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**antz.bin** · 06-30-2010, 10:10 PM

The log, Sir, is not for us, it is for you to savour the moment and be able to remember it in the same amount of detail like you do today when you re-read your log 10-15 years later. These are your travels that you are documenting here, and nobody will be able to relate to this log better even years later.

As Alankar very rightly said in his log

Those that went before us followed our travels the closest; sensing our excitement, our joy, our disappointments, our jubilation, reliving their past, making promises for a future return. Only some of those promises will be fulfilled.

Those that will go after us looked to our travels as an approximation of their own future adventures. Is it worth it? Can WE do it too? To which I say - Give it a whirl for I do not know the answer. Your experience will be distinct from mine, for Nature can and will find ways to surprise you. Its usually kind.

As for those that probably never will attempt this journey, those that are not bikers, those that have no inclination to be - it was from them I received the most adulation. Little did I know my journey would strike the fancy of so many, so dear. Little did I know that I would receive emails, SMSes, PMs requesting...no...demanding more information on my whereabouts, my adventures, my day of return. Little did I know that what I thought was a personal journey, meant so much to so many. Little did I know that apart from the one who expressed his desire to live through me, many more rode with me in spirit.

So, every bit that you write here is appreciated 1000s of times more than the numerous business correspondences you have ever written. And even if people do not vote or acknowledge the fact that they loved the log, I assure you that the person who has enjoyed the log the most would be your ('fist-fight' +) travel partner Inder. Please do not stop the log thinking that it isn't being appreciated.

**trustvishwas** · 07-01-2010, 10:35 AM

Originally posted by antz.bin View Post

So, every bit that you write here is appreciated 1000s of times more than the numerous business correspondences you have ever written. And even if people do not vote or acknowledge the fact that they loved the log, I assure you that the person who has enjoyed the log the most would be your ('fist-fight' +) travel partner Inder. Please do not stop the log thinking that it isn't being appreciated.

First of all, Thanks for the vote of confidence. None of my numerous business correspondences have been appreciated till date as most are estimates or reminders for payment.

Secondly, Inder is not my ('fist-fight' +) travel partner. Yes, we had disagreements but none were very serious in nature. The fights described in the log are to be taken with a pinch of salt.

**trustvishwas** · 07-01-2010, 08:25 PM

Day 11 : 10 June 2010 – Leh local

Today was actually a relax day for us. Aman had already done local sight seeing while waiting for us to turn up from Pangong and Paaji had done his during our Diskit ride. So me and Rudra were left. Got up in the morning early as usual. While dressing, I had a thought of using lesser layers of clothing since we were scheduled to roam around just the Leh town. Again I was proven wrong.

First we went to Shantistup. It was constructed from 1983 to 1991. The construction was done without any contractor. Mrs. Indira Gandhi (who was then a prime minister) donated funds, defense ministry provided material, state government provided timber and worshippers donated their time for construction.

It was very windy early in the morning and me & Rudra both were feeling very cold. Should had dressed in all available thermals.

View from Shantistupa –

There is nothing much to see here other than city view.

Here also I met a lot of Maharashtrian tourists. I had an impression that the majority tourists to Ladakh come from Maharashtra.

After Shantistupa, went to see Leh Palace. Actually tried to follow couple of tourist cars but ended up at an army run school. From this school, Leh palace was quite a distance so had to turn back and go from the town itself.

Construction of Leh palace started in 1553. It originally was a 9 stories palace and was the highest building in the world at its time. Now Indians have to pay Rs.5 as entrance fee. Absolutely nothing to see inside other than a temple.

View of Leh town from Leh Palace –

After Leh palace, we went back to our hotel.

The kahaani me twist was while shifting our luggage from inder’s room, I had forgotten (!) to hand over his room key to the counter. Combination of being bone tired waiting for paaji to turn up, getting bikes released from corporation, wearing army pants with 100 pockets proved to be a deadly combination. Handed over key to paaji.

My friend Himanshu’s wife was leaving for Pune on the next day so handed over Rudra’s sack filled with our unwashed clothes and some shopping. Saved us unnecessary carrying.

Aman acted as a local guide to show us (me, Rudra and paaji) the first tree in Ladakh. It is said that Guru Nanak during his missionary tour to Ladakh, put down his meswak and it became a huge tree. At that time there were no trees in whole of ladakh region so it is called as the first tree or Datun Sahib.

Nearby bakery was baking some buns and tandoori rotis. We all had some hot buns. We saw a beauty there –

Her owner didn’t want us to take her photographs so had to shoot with extreme zoom. The owner was keeping watch on us from her balcony.

Leh Gate -

Later in the day, me & Rudra roamed around market area to find some small bargains. Couldn’t find any so gave up and returned. We all got our bike chain cleaned and fuelled for next day and were set for the day.

In the evening, we all went to Ibex to celebrate successful completion of our Leh ride. It was cold so aman and paaji also wanted to have something to make them hot. Now don’t ask me whether paaji was hot or not.

Met a lot of xBhpians at Ibex. Had a long chat with Berousit and Hydbyker.

Now it was our turn to beat the cold. I had a captive audience who couldn’t escape till they get their food delivery so had a small discourse.

Basically, I preached that there are three type of members in xBhp -
1.The first type is a RIDER. He doesn’t bother about posting any threads or his photographs. He rides every time he can and everything else is immaterial to him.
2.The second type is a POSER. He rides to pose so that he can post his thread or photograph. Riding comes second to posing and
3.The third type is a POSTER. He just keeps on posting on each on every topic without doing anything. Preaching to all.

Also some riders fall in between the categories mentioned above. Combination of first and second type is ok but combination of second and third type is a deadly combination.

My audience, held ransom by their pending food order were gesturing to the waiter frantically to bring their order as fast as possible. Luckily for them, the waiter understood and brought their order so they could escape from the discourse.

We also had finished our dinner by this time so we all said good byes, wished each other safe journey and parted ways.

In the night, met with a group just arrived from Mumbai. Actually, I had planned Leh ride with this group but they had a very long 25 day plan so opted out of it. The group leader told me about Batalik route they had taken.

Next Day return journey starts.

**aargee** · 07-01-2010, 09:08 PM

Originally posted by aman_pulsating View Post

^^ why are you after votes?!?!? ..kya milega?? no contest is on...

& my reply was voiced exactly

Originally posted by trustvishwas View Post

Votes give you an idea of whether people like the travelogue or not. If overall perception is not very positive, much easier to stop it midway rather than taking all the effort.

Originally posted by antz.bin View Post

The log, Sir, is not for us, it is for you to savour the moment and be able to remember it in the same amount of detail like you do today when you re-read your log 10-15 years later.

Completely wrong my friend; It could've been logged from anywhere in a notepad to beautiful word document stored neatly on a laptop or even logged on to any share drive on internet. Sharing the experience to the community in detail is something that takes lot of time, effort & pains. I really appreciate the effort much more than the ride. Trust me, I shamelessly belong to the first category RIDER!!!

Originally posted by antz.bin View Post

So, every bit that you write here is appreciated 1000s of times more than the numerous business correspondences you have ever written.

Exactly

Originally posted by antz.bin View Post

And even if people do not vote or acknowledge the fact that they loved the log, I assure you that the person who has enjoyed the log the most would be your ('fist-fight' +) travel partner Inder. Please do not stop the log thinking that it isn't being appreciated.

Very true that there're several non-members reading & enjoying the benefit than members. But as a member, the best way to help others is to rate this thread; so that it remains as a standard reference for all those Leh aspirers. As members, I feel, this is the least we could contribute to our own community.

Finally we reached Khardung La Top. Went in to enquire in the Souvenir shop whether fresh stock had arrived. The guy at the counter told me that some poser biker had purchased all his stock the day before. (This is a joke and not to be taken seriously. If required, a disclaimer will be posted here)

@Vishwas Sir, could you pls elaborate the above? I couldn't get the point.

**trustvishwas** · 07-01-2010, 09:54 PM

Originally posted by aargee View Post

Completely wrong my friend; It could've been logged from anywhere in a notepad to beautiful word document stored neatly on a laptop or even logged on to any share drive on internet. Sharing the experience to the community in detail is something that takes lot of time, effort & pains. I really appreciate the effort much more than the ride. Trust me, I shamelessly belong to the first category RIDER!!!

Very true that there're several non-members reading & enjoying the benefit than members. But as a member, the best way to help others is to rate this thread; so that it remains as a standard reference for all those Leh aspirers. As members, I feel, this is the least we could contribute to our own community.

@Vishwas Sir, could you pls elaborate the above? I couldn't get the point.

Thanks for the confidence.

It was as joke relating to some riders who just went to the Khardung La Top, bought a lot of souvenirs and came back. Nothing serious. No accusations, just leg pulling.

**inder.cool** · 07-02-2010, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by trustvishwas View Post

Met a lot of xBhpians at Ibex. Had a long chat with Berousit and Hydbyker. Paaji was trying to explain the road conditions from Diskit to Pangong to them. Now Aman is sitting inside ibex trying to get warm and paaji is explaining road conditions which he has not even seen. Most hilarious.

Who in the world told you that i was explaining the road-conditions of Diskit - pangong!!??

**trustvishwas** · 07-02-2010, 04:21 PM

Originally posted by inder.cool View Post

Who in the world told you that i was explaining the road-conditions of Diskit - pangong!!??

If you remember, I was present in this discussion outside Ibex when I told you to get Aman from inside. If you also remember, I had not even entered the hotel so there were no influencing factors to tamper with my memory.

**surojit** · 07-02-2010, 04:29 PM

@ inder n vishwas-- pls be cool and take things lightly.... i hope this thread doesnt create any bitter feelings.... write, post contradict, make fun... but in the right spirit....

**satyenpoojary** · 07-02-2010, 05:27 PM

lol am enjoying this thread even without being able to see any pics (thanks to firewall issues)!

I am a poser :P

**inder.cool** · 07-02-2010, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by trustvishwas View Post

If you remember, I was present in this discussion outside Ibex when I told you to get Aman from inside. If you also remember, I had not even entered the hotel so there were no influencing factors to tamper with my memory.

There i told that there's no road there(as Aman already told me his part of the story earlier). I didn't or rather i couldn't tell that in detail.

**trustvishwas** · 07-02-2010, 06:18 PM

Originally posted by trustvishwas View Post

Met a lot of xBhpians at Ibex. Had a long chat with Berousit and Hydbyker. Paaji was trying to explain the road conditions from Diskit to Pangong to them. Now Aman is sitting inside ibex trying to get warm and paaji is explaining road conditions which he has not even seen.

Originally posted by inder.cool View Post

There i told that there's no road there(as Aman already told me his part of the story earlier). I didn't or rather i couldn't tell that in detail.

Can you please guide me to the part where I have mentioned that you were telling about the road conditions in detail? If I have, I will delete that post immediately.If not, please delete your post.

I knew that you couldn't tell about road conditions in detail and that is the reason why I asked you to get Aman involved in that discussion.

**Old Fox** · 07-02-2010, 06:18 PM

My congratulations to you Vishwas for your successful Leh ride. It sure is an experience of a life time...and the paradox is that its such an experience each time one goes there. Reading through your logs has been like a walk through of your ride. Thanks for sharing.

I have also put in my thoughts here about the latest 'honesty' flavor selling like hot-cakes at the xBhp parlour. Please read through it.

**inder.cool** · 07-02-2010, 06:24 PM

Originally posted by trustvishwas View Post

Can you please guide me to the part where I have mentioned that you were telling about the road conditions in detail?

Your comments in the blog looked like that only..

"Paaji was trying to explain the road conditions from Diskit to Pangong to them."..!!

"explain" means "in detail"!!

**trustvishwas** · 07-02-2010, 06:26 PM

Originally posted by Old Fox View Post

My congratulations to you Vishwas for your successful Leh ride. It sure is an experience of a life time...and the paradox is that its such an experience each time one goes there. Reading through your logs has been like a walk through of your ride. Thanks for sharing.

I have also put in my thoughts here about the latest 'honesty' flavor selling like hot-cakes at the xBhp parlour. Please read through it.

Yes sir. I have read it and thanks for an eye opening thread.

Please understand that I have tried not to wash any linen in public. If we bog or fall down, is it something to be ashamed of? Why not write about it? The challenge is that it has to be taken in right spirit by all involved.

I have time and again mentioned that this is light reading, not a PhD thesis and I have made fun of myself on several times (read last update). My opinion is - Till the time, fun dosen't cross limits, it should be ok.

If you guys feel that I have written something which doesn't pass the muster as decent, please point it out. I will be glad to delete the offensive material immediately.

**trustvishwas** · 07-02-2010, 06:31 PM

Originally posted by inder.cool View Post

Your comments in the blog looked like that only..

"Paaji was trying to explain the road conditions from Diskit to Pangong to them."..!!

"explain" means "in detail"!!

Whole para deleted. Please also let me know where I have made other errors or where my post looks like something else so will delete them right now.

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