride suddenly Saffy started to hiccup and within no time she went to dead stop. I tried restarting her but there were no life in engine. Sachin was honking on me so that we can move ahead instead of waiting on those clumsy place, screaming he said “You wanted to stop - WHAT HAPPENED?”, I gestured saying Saffy is not getting started.


This is where Saffy started to hiccup and when i applied brakes to let the truck go first it went to complete dead stop. When i tried restarting her nothing happened




We dragged Saffy to a corner where we could allow all the trucks to pass of and look into the matter <Sachin was cool as always, mind under control – THE MANTRA>. He checked few things and asked me to stop for sometime “let the bike cool, everything will be alright"

This is how Saffy stopped working and came to an complete halt

Obviously I was worried <Anybody in my place would have been worried > so many negative things going around in my mind “My 1st ride, my 1st dangerous Pass and this is what happening with Saffy, I think we have to load her in a truck, my ride is all over” Sadly raising my head when I saw Sachin he was happily clicking out the pics, writing on snow covered wall, enjoying the view which made me more angry
Pointing towards Saffy I asked Sachin to let’s try once. He tried to self-start her but she wasn’t in mood to walk on those stones. I closed my eyes in disappointment, praying to lord; Sachin tried again NOTHING, Shit what the hell has just happened…..SOMEBODY PLEASE SAY!!

This is what Sachin was doing after Saffy wasnt getting started....aahhhh i will never forget this photo. I was seeing snow for 1st time in my life did not know whether to be happy or sad





<God I want to learn this thing from my man “HOW THE HELL WAS HE SO COOL – as if he knew the things will be back to normal soon just a matter of some time…>

After a while he tried starting Saffy by applying choke so that she gets initiated and Yes my lady did got started!! Aaahhhh, yes the moment of happiness, the sound of engine, Saffy is all alive seems even she was less on Oxygen, I hugged her, for a moment I thought I lost her but no, she was back and right here with me. She is all strong not like her rider but like her rider’s better half.

I could make out from Sachin’s face that he was upset not because Saffy stopped working in middle of mountains but because of me , he turned to me and started speaking which did not stopped for next 10 minutes……………

“You remember we discussed it right from the day one that this terrain is unpredictable and we can face anything and everything here!!....what if any lose giant rock comes rolling down in front of my rear and takes my bike and me to the edge of the Ghat throwing us down? What if some drunkard truckwala dash you hard? What if there is a landslide just when you are about to cross the way? Kiran there are many things that nature can do to us so this bike breakdown things are nothing in front of those. Don’t panic with such small things. Haven’t we discussed this before? if Saffy wouldn’t have started we would have loaded her in some truck and took her to some nearby mechanic, repaired and resumed with our ride…What so big in that? Things can go wrong here…..Why you have to raise your Blood Pressure every time? Can’t you keep your mind under control? You pray every time you start your bike saying “Ganapati Bappa Morya” Don’t you trust him? Don’t you trust me? Don’t you trust yourself? Don’t you trust Saffy – the lady who got you up till here all the way from Mumbai?”

TRUST YOUR MACHINE AND THEY WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU!!

<This one line said by Sachin made a huge difference in my attitude throughout the journey> Well what can I say this is how you learn.

He was right and there wasnt any point arguing there, since I knew I was wrong. I just nodded saying “I am sorry” <which gave me hard urge to cry!! But controlling my tears we resumed back to kick off those left out treacherous miles.>

About ot finish "The Zojila"




We did got some better patch to speed up till 40 kms at the end of pass however the best part was since we were going from Sonamarg to Zojilla we faced very little patch to ride on edges <which would have made me more breathless and height phobic>

Finally from far off when we saw a board which mentioned “WELCOME TO LADAKH, YOU ARE AT ZOJILA PASS – Altitude 11,575 feet”; guess what, we would have done –
WE SCREAMED we screamed so LOUD that it made echo of our voices returning it back to us

We stopped, parked our bikes at the side hugged each other tight and sobbed; yes it was the tears of happiness, the tears of achievement, the tears of all our hard efforts, the tears of those 6 months preparation, the tears to reach till here all the way from Mumbai, tears of our love, tears of being together through all hard times, tears of saffy & Touro making up till here, tears of …………….

We pinched each other making us realize that’s it’s a reality and seeing in each other’s eyes we shared a smile, wiped our eyes cleared our blocked nose and posed for a photograph “CLICK CLICK”

<This terrain has made me so emotional every small incident make my eyes fill with those salty water – Sometimes with happiness sometimes with sadness and sometimes with uncalled unexpected tragedies…Frankly I am such a strong lady who faced all the problems without shedding any tears right from school to college to my 1st job in fact even my marriage where “Singh and Desai” cannot be joined together.. but at the end everything concluded with the happy note in all my phases and the same is gonna happen with this first adventure of our life>

<I was done with this Crying thing Literally!! 2016 is cry free year for me I am done with my year long quota in 2015 while on this leh ride >

Reached Zojila - The proud Moment !!





The roads till Kargil was the complete mess, you could not go above 30kmph. The happiness gushed in when we saw a TAR road from far. Saffy and Touro was impatient to touch 100kmph on those tarmac.

On our way to Kargil we were awestruck by the sheer beauty of the place obviously we were compelled to stop there for some photography.

Somewhere before Kargil




Wonderful Isn't it ?





Mesmerizing Valley




Not in mood of fist dash, leaving Sachin dissapointed




Took lots of break and lots of rest here!




Snow Capped Mountain !! It was bliss to our eyes !!




Can you see that sleeping mat? We want to live here for rest of our life..




I was feeling good after my 1st pass - i was in posing mood today -




Yoga does help you in this kinda terrains



Finally, photo of the photographer




I loved this clean Tarmac




We live on the streets!! Yes we are "THE RIDERS"



smile e
Saffy Touro at rest





I climbed all the way up to hold some ice in my hand





Lagta ha baraf hone wali ha tongue emoticon




I am free! its sliding time !







Touro Posing




One friend, gave him some biscuits...He soooo cuteeee




Visting “Kargil war memorial” and bowing our head there was must. As soon as we reached the memorial I started feeling restless I found trouble in breathing, bit of headache, dry throat, uneasiness, I was feeling something odd <Is it Acclimatization thing, but we did took Diamox> the same happened with Sachin but that was just for few minutes.

I asked Sachin to go ahead and take a look around the memorial till the time I would rest in the military camp <I did not go in because of all restlessness – Don’t know when will I visit the place again>

After 45 mints of struggle to get some sleep, and with dry throat which was constantly asking for water, I lifted my face up and saw Sachin coming towards me he looked bit sad after seeing the Kargil war memorial he sat for 10 mints without speaking anything. Later he asked my wellness and got a refreshing tea called “Kahwah”(Kashmiri Tea) from military canteen...which made me feel tad better.


Entering Kargil Region - Feeling Proud to be Indian





Brave soldiers gave their lives saving this mountain




Can you see me iam in no mood to give a pose due to AMS.




Bharat Mata Ki Jai!!




HDR Kargil




Vijaybhumi!




Lets Fly




Jai hind





Sachin literally read all the names on this board, these were the men who lost their life fighting with enemies




Heyyyyy therrrrr burrrrrr, kuch samajh raha nahi ha.




AMS - Btw thats Sachin's Captions above the pic -- Mad he is




AMS Gone


Yuhuu I have done Zojila...




We met few Delhi folks who were stunned talking to us. They wanted to make a small film about our journey; experiences etc (We felt like celebrity :P)… however since we were running so late, we apologized them and left from there assuring them to meet at Pangong or Leh city.

We had a chicken thali lunch at Drass <one of the coldest place in Ladhak region during winter and 2nd coldest inhabited place on earth> leaving from there we took a really long breaks in a nearby waterfall... Today I felt like a leisure ride <Sachin made sure to keep my mind & body relaxed after my 1st pass> therefore we were riding in much more soothing way.

Again some Resting Time




We dont like black and White clicks, hence little different pic




Aaj khush toh bohot honge tum




Prayers do Miracles !! Aaj yakeen ho gaya !!




We planned to stay in Kargil for the night so we checked in a hotel as soon as we found one. Since it was not so late in evening we thought to take Saffy and Touro to a nearby washing centre to get them a chilly bath <of course they were so happy to get cleaned>

Concluded with our dinner over the chilly rooftop. Packed our stuffs <while packing my things I realized that I have lost my pouch which had hell lot of my essential materials <sunscreen 50 SPF, body lotion, shampoo, SPF gloss, face wash, sanitizer, multivitamins tabs and what not> things without which a girl cannot survive… shit shit shit…

I had to buy it all again but where “can I find a medical store now” I asked Sachin sadly to which he replied - “Leh City” probably, Come on till then enjwaiee some Unhygienic “ness”

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE I LOST MY POUCH !! locate it in one of the pics !! <Even We came to know about this while going through these photographs > we stopped here for washing our face with 100 percent natural water.


Can you spot the blue colored pouch on the left hand side, it had all the things which we lost




Day 7 ended up with good note and too much learning’s by Professor Sachin, my coach, my trainer, my love <3. Well we did not plan anything for the next day. We thought wherever we feel tired we would take a halt and relax ourselves.

Concluding Day 7 positively we went into deep and relax full sound sleep..<despite the fact that I was missing my cosmetic pouch >

<DAY 8 would have no “Dangerous Pass” crossing but there are some passes and test of the carbureted machines.. we were all set to face some more zig-zaggy lanes>

PS: - <We did clicked some poses with the yummiest egg dish and the person who made it for us and also the better pics of Zojilla pass where we were blowing our noses after, grin emoticon However reason for not uploading it would be revealed in our last chapter>


Also Enjoyie our short Video while crossing "The Zojila"

Re: A Couple on Two Different Motorcycles Riding to the Magical Mountains - Leh &amp; Ladakh

Well I only read tlogs and never post...but urs one force me to post my first comment in any tlogs.
Awesome, respect...ur tlog is sidhe "dil se"