The first movie Leh - Journey and beyond

So we finally did it ,3500 Km in 8 days flat. Of course we drove straight for 32 hours which is dangerous but encountered all aspects of the nature and managed to get enough pics and videos to make a full length movie. the trailer is bad but the spirits high... so will be updating soon on the entire journey as soon as the tiredness wears out .... ergo i am going back 

Things to carry for Leh trip

Before we drive off, I decided to create a comprehensive list of all the items we are carrying with us. This may be of help to you in case you are planning a trip of the same. Of-course we plan to rough it out for any eventuality therefore there may be a few of items that you may or may not include depending on the budget
Vehicle
1) Car of choice - a diesel vehicle preferably a a four x four ( We are driving a Hyundai Santa Fe)
2) The car has been services
3) two spare tires with rims
4) Luggage carrier
5) tow rope
6) Winch set for any unforeseen events
7) Additional jack

Other things
1) a two man tent
2) A mobile loo
3) A pick axe
4) torches
5) batteries
6) A small stove
7) cooking utensils
8) a portable table /chair
9) Sleeping bags
10) Electric kettle with car plug
11) Camera
12) Go pro movie camera
13) Batteries
14) self filtering water bottles
15) Anti spill cups
16) Small knife
17) keg to carry fuel
18) icebox
19) reading lights
20) fuel lighter
21) Sun screen lotion
22) lip balm

Food 
1) soups
2) biscuits
3) rice
4) lentils
5) cup o noodles
6) maggi
7) dry fruits
8) Lots of drinking water
9 ) medicines - Dixom is important and a couple of portable oxygen cylinders .

I hope this list is more than enough to cover this journey , of-course one can splurge as much as they want but then for a budget traveler these are essentials. 

Hemis festival - 26th June

Hemis Gompa, the largest and richest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh plays host to the popular yearly festival day called Hemis Festival. The day has been declared as the state holiday. This 2-day festival is celebrated on the 10th day of the Tibetan lunar month and remembered as the birth of Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. During the festival, the locals get dressed-up in traditional clothes, where men wear cummerbunds and women wear vibrant headgears and loads of jewelry. The Lamas perform sacred masked dance, known as Chaam while they are accompanied by musical drums, long horns and cymbals. This is an extremely well-known festival. The most mysterious form of celebration are the mystic mask dances. The Mask Dances of Ladakh are referred collectively as chams Performance. Chams performance is a fundamental a part of Tantric tradition. Chams are performed only in the monasteries that practice Vajrayana teachings of Tantric Buddhism.

Now this Hemis festival is something that can be caught on our trip. This would be rather interesting as we would be in the region around that time and thus it is going to be an interesting experience. 

The two-day Hemis Festival celebrates victory of good over evil. One can see a number of people dressed in bright and colourful clothes to celebrate the festival. The Tibetan calendar indicates that on lunar month's tenth day, the Lama Head organises this Hemis Festival. In order to protect his people, the Tibetan Buddhism founder, Guru Padmasambhava, fought the evils. On his birth anniversary, all the people celebrate Hemis festival grandly.

Hemis Festival is one of those festivals which one should definitely visit. Tourists have a lot in store during this festival. Tourists can enjoy these festivities as spectators also. During this Hemis festival, a colourful fun-fair is held. These fairs have a number of stalls and shops where one can purchase a variety of souvenirs and handicrafts. The items kept on sale are also displayed as a part of an exhibition, where people can choose from a large variety and also window-shop.

On this particular day, a ritual is followed. People on this festival mask themselves, and sing and dance. The main highlight of the Hemis festival is the unique masked dance performed by Lamas. The dance performance depicted this festival's central theme of victory of good over evil. The Lamas gather around the central flagpole. This flagpole is located in the monastery's courtyard, where the singing and dance performances along with plays take place. One of Ladakh's oldest carnivals is the Hemis festival. This festival is organised in the monastery, which is 300-year-old and also is Ladakh's richest monastery.

All the activities during the Hemis Festival take place at the Hemis Gompa, which is the centre. This Hemis Gompa is Ladakh's largest and most affluent Buddhist monastery. This festival brings in a lot of colours in the city as the masks and costumes have vibrant and bright colours. The masks are brilliantly coloured. The costumes of the dance performers are also very eccentric and luxuriant. This colourful atmosphere brings an all new charm to the festiva

.

With the brightly painted masks, which is one of the most integral part of the dance, the festival also has a lot of heavy and loud music accompanied with a lot of celebration. One can hear the sound of various musical instruments like the drums, long horns and cymbals along with the dance performances. Country liquor is considered as this festival's another major attraction.

Climate details

So the time has come to pack the bags and while I still contemplate on what to carry and what not, it is important to understand that clothes are not that important. While carrying a pair of clean undergarments is important, I think I can make do with a few set of clothes. So what was I supposed to carry and it was important to understand the temperatures in ladakh. So I visited a few pages and found out this information.

If not for its cold desert like climate, Ladakh would have been all the more accessible to tourists. Ladakh’s climate is a little extreme – the summers can get a little harsh with direct sunlight falling at such a high altitude and winters can be really cold, with temperatures dropping below freezing point. So when is the best time to visit Ladakh? Read our month-on-month breakdown of weather in Ladakh and infer yourself.

January, February and December: One of the coldest times of the season, the temperature rarely goes above the freezing point starting from December. The nights are chilling and temperatures hover around -20°C. Days are still bearable with 2°C as average temperature. January is also the month of maximum snowfall and it is not uncommon to see 6” plus thick ice sheet formations over rivers and lakes. Most highways are closed and Ladakh remains practically inaccessible during these months. Frostbites are common and most locals develop scales and cracks on their skins. February is when locals get only a little respite from the cold and one may find a few shops open for business.

March and April: Although relatively better than January, February and December, it is still too cold to resume a normal routine the months of March and April. Naturally, March is colder than April. Temperatures hover between 6°C in the day and -5°C in the night. April is still better and day temperatures go up as much as 12°C. There is still the occasional snowfall that further dips the mercury down.

May, June, July and August: This is when Ladakh receives the bulk of its tourists annually. Most highways open up the last week of April or the first week of May. May is when the action starts. The weather clears up and one can enjoy their Ladakh sojourn “sunny side up”. Temperatures are a pleasant 16°C during the day and a barely manageable 3°C in the night. The breeze still carries the winter chill and one may feel the bite if sitting in shade for too long. June is when the mercury really kicks up and temperatures soar up to 21°C (day). You still can’t do without a blanket at night when it’s 7°C. This is when tourism is at its peak and Ladakh is buzzing with visitors, most on month long treks and pan-Ladakh expeditions. This is also when most events and local festivals happen to be celebrated. The days are blessed with plenty of sun, sometimes a little too harsh. Direct exposure to sunlight for long can leave you sunburnt and tanned, and not in a good way. July is arguably the warmest month of the year. The day and night temperatures are 25°C and 10°C respectively. This is when Ladakh receives the odd rain, otherwise, the weather remains pleasant and inviting all through the month. August is when it starts to get chilly once again and the extra quilts have to be pulled out. If you happen to be traveling during August, make sure you’re packing a lot of extra woolens. The breeze is a lot gustier and carries a  lot of bite.

After reading this I inferred that while days may or may not need warm clothes, nights were definitely going to be chilly and therefore I needed a good sleeping bag and a tent to sleep in.

September, October and November: It’s already cold, by now. At elevations higher than 3000 meters, there aren’t too many days you will not feel cold. All through September, the weather is somewhat similar to that in May. The days are a lovely 20-22°C and all of Ladakh is rinsed by ample sunshine. The nights are back to being bitterly cold and you would need a desi angeethi to warm things up inside. But it’s during the months of October and November that Ladakh goes back to its gloomy self. Since temperatures start dropping below 0°C on a lot more regular basis once again, all interstate roads and passes are closed again 5-6 months. 

Acclimatization

Today it is going to be all about acclimatization and the things that are required to e known about it. We tend to get excited and do things without keeping in mind there is a higher force that is in play and there fore i am going to cover the topic in today's blog. 

Acclimatization is one of the important things to prepare for while planning trip to Ladakh. The fact that Leh and most of the places in Ladakh are located above the altitude of 10,000 feet, visitors may suffer from dizziness, headaches or even acute mountain sickness (AMS). So planning to acclimatize to the high altitude condition becomes one of the most important things to take into consideration while you are planning your trip.

The best thing about going to Ladakh, nestled amidst the mountain ranges of the Himalayas and The Karakoram, is the breathtaking view. But there are some issues which travelers to such high-altitude face. They complain of vomiting, dizziness etc. these symptoms do not give you a chance to enjoy yourself. Some people can deal with them while the others really suffer because of them.

If one flies or drives to a higher altitude directly, then sickness during Ladakh trip is pretty common. One has to experience quite extreme consequences. If one goes higher, things can get more serious. Therefore, before you set your foot out of your house to go to Ladakh, you should be aware what altitude sickness is and how to save yourself from it.

Acclaimed and Acute Mountain Sickness

Following are the scales of Altitude:

High (8,000 – 12,000 feet)

Very High (12,000 – 18,000 feet)

Extremely High (18,000+ feet)

Many times people go up to 8000 feet without any problems, the problem comes when the altitude increases. The intake of Oxygen becomes less and therefore the breathing rate becomes higher. The level of Oxygen in blood remains the same as is required at the time doing some daily household activity. When one spends more time in high altitude and accustoms himself with such Oxygen changes, this is called as Acclimatization. Different people will acclimatize at different rates and thus there is no comparison.

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) starts above the altitude of 10,000 Feet to most of the people. AMS becomes severe as the elevation becomes higher. Try to avoid going to such high altitudes directly. The condition can get worse when one sleeps, since the body respiration decreases.

If you can acclimatize properly- great, if not- move down. Nevertheless, there preventive AMS medicines too which can be consumed after consulting a doctor as there might be side effects.

Try a test to check for Ataxia. Ask the person to walk in a straight line, placing toe to toe. If he is unable to do that, immediately move down.

Tips for Better Acclimatization

Below are a few tips that will certainly help you in better acclimatization:

1. Gradual Increase in the altitude

If one goes by acclimatization rules, they state that after 10,000 feet, one should stay overnight after completing 1000 feet and for a complete day, after 3000. If things go fine, it means that you will be able to enjoy yourself in the mountains.

2. Keep hydration levels in your body proper

Consume plenty of ORS water or other fluids such as soup, milk, tea and juice. Instead of plain water, consume garlic flavored water by keeping garlic in your water bottles. This keeps the oxygen level, normal. Avoid too much of coffee or black tea.

3. Over hydration is a complete no-no

Do not force anyone to drink water, if they are not thirsty or they will vomit or worse, can develop cerebral edema (hyponatremia, confusion, weakness, seizures or coma).

4. Try not to sleep at high altitudes

When one sleeps, respiration in our body decreases. It is advisable that after spending a day at a high altitude, move down in the evening.

5. Do not over- exert

Avoid any kind of over exertion or unnecessary physical activity.

6. Stay away from anti-depressant drugs, alcohol, smoking and tobacco

Stay from anti-depressant drugs (like sleeping pills), alcohol, smoking and tobacco. You will face more respiratory troubles.

7. Keep-up the body warmth

Keep-up the body warm by weaning woolens. Your clothes should be dry as well.

8. Consume Carbohydrates

Consume a diet that is rich in carbohydrate as you get around 70 percent of your calories from it.

9. not sleep during the day

Avoid sleeping during day time and try to indulge in one or the other activity.

10. Try Sleeping in upright position

Try and sleep by resting your back against the wall or try to keep your head on an elevated level from the body. Your head will feel much lighter.

11. Carry preventive medication

Do not forget to pack AMS preventive medication but make sure you consult a doctor before consuming them because of the possible side effects. To check for possible allergies, you can try them a week or two before the trip.

12. If condition worsens, quickly move down

If symptoms of the AMS increase, you must move down at once. This is the last and the best solution.

Symptoms of AMS

Following are the category of symptoms for the levels of AMS with their cure:

AMS Symptoms	AMS Level	Possible Cure
Headache, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, nausea, disturbed sleep, and a general feeling of malaise	Mild	Medication or Descend
Decreased coordination (ataxia), Severe headache (not relieved by medicine), other mild level symptoms with increased effect	Moderate	Advanced Medication or Descend  about 305-610 meters
Inability to walk, decreasing mental status, and fluid build-up in the lungs	Severe	Immediate Descend about 610-1,220 meters

Is taking kids or babies to high altitudes safe?

According to studies, it is safe to carry an infant, at least 3 months old. The baby should not have any illness or should not be premature too. Along with this, there are other tips too, which a doctor can tell better.

Whatever has been given here is enough, however it is always advisable that before planning a trip to a region such as Ladakh, which is located on extremely high altitudes, one should always consult a physician. These are important suggestions but a doctor or an expert can guide you better. 

The Map

Today I decided to check on the route we were going to take and finally came up with a Map. it is kind of full circle.

Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, drew a circle with a piece of red chalk and said: "When men, even unknowingly, are to meet one day, whatever may befall each, whatever their diverging paths, on the said day, they will inevitably come together in the red circle.”

The trip to Leh is such. When one starts their journey after Ludhiana, it does not matter if you are to go via Srinagar or Manali you will come to a full circle after a while. As I sat and drew a map, I knew no matter what I Did I was to reach the same point in life one again.

What if Gautama meant this only? What if wanted me to visit the land of the gods and finish another journey. They have called it a journey of a life time and while  I was contemplating my thoughts on the issue, my mind wandered around. While my travel partner is busy shopping around for the trip, I wondered if I was ready.

Ever since my childhood I have been a wanderer and while I have searched desperately for an anchor, the anchor of my life my wife is away for work on business for fifteen days. So I am all alone. A much needed break from the ordinary life.

I met her in a similar circle just as Buddha had predicted. I met her where and when it had to happen. It was no use waiting and while it is safe to say that I am in love and happy , I yearn for that old life and here I am getting on with a journey . Is it a bucket list thing. I don’t have a bucket list. I am an ordinary guy, just with an opportunity to travel.

Any ways I have believed in the theory forever and here I am waiting for departure…..

Oh almost forgot the map

To be continued….

Day 2 Planning the trip of a life time

My last post was about the fitness part for the trip to Ladakh. Well So we are in the process of getting things organized. One development that has been is that we are not making any bookings and relying on tents on our way to Leh, ladakh, Well it may seem fool hardy at first, but then we thought it was best to keep our minds open and try not to push our selves too much. Setting a destination might seem to be a good idea, but we want our trip to be wild. So we have decided on going from the Srinagar route to begin with and the dates are set now only where we are going to be is some thing that is not decided as yet.

As wild as it could be. Keeping that it in mind we are going to buy a couple of mountain bikes tomorrow . hopefully we will be able to get them cheap. Cooking is going to be a task but our camping gear is now in order. Yoga mats , sleeping bags , tent , cooking stove pans pots are all there now. Of course I need to pack some toilet paper for the journey.

Now that the trip is shaping up and the vehicle is in fine order.  I think we are all set to go for this trip and hopefully we will get to see what needs to be seen and do what needs to be done. And then we need to click a lot of pictures on the way. We are trying to keep it simple and no matter how tough they make the trip seem to be. I think it is going to be a good learning experience. 

Let me tell you a bit about myself:

My name is Siddhartha and i am an avid adventurer. Since childhood i have loved to travel and have traveled almost all around the world the only thing i haven't done is travel with a partner. This is my first trip with some one and actually it was his idea only to travel to Leh. Which of course i couldn't resist saying no. What if my first marriage anniversary is just a day before or 21st June and my wife is rather angry with me for doing this. .....

To be continued

Planning the trip of a life time – Day one 15 days to departure

  They say that it is a trip of a life time, the ultimate adventure and yet, I was a bit hesitant at first. Not to say that the trip was planned over a couple of drinks and now that there is only a fortnight left to go, things have just got serious.

To begin with, a trip to leh, Ladakh is not something, you take to your neighbor hood “baniya “store. Meticulous planning and arrangements have to be made, vehicle checked and other resources to be scrounged.  Any ways so here I sit and wonder how the trip is going to be. Things that come to my mind are, am I fit to take this trip? This is the first and foremost question that comes to my mind. I don’t want to fall sick on the trip and while a doctor / my bro In law is going to take care of the medicinal part, I must start to exercise a bit now. At least for the next fifteen days to gain some strength for the arduous walking that may be entailed in the journey ahead.

It has been rather long time since I took a trip of this magnitude and all the videos that I have seen on the net, tell me one thing everything and anything can go wrong so one has to be in the best of mind and shape. Unlike the average tourist this is going to be roughed out.

 Any ways i needed to know what ladakh was all about and the internet had to say this

"Ladakh,  is one of the land of high passes, is one of the highest visited tourist destinations in India. Located more than 3,000m above the sea level, the scenic beauty of the Himalayan range and the Karakoram Mountain ranges add to the alluring beauty of this region.

Any road trips to Ladakh takes you through scenic valleys, rugged terrains, high passes, snow clad mountains and many more fascinating elements of nature. Offering mesmeric views of the surroundings, these trips also offers adequate amount of challenges as the prevailing conditions along these regions cannot be exactly predicted at times.

There are two different routes that lead to Ladakh- one from Srinagar and the other from Manali: Srinagar to Leh and Manali to Leh."

Hmmm… So there are two routes to heaven. Does that mean whether you sin or be good, you will reach the final destination? So which is heaven and what is hell? Climbing too fast can definitely equate to hell. As was confirmed by P (will refer my travel mate as P from now on). A story of cerebral edema just came through. Definitely these people traveled by air, so can be blamed for ignorance of the terrain. As I said before physical fitness for such trips is important!!!

But then again one be aware of nature not afraid.

To be continued…..