We are staying at the isolated village of Tsokar which overlooks a white salt- lake and sits at 4500 metres altitude. The village is mostly deserted as the nomadic Khampa people, the earliest inhabitants of the Tibetan plateau, have moved to pasture-land with their animals for the summer where they set up a canvas town.
It’s quite strange wandering around a village where the people have mostly left! This is our last night of the tour in a remote place and in lots of ways we are all eager to finish now – a weariness is setting into our bones. After nearly three weeks on the road, it’s time to go home – but no, there is one more mammoth pass to go…
We arrive in Leh and have our first shower in three days! The town has become more and more for tourists and Kamal is looking at alternate routes for the future. We don’t know any different so enjoy a good look around on our day off.
In tourist spots like these, every single shop has pretty much the same merchandise! Our last meal out together costs seven dollars each and we leave Izzy in Leh for a nine-day trekking expedition over a pass with a guide and a porter. We also have a sad goodbye to Imran, our mechanic, and Sanjur, our driver. They will drive through the night and take three days to get themselves and the van back to Delhi, while a transport truck picks up our bikes.
Our flight to Delhi is over the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas where we can see glaciers and valleys and some of the places we have ridden. As we descend into the smog we say goodbye to the blue sky and deal with the assault of so much traffic, honking horns, smells, rubbish and heat. Everyone is dreaming of what to eat, everything clean, comfy beds and a good sleep. Kamal must see us to Delhi Airport and then he can return to his family. The stunning scenery, the wonderful food, the vast cultural differences, the hardy Royal Enfield Bullets, the camaraderie of a magic group of Kiwis and the friendships forged – this was an unforgettable adventure of a lifetime. Big thanks to Kamal, Imran and Sanjur – this tour was polished and slick, jam-packed with all you imagine and more, and we were nurtured and felt part of something very special. Put the kettle on, make a cup of tea or crack the top off a cold one and come on our journey through northern India…
Click on this link: https://youtu.be/Lox3Dn3IecE
Amazing adventure Lee. The scenery is breathtaking however I’m sure it is much more comfortable from my study than experiencing the cold at the altitudes. I will be awaiting another adventure BOOK 🙂 Jen
Thanks Jen…hope you clicked on the youtube video at the end of the blog – watch it on your TV if you can. xxxx
Unreal Lee great photo’s once again also amazing reading, love your comment about you and Izzy keeping an eye on the truck driver’s.xxx
Thanks Ally. Seriously, those soldiers were very good-looking!!
Another excellent adventure. Thanks for sharing.
No worries cuz, glad you enjoyed it xxx love to all your family
Home for a nice cold beer no doubt. No doubt you enjoyed it to some extent. Happy to be home.
It is nice to be home Ken…a couple of our riders contracted giardia in the last few days so we consider ourselves lucky
Hi Lee thanks so much for sending me the emails with your fabulous, amazing travels. Certainly a trip to remember to a part of the world that not many people get to – and probably those that do don’t do on a motorbike. Fantastic. Hope you are enjoying the comforts of home now.
We sure are Marian…hope you watched the video at the end of Blog 10 (best on a big-screen TV). Thanks for your comments and glad you enjoyed the journey too xxx
I shall miss India Lee. Thanks for taking the time to share your journey and your fabulous photos. Safe travel home Xx
The video allows us to relive it so much – it’s an adventure that will stay with us forever xxx
What an ending – snow and deserted villages! And so high above sea level, an amazing place.
Delhi must have been a huge assault after the clean air and comparative tranquility.
Time to look forward to the next trip in September!
To be honest, could have done without Delhi – maybe just caught connecting flights and not left Delhi airport!! On the positive we had another meal with dosa – yum!!
Wow Lee another great read, and amazing videos. Gosh you do like lots of adventures in your life. We look forward to your next blog on your next trip. Safe Travels, and much love xx
Thanks guys…I think we are soul sisters with adventures Carolyn. And as you know, age will catch up with us so we need to do it all sooner rather than later…!