yes
Sunday, July 22, 2012
The ride from Manali to Leh
The ride from Manali to Leh: Strenuous and yet Sentimentally Strong
Leaving Manali for Leh required the sleep to be abandoned and with a tummy-adjusted-against-medicines the tempo traveller ride for rs 1800 was all i could secure. Rounds to the Manali bus terminal weren't comforting enough to lend me a direct answer on a direct Leh bus with some persuading Keylong should be the halting point.
A direct transport was all that i looked for and a late afternoon departure from the lodge gave me the leeway to spend time on the Net as well as scan the proceedings in the bus market area. Thick with people, the market late in the night saw two to three guys putting to ash thick sheets of paper probably brought from a food joint. The attendees to the proceeding made it sure that all papers preserved in the past and lit now were left in a state with nothing to reveal. Having watched that and other stray dogs and cats, it was safer to leave the market area and head to a site where the mini bus would come in a colour of white.
At 1.56 in the morning the tempo traveller started with Vashisht the first destination in town where it picked more passengers who fitted the 1800 rs crown. At 2.10. the road had an uneven and ruptured opening lasting fairly long and traced to factors like heavy traffic movement, landslides and rains. Between 3.52 and 4.06, the road is a cakewalk followed by another rupture of sorts. At 4.40 Koksar is accessed and from here it does not take long for the smooth transition to give way to a road strewn with slush, pebbles and stationary trucks on either side.
The first among slew of signboards is on safe driving; " road sinked drive cautiously" appearing intermittently. Water collection on road is a repeated sight and 15 minutes after Sissu has passed the Glacier View cafe is a sight that shows there are few eating joints which are having a blast. The road breaks out at different points and when Gondhal is 4 kms away there is another sighting "desi bottle 70 chilled beer." Before Tandi bridge the mini bus goes past a petrol pump. Going past Tandi bridge at 6. 08, Keylong 6.25 followed by Circuit House Keylong II, and Panjab Agricultural Univ., Keylong. comes as easily as boards conveying "inconvenience regretted", BRO roads. Mind you the road is bumpy enough to throw you out of sleep if one attempted at any point.
Etched on a rock 983276 is all that i can make of a cell number and at 7 it shows Leh 347 km intermingled with a higher dose of rough road and a low but noticeable showering of a smooth one. Another board showing Welcome to Camp Jispa journeys followed by Padma JISPA and a one on "after drinking whisky, drving risky."
At assistance centre Darcha we are at 7. 18 and from here Sarchu is shown to be 77km. In Darcha, Apna Dhaba step in for bk'fast, lunch, dinner thukpa, mo-mo lemon, black tea is widely visible and so is the capacity of the vendors to spell that most of the daily necessities are available after crossing the bridge. After bridge is Himalayan Dhaba. From Darcha to Sarchu vehicles go up and down for umpteen times with a U Turn underscoring that this zigzag could have been avoided had the bridge been positioned with a proportional advantage. The Road after TCP to Zing Zingbar is smooth and at 8.21 Z Z'bar is accessed with Peace Cafe z z'bar coming at 8.30. At 8.40 the vehicles which left Leh cross us and at 8.59 we go past Parlachcha, highest point of snowfall. At 9.16 Leh is shown 273 kms, with Sarchu coming at 10.35. From Sarchu, Leh is 251 and Loma 355.
The stoppage at Sarchu is long enough to make people search and secure the disposable toilets - the best part of such journeys should be to dispose the idea of paying a visit to disposable wonders if one can - amidst a brief conversation with a documentary filmmaker who seems to be no less than a tutor.
The view of peaks from Sarchu is strong and lasting. And few kms before and after Sarchu the ride is smooth but not long enough when you go past Brandy Bridge at 11.09 and Whisky bridge at 11.12, the latter being weak and under repair. The sighting of BRO Creates,Connects and Cares is enough for one to make a strong pitch that more efforts are required to get the somewhat better connectivity with a honest surety. The approach to Pang is filled with dust and the number of times the vehicles go off the road to come back is large enough to realise the wonder of travelling in a place which amidst the dust has camp tents pitched for a fest. Finally, Pang comes at 1.18 and here the halt is over an hour. From here Tanglagla (some signboard spell Taklangla) is shown 65km, and when Tanglagla is 60 km away the smooth option begins for a while. We reach Tanglagla at 4.05 followed by a halt of few minutes. As usual the road ups the ante, peaks surmount and after innumerable rounds of ascent and descent we are at Rumtse at 5.30 followed by Gya and Rong. Upshi border post comes at 6. After the formalities of depositing and collecting the passport at border post (true for those who deposited here from a country where they were subjected to a wear and tear), the ride ahead takes us to Leh a little after 7.15.
The ride from Manali to Leh was for a little over 18 hrs commensurate with innumerable ups and downs on roads littered with all possibilities that a road network can present. Still the thick traffic on either side at some point suggested the longing for LEH and a latitude that few could flay.
Leaving Manali for Leh required the sleep to be abandoned and with a tummy-adjusted-against-medicines the tempo traveller ride for rs 1800 was all i could secure. Rounds to the Manali bus terminal weren't comforting enough to lend me a direct answer on a direct Leh bus with some persuading Keylong should be the halting point.
A direct transport was all that i looked for and a late afternoon departure from the lodge gave me the leeway to spend time on the Net as well as scan the proceedings in the bus market area. Thick with people, the market late in the night saw two to three guys putting to ash thick sheets of paper probably brought from a food joint. The attendees to the proceeding made it sure that all papers preserved in the past and lit now were left in a state with nothing to reveal. Having watched that and other stray dogs and cats, it was safer to leave the market area and head to a site where the mini bus would come in a colour of white.
At 1.56 in the morning the tempo traveller started with Vashisht the first destination in town where it picked more passengers who fitted the 1800 rs crown. At 2.10. the road had an uneven and ruptured opening lasting fairly long and traced to factors like heavy traffic movement, landslides and rains. Between 3.52 and 4.06, the road is a cakewalk followed by another rupture of sorts. At 4.40 Koksar is accessed and from here it does not take long for the smooth transition to give way to a road strewn with slush, pebbles and stationary trucks on either side.
The first among slew of signboards is on safe driving; " road sinked drive cautiously" appearing intermittently. Water collection on road is a repeated sight and 15 minutes after Sissu has passed the Glacier View cafe is a sight that shows there are few eating joints which are having a blast. The road breaks out at different points and when Gondhal is 4 kms away there is another sighting "desi bottle 70 chilled beer." Before Tandi bridge the mini bus goes past a petrol pump. Going past Tandi bridge at 6. 08, Keylong 6.25 followed by Circuit House Keylong II, and Panjab Agricultural Univ., Keylong. comes as easily as boards conveying "inconvenience regretted", BRO roads. Mind you the road is bumpy enough to throw you out of sleep if one attempted at any point.
Etched on a rock 983276 is all that i can make of a cell number and at 7 it shows Leh 347 km intermingled with a higher dose of rough road and a low but noticeable showering of a smooth one. Another board showing Welcome to Camp Jispa journeys followed by Padma JISPA and a one on "after drinking whisky, drving risky."
At assistance centre Darcha we are at 7. 18 and from here Sarchu is shown to be 77km. In Darcha, Apna Dhaba step in for bk'fast, lunch, dinner thukpa, mo-mo lemon, black tea is widely visible and so is the capacity of the vendors to spell that most of the daily necessities are available after crossing the bridge. After bridge is Himalayan Dhaba. From Darcha to Sarchu vehicles go up and down for umpteen times with a U Turn underscoring that this zigzag could have been avoided had the bridge been positioned with a proportional advantage. The Road after TCP to Zing Zingbar is smooth and at 8.21 Z Z'bar is accessed with Peace Cafe z z'bar coming at 8.30. At 8.40 the vehicles which left Leh cross us and at 8.59 we go past Parlachcha, highest point of snowfall. At 9.16 Leh is shown 273 kms, with Sarchu coming at 10.35. From Sarchu, Leh is 251 and Loma 355.
The stoppage at Sarchu is long enough to make people search and secure the disposable toilets - the best part of such journeys should be to dispose the idea of paying a visit to disposable wonders if one can - amidst a brief conversation with a documentary filmmaker who seems to be no less than a tutor.
The view of peaks from Sarchu is strong and lasting. And few kms before and after Sarchu the ride is smooth but not long enough when you go past Brandy Bridge at 11.09 and Whisky bridge at 11.12, the latter being weak and under repair. The sighting of BRO Creates,Connects and Cares is enough for one to make a strong pitch that more efforts are required to get the somewhat better connectivity with a honest surety. The approach to Pang is filled with dust and the number of times the vehicles go off the road to come back is large enough to realise the wonder of travelling in a place which amidst the dust has camp tents pitched for a fest. Finally, Pang comes at 1.18 and here the halt is over an hour. From here Tanglagla (some signboard spell Taklangla) is shown 65km, and when Tanglagla is 60 km away the smooth option begins for a while. We reach Tanglagla at 4.05 followed by a halt of few minutes. As usual the road ups the ante, peaks surmount and after innumerable rounds of ascent and descent we are at Rumtse at 5.30 followed by Gya and Rong. Upshi border post comes at 6. After the formalities of depositing and collecting the passport at border post (true for those who deposited here from a country where they were subjected to a wear and tear), the ride ahead takes us to Leh a little after 7.15.
The ride from Manali to Leh was for a little over 18 hrs commensurate with innumerable ups and downs on roads littered with all possibilities that a road network can present. Still the thick traffic on either side at some point suggested the longing for LEH and a latitude that few could flay.
Sighting In Mcleodganj II
On Temple Road
- Tibet collection
- kailash hotel & restaurant
- lika shop
- Palsong Cafe tibetan, indian chinese veg food
- change money
- Tibetan United Association , office of central executive committee, TUA, Mcleodganj, 176219,Dharamsala
- Tibet gallery
- new karyana store
- treasure box gems and jewels
- Vishwa Vikhayat kullu shawl grahak sewak exhibition cum sale, discount 10 per cent
- Dreaming oriental carpets tibetan & indian cottage handicrafts
- SBI M'ganj
- M hotel & rest't
- Doritsang Tibetan culture centre
- mustafa art emporium
- volunteer donate LHA
- welcome to tibetan handicrafts coop society ltd
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Eight days in Mcleodganj
Eight days in Mcleodganj
When i reached Mcleodganj little was known about the days when i would be sedated with a brunch. Tipa Road was the location where i stayed for seven days, with every day accentuating my affection for Tibetan Ace. First halt post submission of bags in room no 101 was at Kalimpong Cafe for the tea that came in sizeable sum. The very first outing in the market suggested the demarcation among Tipa Road, Temple Road, Jogibara Road and Bhagsu Road. The nights in the town were not difficult to suppress except for the beating the ground that came from a gentleman who on above floor was taking the much-desired rest. The second day, happening to be Tuesday, saw coming of rains with a marginal halt here and there. It was this day that i marked my foray to a Gakyi Restaurant for meals followed by a repeated dose of black tea at Norling Rest't. During daytime when rains took an excuse to deliver i made it a point to hit Temple Road approaching Buddhist Temple.
Wednesday by all means was reserved for an inside view of Buddhist Temple. Post sighting of the Dalai Lama's convoy i went to the first floor of Buddhist Temple and was too thrilled to sight the splendour of the surrounding and the overwhelming idol of Lord Buddha. Here if one needs to make any contribution, a receipt to the same is issued and which is to be put in a basket. Evening saw me not dodge the Dal Lake date and etched on the notice board was: " The lake is surrounded by Deodar (Himalayan Cedar) trees and held sacred. A fair is held every sept. and devotees take a holy dip in the lake." Back in Mc'ganj via the famed TCV school, i took the tea from Norling cafe coupled with a light intake that is largely baked.
Back in the room the day had an interruptive rain session, most intense during the time i went to get a Dal Lake sense. Thursday brought the shine as i attempted to take plain porridge from peace cafe failing which i settled for crepe pancake which is few metres away. Plain Porridge was sumptuous and hearty enough to set on a date for Norbulingka Institute; the return followed by a revelation that schools would be having a monsoon halt sensation.The first four days provided opportunities to take meals in Shambhala rest't, Shangrila veg rest't and Gakyi. This was followed by forays to Peace Cafe, Peace Coffee, Crepe Pancake, Chu Sam, Himalaya, Tibet Kitchen and Tsongkha Rest't.
Friday was the birthday of the Dalai Lama and invitees were feted with sweet rice, tea, unlimited showering of laddus and apple juice. As for laddus, most preferred for one, on occasions to secure them saw entities like me run. Friday evening it again showered and this entry post Thursday lying low showed it was not a wild card. Saturday gave me another opportunity to step out of town and on agenda was Rockcut temple crown. Billed as Masroor temple, the way forward was going past Gaggal and Lanj. Evening brought me back to my Mc'ganj base and entire commute to Masroor and back was completed in private buses on which few can drool. Sunday and Monday were no different, split between visits to Buddhist Temple and Dharmakot, with the decision to leave Mc'ganj made when someone told me to look for a new fort.
Eight sentiments illustrate the undercurrents here; primary among them peace, compassion and persuasion. Smiling at strangers sets the beat as none of them looked to be any less angels. Hail Mcleodganj and hail the hunch.
When i reached Mcleodganj little was known about the days when i would be sedated with a brunch. Tipa Road was the location where i stayed for seven days, with every day accentuating my affection for Tibetan Ace. First halt post submission of bags in room no 101 was at Kalimpong Cafe for the tea that came in sizeable sum. The very first outing in the market suggested the demarcation among Tipa Road, Temple Road, Jogibara Road and Bhagsu Road. The nights in the town were not difficult to suppress except for the beating the ground that came from a gentleman who on above floor was taking the much-desired rest. The second day, happening to be Tuesday, saw coming of rains with a marginal halt here and there. It was this day that i marked my foray to a Gakyi Restaurant for meals followed by a repeated dose of black tea at Norling Rest't. During daytime when rains took an excuse to deliver i made it a point to hit Temple Road approaching Buddhist Temple.
Wednesday by all means was reserved for an inside view of Buddhist Temple. Post sighting of the Dalai Lama's convoy i went to the first floor of Buddhist Temple and was too thrilled to sight the splendour of the surrounding and the overwhelming idol of Lord Buddha. Here if one needs to make any contribution, a receipt to the same is issued and which is to be put in a basket. Evening saw me not dodge the Dal Lake date and etched on the notice board was: " The lake is surrounded by Deodar (Himalayan Cedar) trees and held sacred. A fair is held every sept. and devotees take a holy dip in the lake." Back in Mc'ganj via the famed TCV school, i took the tea from Norling cafe coupled with a light intake that is largely baked.
Back in the room the day had an interruptive rain session, most intense during the time i went to get a Dal Lake sense. Thursday brought the shine as i attempted to take plain porridge from peace cafe failing which i settled for crepe pancake which is few metres away. Plain Porridge was sumptuous and hearty enough to set on a date for Norbulingka Institute; the return followed by a revelation that schools would be having a monsoon halt sensation.The first four days provided opportunities to take meals in Shambhala rest't, Shangrila veg rest't and Gakyi. This was followed by forays to Peace Cafe, Peace Coffee, Crepe Pancake, Chu Sam, Himalaya, Tibet Kitchen and Tsongkha Rest't.
Friday was the birthday of the Dalai Lama and invitees were feted with sweet rice, tea, unlimited showering of laddus and apple juice. As for laddus, most preferred for one, on occasions to secure them saw entities like me run. Friday evening it again showered and this entry post Thursday lying low showed it was not a wild card. Saturday gave me another opportunity to step out of town and on agenda was Rockcut temple crown. Billed as Masroor temple, the way forward was going past Gaggal and Lanj. Evening brought me back to my Mc'ganj base and entire commute to Masroor and back was completed in private buses on which few can drool. Sunday and Monday were no different, split between visits to Buddhist Temple and Dharmakot, with the decision to leave Mc'ganj made when someone told me to look for a new fort.
Eight sentiments illustrate the undercurrents here; primary among them peace, compassion and persuasion. Smiling at strangers sets the beat as none of them looked to be any less angels. Hail Mcleodganj and hail the hunch.
Mcleodganj Sighting 1
Sighting In Mcleodganj
The stay of eight days were enough to shower me the confidence that Destination Mcleodganj can be tried again. Rain or shine, visibly close enough to raise the Mcleodganj boast. Peaks could be seen from eating huts like Tsongkha with the belief that there would hardly be any shrieks.
Some of the sightings in Jogibara :
- Tarrot Reader clear and simple
- yoga teacher training
- volunteers needed come and help the tibetan refugees and students at Lha, long or short term ,
skilled or unskilled volunteers needed for :
*english conversation teachers (mon - fri 4 to 5pm)
* english, french, spanish computer teachers
english tutors
*computer teachers
* yoga teachers and massage therapists
* web designers, office assistants, it professional, journalist, writers.
Other sightings in Jogibara
-norling restaurant
- ashoka rest't
- summit adventures trekking and travel company
- tibetan ashoka guest house
- John's crystal cave (jewellery precious and semiprecious gemstones)
- crystal planet
- synergy massage
- tibetan yak rest't
- taste of tibet rest't and beer bar
- black magic rest't
- four seasons cafe
- phc
- himachal tourism deluxe bus to delhi, volvo ac bus to delhi, semi sleeper,
luxury coach to manali
- royal asian arts
- Tibetan ashoka G House
- Tibet Book Store
- Paljor Rabten 1968 Paljor Rabten 1968
- Tibet tours and travels
- Sherig Parkhang book store
- change money
- Jimmy's Italian Kitchen
- Ancient treasures of Tibet (House of tibetan and cottage handicrafts)
- Arjuna house for comfortable stay
- buddha holidays.com
- Snow lion htel & rest't
- webcity internet
- information centre of central tibetan administration
- jewels of tibet
- shangrila veg rest't
- shambhala htel & rest't and
- Gyudmed monastery charitable shop
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The attendance at Norbulingka Institute
The attendance at Norling Institute
It was during interaction with monks that i figured out that a visit to Norbulingka Institute would keep the shine. Just a day before The Dalai Lama's 77th birthday, i headed to this destination. With plain porridge from Crepe Pancake, the odds were truly in favour of hitting this destination. It was precisely 11.50 that the bus left Mcleodganj for D'haramsala. From D'sala all i could lay hands to was a private bus which i left in Sidhipur bus stand just 10 minutes before 1pm. Suggestions were not hard to come to secure Norbulingka Institute on foot. All lasting 20 minutes, i was right there at the Norbulingka Institute . The entrance has "Welcome to Norbulingka Institute Preserving Tibetan culture".
As one steps inside spotted is a board sprinkled with pictures of N'ka Creche and Pre School. The different activities are as broadly spelt out as they could be. Further down there is a direction for N'ka temple/museum, N'ka arts/workshops, offices/ AOTC and creche/kindergarten. Most of the directions indicate a right turn and i take a left one with a message etched about Vishave mein shanti rakhein (let peace prevail on earth). From here i again turn right and on to a bridge with enough water gushing down. Few metres away i come across two messages on either side. First is: Stages for developing an able and calming mind. Second is : The wheel of life. Necessarily on 12 links and their conveying power. Prominent among them are
+ a blind woman - ignorance
+ a potter - compositional action
+ a monkey looking out of window - consciousness
+ people in a boat - name and form
+ man and woman embracing - contact
+ a man drinking beer - attachment
As i move further, mind you there are steps to ascend and descend, i come across a mani wheel (this what an insider tells me which is witness to water gushing from top and flowing down). Further up there is a structure that houses paintings and a clear message to remove shoes before one steps in followed with a request to not touch paintings with hands as it would get soiled. This structure has steps segregated on different floors. The doors on most are found to be closed and on the top i can see peaks and surrounding areas. Later this door- shut exercise is explained by a daily opening that happens at 2. The next stop is a doll museum. The entry ticket is rs 5 and there are different displays. Display 12 is on Milarepa (a 11th century yogi who used to meditate in caves). Display 9 has a market scene in Lhasa. (until 1959 the traders took wool to Kalimpong and Calcutta and brought back hats, cloth, sugar and spice. In China they obtained brocades and black tea in exchange for musk). There are other displays on religious costumes and picnics and leisure.
Few walks further i come across the Norling restaurant which i am told is hosting the Norling party and i better look for other option. Lucky enough to get a lift to Sidhipur bus stand. From here i take a bus to D'sala. On the way the man seated next to me speaks on his son based in the national capital and battling a rent battle. With jobs as few as men in the state, his son decided to have a National Capital fate. From power to water, everything comes in a quarter. The gaze shifts to two girls of which the one finds it convenient to take the next berth. Both hail from Jwali.
I get down at D'sala and take a maxi cab in which the revelation that is too revealing is that monsoon vacations are too begin from July middle and till then the students would fail to escape books as a riddle.
Except for the Norling restaurant encounter, the entire beat to Norbulingka and back was as smooth as one could imagine and hope more tourists go to Norbulingka Institute to secure a sweet root.
It was during interaction with monks that i figured out that a visit to Norbulingka Institute would keep the shine. Just a day before The Dalai Lama's 77th birthday, i headed to this destination. With plain porridge from Crepe Pancake, the odds were truly in favour of hitting this destination. It was precisely 11.50 that the bus left Mcleodganj for D'haramsala. From D'sala all i could lay hands to was a private bus which i left in Sidhipur bus stand just 10 minutes before 1pm. Suggestions were not hard to come to secure Norbulingka Institute on foot. All lasting 20 minutes, i was right there at the Norbulingka Institute . The entrance has "Welcome to Norbulingka Institute Preserving Tibetan culture".
As one steps inside spotted is a board sprinkled with pictures of N'ka Creche and Pre School. The different activities are as broadly spelt out as they could be. Further down there is a direction for N'ka temple/museum, N'ka arts/workshops, offices/ AOTC and creche/kindergarten. Most of the directions indicate a right turn and i take a left one with a message etched about Vishave mein shanti rakhein (let peace prevail on earth). From here i again turn right and on to a bridge with enough water gushing down. Few metres away i come across two messages on either side. First is: Stages for developing an able and calming mind. Second is : The wheel of life. Necessarily on 12 links and their conveying power. Prominent among them are
+ a blind woman - ignorance
+ a potter - compositional action
+ a monkey looking out of window - consciousness
+ people in a boat - name and form
+ man and woman embracing - contact
+ a man drinking beer - attachment
As i move further, mind you there are steps to ascend and descend, i come across a mani wheel (this what an insider tells me which is witness to water gushing from top and flowing down). Further up there is a structure that houses paintings and a clear message to remove shoes before one steps in followed with a request to not touch paintings with hands as it would get soiled. This structure has steps segregated on different floors. The doors on most are found to be closed and on the top i can see peaks and surrounding areas. Later this door- shut exercise is explained by a daily opening that happens at 2. The next stop is a doll museum. The entry ticket is rs 5 and there are different displays. Display 12 is on Milarepa (a 11th century yogi who used to meditate in caves). Display 9 has a market scene in Lhasa. (until 1959 the traders took wool to Kalimpong and Calcutta and brought back hats, cloth, sugar and spice. In China they obtained brocades and black tea in exchange for musk). There are other displays on religious costumes and picnics and leisure.
Few walks further i come across the Norling restaurant which i am told is hosting the Norling party and i better look for other option. Lucky enough to get a lift to Sidhipur bus stand. From here i take a bus to D'sala. On the way the man seated next to me speaks on his son based in the national capital and battling a rent battle. With jobs as few as men in the state, his son decided to have a National Capital fate. From power to water, everything comes in a quarter. The gaze shifts to two girls of which the one finds it convenient to take the next berth. Both hail from Jwali.
I get down at D'sala and take a maxi cab in which the revelation that is too revealing is that monsoon vacations are too begin from July middle and till then the students would fail to escape books as a riddle.
Except for the Norling restaurant encounter, the entire beat to Norbulingka and back was as smooth as one could imagine and hope more tourists go to Norbulingka Institute to secure a sweet root.
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