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Day 4:
Today, we had breakfast at 7:30 am. After breakfast, we had to return to the hotel to prepare the luggage that we had packed the night before for the hotel to store in the storage room. We each had a backpack packed with enough belongings for a one-night stay in another city. Yes, today we will be staying in Lamayuru. After we finished our breakfast of fried eggs, boiled eggs, and rice porridge, we prepared our belongings and set off.
The scenery along the road today was quite breathtaking, as it was our first day outside the city. We passed several military camps and solar power plants. Yes, Leh uses electricity from solar panels, so people here are very aware of its value and use energy sparingly. As I mentioned in the first episode, even heaters in hotels have limited operating hours. After driving for a while, Nobu, our driver, stopped at the first viewpoint for us to take pictures. Wow, the view was spectacular again.
After taking photos to our satisfaction, we hopped back into the car. We drove for a while, and then Pai, who was sitting in the back seat, …
Daughter: "Hey... the mountain in front looks just like the Magnetic Hill I saw in the review."
Mhol: "Oh, really? Or could it be?"
Magnetic Hill is an optical illusion where a large black hill appears in front of a car parked on the road. The illusion makes it seem as if the car is moving uphill on its own, but this is not the case.
As we debated in the car whether or not this was Magnetic Hill, Nobu pulled over to the side of the road at what appeared to be a designated photo stop. Several cars from other tour groups were parked there, and almost all of them were, amusingly, "Thai people."
At this parking spot, there are ATVs available for rent. When I visited, I saw some people renting and driving them. However, for our group, it might not be a good idea to ride the ATVs, as the wind blowing in our faces might be too much for us. We might die! (Haha) It's better to take some photos instead. From what we've seen so far, …
Mal: "This spot doesn't seem very photogenic, does it?"
Jeab: "That's right. I think we should have filmed it on the hill before we got here."
“The bamboo is not as impressive as I thought when viewed from this angle. Plus, there are so many people here, running in and out of the middle of the road. It seems like it won't be easy to take pictures. Let's go back to Nobu," I said. "Can we go back the way we came?"
Nobu: "Of course. If there are any specific spots that catch your eye and you'd like to take photos, just let me know."
Our kind driver then drove us back to the first hill. As we jumped out of the car, we realized, "It's not working."
Following Nobu's lead, they drove a little further before hopping out of the car. "Ah, this is the spot!"
However, I personally feel that the photos are not as impressive as the reviews suggest. Perhaps I am mistaken.
We ran in and out of the middle of the road, with Nobu keeping an eye out for traffic and looking at us with concern, wondering if we were going to get hit by a car. 555
Alright, I guess that's about it. We ended with a group photo, where this time we had to help Nobu watch the cars behind us.
Continuing from Magnetic Hill, the roadside scenery remained stunning. As we reached a valley overlooking a beautiful river, we began another discussion.
Jieb: "This seems to be the point where the two-colored river converges."
Mal: "Yeah, it does look similar, but I don't think so. That place seems much further away, and according to the schedule, we need to leave tomorrow."
As expected, the view of the two-colored river merging into one scrolled past the side window of the car.
Mhol: "Oh, here you are!"
And Nobu parked the car on the side of the road again. 5555.
The confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers is clearly visible at this point, with their distinct colors. Today, we were fortunate to witness the vibrant blue and green hues of the rivers under clear skies. During the summer, as seen in a photo shared by a friend, the rivers appear muddy brown and their colors are less distinct. For those seeking to capture this spectacular sight, choosing the right time to visit is crucial.
This vantage point offers one of the most breathtaking views imaginable. The photograph captures only a fraction of its true grandeur. Standing there, one cannot help but feel incredibly fortunate.
"How can I capture these views and take them home with me?" This was a phrase frequently uttered by Ms. Jieb throughout our trip. I believe that anyone who has the opportunity to visit this place will understand her sentiment.
From the confluence of the two rivers, the journey ahead was long. As we drove, the scenery unfolded before us, captivating our attention with its beauty. After winding our way up the mountain, Nobu stopped the car once again. This time, we were treated to another breathtaking view on the road to Lamayuru.
From this point on, sleep was out of the question. The road was a winding mountain pass, so much so that when we reached Likir Monastery, another one of our destinations for the day, I had to get out of the car and squat down for a while. I couldn't take it anymore. This is why, in my video 'Review of packing for Leh Ladakh', I emphasized the importance of bringing motion sickness medication.
Likir Monastery. Today, it seemed like we were the only ones there. When we first saw the entrance, we wondered if the temple was closed. The highlight of this temple is the beautiful view behind it and the large Buddha statue that can be seen from afar at the top of the temple.
As we descended from the upper level of the temple, we encountered a group of children playing. We noticed that P'Pun was already taking pictures of them. While the other children ran around, the youngest boy in the group stopped and posed for us.
Let's take a look at his pose. He even has his toes pointed. So cute!
Just a short distance from the temple, we stopped at another spot. This place is also beautiful! It's a view of a fast-flowing green river. So stunning!
Our next destination was Alchi, where we were supposed to have lunch. However, since we arrived around 2:00 PM and it was nearing the winter season, almost all the restaurants in Alchi were closed. Nobu then took us to a restaurant in a small alleyway, saying that we could eat there.
Upon entering the establishment, I was immediately captivated by its ambiance. A solitary table positioned amidst the open air beneath a vibrant, color-changing tree stood out as a particularly charming feature. However, to my disappointment, it was already occupied. Consequently, I opted for an indoor table. Nevertheless, my hunger pangs were so intense that any seating arrangement would have sufficed.
Judging by their appearance, they didn't even want to move when asked to take a picture. 555
Besides the delicious food, the bathroom here is also very clean (which is rare in Leh, especially outside the city. This is a rare item!). And there is WIFI! So we left the task of ordering food to Brother Jieb and went crazy uploading photos. 555
The food that Jieb ordered for us did not disappoint, everything was delicious!
The owner approached us and explained that the trees we saw were apple and apricot trees. During the summer season, they bear abundant fruit, which guests can pick and enjoy directly from the trees. This enticing description makes us eager to return for another visit.
Before arriving in Alchi, Nobu informed us that there were shops selling jewelry and souvenirs in Alchi. This excited Jieb, who was eager to visit them. However, upon arriving and getting off the bus, the reality was quite different. The scene resembled a deserted anime scene with leaves fluttering in the wind. Disappointed, Jieb inquired with a local shopkeeper about the keberadaan of such shops. The shopkeeper confirmed their existence, indicating their location along the path to the monastery. This news rekindled Jieb's enthusiasm, and they set off to explore the shops.
After finishing our meal, we walked down a small alleyway that led to Alchi Monastery. We came across stalls selling jewelry and souvenirs, but they were not as crowded as we had expected. We decided not to buy anything and continued walking.
And we came to a fork in the road, so we chose to walk to the left, which was a small path with trees changing color planted all along the way. In addition, at some points we could see wide views to the side, which was very beautiful.
We emerged at a spot where a river flowed below, with a massive rocky mountain as a backdrop. Its grandeur made us feel incredibly small.
The path ahead is a thicket of yellow leaves, sometimes making us wonder which country we are in. 555
Then, Mal asked us, "Shall we go downstairs?"
Bamboo and Brother Pun replied without thinking, "Get down."
Amidst the vibrant foliage, I captured the interplay of sunlight filtering through the leaves. As I alternated between taking photos and observing P'Mon and P'Jeab's lively photoshoot by the riverside, I couldn't help but imagine the chill that must have permeated the air below.
And then, P'Mon and P'Jeab climbed back up, and this is the path we have to climb up and down. It's difficult, man!
We then walked into the temple, which was not very large. We walked for a short while and then we were out of the temple. It felt like we were just passing through, but...
Bamboo: "Hmm, isn't this the path we chose to turn left on earlier?"
Mal: "Oh, you're right. Haha."
Walking out, oh, I met the donkey that we tried to take a picture of while sitting in the car on the way to various places for many days, but we didn't make it in time.
And we got back in the car and continued driving. This time, we were winding our way up the mountain. The higher we went, the more we felt like we were climbing. Before we knew it, we were like, "Wow! We're already this high up?!" It was really high! And it looked like the path we were going to take was the peak of the mountain over there. Pai even turned to Nobu and asked,
Child bamboo: "Are you going to sleep on that mountain tonight?"
Nobu: "Yes."
Before heading up there, Nobu will take us to 'Moon Land' first, which is just a short distance from where we stopped to take this picture.
Just a stone's throw away, we arrived at 'Moon Land'. As soon as we saw it, we immediately understood why it was called Moon Land.
From here, we fell asleep. When we woke up, we were already at the village of Lamayuru, and we were arriving at our accommodation. Our accommodation for the night was called 'Moon Land Resort'. As soon as we got off the bus, the cold hit us immediately. It was much colder here than the previous days, probably because it was on top of a mountain. Looking around, we could see snow-capped peaks all around. A staff member then led us up to our room on the second floor. During the walk up, the unexpected happened. Flop!
Taking a misstep, he fell forward, his shin colliding with the edge of the stairs. The pain was so intense that he couldn't utter a word. Unable to get up, he clutched his camera tightly. Why did this have to happen here?!
As I attempted to stand and walk myself into the room, P'Mon brought over a first-aid kit. The scene resembled a minor crime report. In short, my shin was scraped, bleeding slightly, but the bruise underneath was a vivid green.
"You need to apply ice to it, Pha. Otherwise, you won't be able to walk tomorrow."
The problem is there is no ice here!!!!!
Mal: "Let's go, Bamboo, hold your breath and go turn on the water in the bathroom and pour it on the sticker."
Phai walked over and poured water over himself, saying, "It's not even cold!" Of course, the water was very cold, even colder than ice. His legs were so numb that he couldn't feel anything.
Today, the accommodation arranged for us to have dinner at the restaurant at 7 pm. Now there is still some time left, so everyone will go for a walk in the village. The person with a broken leg will stay in the room to watch over it, so I was able to take pictures of the room here to show you.
The near-fall down the stairs was almost the least of our worries. This was the first place that made us want to cry and go home because it was so incredibly cold. To make matters worse, the accommodation had no heater, no hot water, and a hairdryer that barely worked. This is because the place uses a generator, and if you use too much electricity, it just cuts out. In the end, everyone had to get their clothes dry cleaned, and we all ended up sleeping in all the warm clothes we had brought, looking like giant pinecones. 555
Day 5:
Due to the extreme cold here, we decided to leave early today and head straight back to Leh without stopping anywhere. So we agreed to meet for breakfast at the accommodation's dining room. As we were sitting and eating, I looked out the window and saw "snow falling!" That's how cold it is here!
Nobu informed us that Lamayuru Monastery was nearby, so we decided to make a quick stop. Upon arrival, we noticed a van with other Thai tourists who had stayed at the same guesthouse as us the previous night. However, they did not get out and simply drove away. Meanwhile, the four individuals who had expressed their intention to head straight back to Leh were already briskly walking to take photos.
The winding roads here are a sight to behold. I spent all day yesterday traveling them, and now I have to endure the return journey. Oh dear, I need some smelling salts!
Behind the temple, we encountered another million-dollar view. Can you see Moon Land faintly over there?
Amidst the ruins, a large black bird soared through the sky, reminiscent of a scene from Game of Thrones. As I walked, I imagined myself as Jon Snow.
Despite its dilapidated appearance, the structure is inhabited and even houses livestock.
This temple is undergoing construction in several areas. We observed workers transporting stones from the front to the back of the temple. Surprisingly, we also saw young children, who appeared to be under 10 years old, assisting with the stone carrying. We were amazed by their strength and ability to lift such heavy objects despite their small stature.
After taking photos and warming up in the car, it's time to move on to the next destination according to the plan! (Wait, isn't this different from the plan?)
The road to Basgo Monastery is notoriously treacherous, with countless hairpin turns. It's so bad that you'll want to get out of the car and take deep breaths of fresh air just to cope.
Mal handed me an inhaler and said, "Here, take it."
The return journey was so bumpy that motion sickness medication was a must.
Lamayuru Monastery resembles a scene from Game of Thrones, while Basgo Monastery evokes the setting of Star Wars featuring young Anakin.
Most of the markers here are white. We happily walked up that alley and down this one. What do you think? We completely forgot about Leh city. Haha.
As lunchtime approached, we passed through a small village with several roadside restaurants and shops. We decided to choose a restaurant at random, as usual, based on the menu displayed outside (although we had no idea what most of the dishes were!). In the end, we settled on a restaurant that served "Mok Mok".
We sat down and waited for the owner to bring us the menu, but she never came. Eventually, my friend had to ask for the menu, and the owner waved her hand, indicating that there was no menu. She pointed to the front of the restaurant, where the menu was displayed on the wall. We let my friend order for us, and the food was delicious and incredibly affordable.
After a long journey back to the city, we arrived at our hotel relatively early. The staff returned our luggage, and we were assigned the same room as before. We took a short break to rest, and at 5 pm, we went out to find something to eat. Strangely, many restaurants were closed that day, including Gesmo, where we had eaten before. We initially wondered if it was because the winter season was approaching. As we walked, P'Pun noticed a sign in front of a restaurant that read, "This restaurant serves chicken!"
After several days and meals of consuming eggs and flour, we are now experiencing a strong craving for meat. 555
We entered the LehChen shop to ask them, "What time does the shop close?" "Do you have any sheep?"
The restaurant closes at 11 p.m. and has sheep.
We decided to walk around the market first, and then around 7 pm, we walked back to have dinner at this restaurant. We ordered a total of 4 dishes, but it took a very long time! We waited for about an hour before we could eat. On top of that, each dish was served in a tiny portion, not at all satisfying our hunger. Okay, I'm done with this restaurant.
Read Episode 1: Leh City in the first 3 days at this link => https://goo.gl/7HNGqB
Stay tuned for the next episode! I'm going to choose some photos and write a review. 555
Where We Go
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 10:25 PM
