“27 ton fuel, 3 hour flight, 200 people’s hard work – this is what it takes to reach one cup of coffee here at 9000 feet. If you don’t have respect for the coffee, I don’t care. But it is important to appreciate the hard work which has gone into it, Major. So finish your coffee.”
This dialogue was mouthed by Brigadier Pratap (KK Menon) to Major Chaudhury (Rahul Bose) in one the better made movies on Indian Army titled “Shaurya”.
In our recent trip to Ladakh, we motored to the highest motorable road in the world at Khardungla (18380 Feet). As we ascended to the cafeteria, Brigadier Pratap’s words kept echoing in my ear.
My respect for our Military increased manifold as we passed through this experience.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
On Top of the World
It was mid May and still it was white everywhere –thick layers of snow covering everything.
I shuddered thinking what it would be for the soldiers to be here and protect passes like this in Decembers and Januarys. One of the Jawans told us that come whatever, the Jawans posted in nearby strategic heights (Siachin & Kargil) never desert these posts.
On our naive sounding question as whether they fought enemy, they replied that their recent fights have been with the grueling weather. Kudos to our Jawans for making life work at 18000 plus feet and letting us have this wonderful experience. If this was not enough, the Jawans also served the tourists with warm flavored tea and a piping hot bowl of Maggi at a nominal cost at the world’s highest cafeteria. Back in Leh, on the day which was kept aside for acclimatizing to the dizzying heights, we had visited the Army Museum and learnt more about our young Kargil heroes
and saw the ammunition recovered from Pakistani soldiers.
This Laddakh trip, which we (me and wife) undertook with my best friend Rajeev Nagi and his wife Henu , was one of the best holidays I ever had. We witnessed it all - The azure blue sky, the pure white snow, the sand dunes and blue streaming lakes. Nature at its best!
While returning from Nubra Valley, about a kilometer before Khardungla, we got stuck in the narrow pass as a Truck turned turtle blocking the only narrow road. With snow all around and icicles hanging like glass knives, initially it looked adventurous – I and Rajeev even had few sips of Cranberry Vodka with nature’s pure ice in small plastic cups. But as time passed and we were having no clue how long we would have to be stuck there – the surroundings became unnerving.
The light snowfall began and it all started turning gloomy. Soon Men started relieving themselves openly and women went behind the last vehicle in the long queue. We just wanted to get out of that place. It took two and half hours for Army to clear the road before we could move. Though we were told these were routine incidences there, a mere thought that what if it would have taken much longer. What if the nature had turned against us -was enough to scare.
Another dialogue of Major Pratap came back to me, “This democracy, leftist, rightist, socialist, human rights, moral science all these cease to exist 100 kms before this LoC…..”
Here are some pleasant memories which made this trip so worthwhile – on top of the world:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
Hi Sanjay. It must have been a great trip. Your pics refreshed my memories of my last 2 tiips. Yes it is scarry getting stuck on the roadside. Can u believe it we even had to push our vehicles at 16000 ft, while panting for lack of oxygen.
lovely :)
Great pics and experience nicely Put in words by the writers pen...sorry keyboard...my desire to see Len n laddakh is turning into a burring one...needs to plan my holidays there in near future ASAP...
Dear Sir,
Nice snaps.
And It's really great. Everybody should visit the heaven - Ladakh.
warm regards from,
Shripad.
oakley sunglasses, michael kors outlet, tiffany and co, burberry outlet, louboutin outlet, louboutin shoes, ray ban sunglasses, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton outlet, oakley sunglasses cheap, coach outlet, chanel handbags, longchamp handbags, louis vuitton, tiffany and co, longchamp handbags, gucci outlet, nike shoes, louis vuitton outlet stores, polo ralph lauren outlet, oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, christian louboutin shoes, prada handbags, coach factory outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, burberry outlet, ray ban sunglasses, prada outlet, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton handbags, longchamp outlet, air max, tory burch outlet, coach outlet store online, nike free, kate spade outlet, jordan shoes, louboutin, michael kors outlet, kate spade handbags, michael kors outlet, air max, michael kors outlet, coach purses
ugg, mcm handbags, instyler, insanity workout, ugg australia, reebok outlet, giuseppe zanotti, nfl jerseys, valentino shoes, longchamp, ugg boots, babyliss pro, nike huarache, nike trainers, ghd, hollister, barbour, marc jacobs, north face outlet, bottega veneta, vans shoes, ferragamo shoes, mont blanc, new balance shoes, abercrombie and fitch, ugg pas cher, lululemon outlet, soccer jerseys, p90x, celine handbags, wedding dresses, asics running shoes, birkin bag, abercrombie and fitch, uggs outlet, rolex watches, nike roshe run, soccer shoes, beats by dre, nike roshe, chi flat iron, herve leger, north face jackets, mac cosmetics, jimmy choo outlet
juicy couture outlet, hollister, air max, louboutin, ralph lauren, canada goose jackets, moncler, vans, juicy couture outlet, moncler, timberland boots, moncler, oakley, canada goose, gucci, ugg, rolex watches, baseball bats, canada goose, air max, canada goose, moncler, canada goose uk, karen millen, hollister clothing store, converse shoes, moncler, wedding dresses, louis vuitton, ugg boots, moncler outlet, parajumpers, canada goose, toms shoes, canada goose outlet, montre homme, moncler, supra shoes, canada goose, converse, hollister, ugg, ray ban, lancel, coach outlet store online, iphone 6 cases
15919meiqing
soccer shoes
new balance outlet
football shoes
louis vuitton borse
moncler outlet
uggs boots on sale
adidas originals
insanity workout
pandora bracelets
cheap uggs boots
nike roshe runs
juicy couture
mont blanc pens
michael kors handbags
ralph lauren uk
timberland boots
polo ralph lauren
ugg boots
north face
christian louboutin shoes
louis vuitton handbags
ralph lauren outlet
instyler max
coach factory outlet
coach outlet canada
ralph lauren
cheap jordans
kate spade
ugg boots clearance
instyler curling iron
cheap oakley sunglasses
jordan shoes, christian louboutin, uggs outlet, michael kors outlet online, uggs on sale, louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton, ray ban sunglasses, replica watches, christian louboutin uk, chanel handbags, michael kors outlet online, uggs outlet, longchamp outlet, nike air max, michael kors outlet, burberry handbags, tiffany and co, polo outlet, nike free, nike air max, ugg boots, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, michael kors outlet online, oakley sunglasses, christian louboutin outlet, longchamp outlet, prada handbags, gucci handbags, prada outlet, oakley sunglasses wholesale, michael kors outlet, oakley sunglasses, kate spade outlet, christian louboutin shoes, louis vuitton outlet, tory burch outlet, ugg boots, michael kors outlet online, burberry outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton, ray ban sunglasses, nike outlet, longchamp outlet
sac vanessa bruno, new balance, vans pas cher, ray ban uk, nike blazer pas cher, true religion outlet, michael kors outlet, true religion outlet, replica handbags, polo lacoste, oakley pas cher, coach purses, hollister uk, abercrombie and fitch uk, nike free uk, north face uk, louboutin pas cher, polo ralph lauren, hollister pas cher, nike air max uk, michael kors pas cher, nike air max, true religion jeans, timberland pas cher, nike air max uk, coach outlet, air max, michael kors, jordan pas cher, sac hermes, north face, lululemon canada, coach outlet store online, nike roshe, sac longchamp pas cher, nike air force, mulberry uk, hogan outlet, ralph lauren uk, longchamp pas cher, michael kors, converse pas cher, burberry pas cher, nike roshe run uk, true religion outlet, kate spade, nike free run, nike tn, ray ban pas cher, guess pas cher
vibram five fingers
supreme
coach factory outlet
nike outlet
nba jerseys
kate spade
canada goose outlet
off white shoes
louboutin shoes
www1130
coach outlet
basketballl shoes
pandora outlet
michael kors outlet
ecco shoes
fitflops clearance
bottega veneta
nike outlet
true religion
a2o90t8c57 b4r18q2o86 k0c30r7u54 c2q65t4c40 b9h61e7f03 e5z25z6l53
bape outlet
jordan shoes
supreme new york
off white jordan
hermes belt
bape hoodie
goyard outlet
kd shoes
goyard outlet
supreme outlet
Post a Comment