Wandering Adventures

While we were loading our motorcycles with luggage and setting everything up to start the journey, a sense of nervousness along with excitement was playing in my body. After all our dream ride was about to begin. We had the most amazing cup of ginger honey tea before turning on the ignition and bidding goodbye to our Manali abode. Day 3: 2nd June, Monday- Manali to Sarchu Before I begin, it is important to know that night stay at Sarchu was never an option initially on my itinerary. I had planned a night stay at Jispa instead and the next day for reaching Leh. However, Sarchu was finalised because my teammates wanted to keep the riding distance short for the next day. This called for us to halt a night at Sarchu. Though Manali to Sarchu is just 175kms it took us around 9 hours to reach at the camp site. Me, Rahul, Partha Da, Chunni Lal ji and Sayantan (from extreme left). P.C- Sayantan Pramanick THE ROUTE: Manali- Solang- Keylong- Jispa- Darcha- Baralacha La- Sarchu REFUEL STOPS: Ne...

I woke up and like every day scrolled through my phone's notifications before getting up from my bed. I couldn't move from the bed for the next 30 mins and all the happiness seemed to fade away as soon as I read the news about the India-Pakistan faceoff at the borders. The Indian response to the Pahalgam terror attack was something that was way more important than our Ladakh trip but the thought of postponing the trip sank my heart!  I had been dreaming of the cold desert, the barren mountains and the untamed paths for years and now when I was so close to living it in reality, this happened. From the day Ladakh was planned I was happy to the core and waking up every single day with an enthusiasm I never knew I had before.  An unseen happiness had surrounded my inner self. It felt like having an affair! The excitement in me had no boundaries. But now everything seemed to have gone for a toss. I called up my travel buddies Rahul and Sayantan to discuss a plan B but nothing other...