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Thursday, May 23, 2019

Leh Ladakh Road Trip Day 1: Sonamarg to Kargil

Mon, 10 Sept 2018
Route: Sonamarg – Zoji La – Drass – Kargil
Estimated Time: 3hrs drive


The journey continues...


From Srinagar to Leh, kita akan lalu one of “the riskiest route” to Leh which is Zojila Pass.


Entering the Zojila Pass

Ada saja view yang menarik hati

Nice view

Some info about Zoji La

Zoji La - "La" itself means a mountain pass in Tibetan & Ladakhi. Zoji La is a high mountain pass in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, located on National Highway 1 between Srinagar and Leh in the western section of the Himalayan mountain range. It separates Kashmir Valley to its west from Dras Valley to its northeast.

Zoji La is about 100 km from Srinagar and 15 km from Sonmarg. It provides a vital link between Ladakh and Kashmir Valley. It runs at an elevation of approximately 3,528m (11,575ft) and the 2nd highest pass after Fotu La on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway. It is often closed during winter.

But now, no need to worry because Zoji La tunnel project was approved by the government of India in Jan 2018 and the construction is currently on-going. This 14km long tunnel will reduce the time to cross the Zojila Pass from more than 3 hours to just 15 minutes. It will be the longest bi-directional tunnel in Asia when completed. (Source: wikipedia)


Wow, after this, Winter season pun boleh ke Ladakh thru this tunnel. No worries.

Actually, aku dapat info pasal tunnel ni pun from Owais. Kalau tak, memang tak ambil tahu lah. Hahaha.


One of the beautiful you could see thru Zojila Pass

Zojila Pass

Zojila Pass

Baru borak-borak dengan Owais pasal kalau jam lah kat Zojila ni memang horrible juga, tahu-tahu kami pun terperangkap juga. Nasib baiklah sekejap saja (less than 1/2hr). According to Owais, from Srinagar to Leh, this is the riskiest route. Need to aware of the possibility of rock falls. Scary you. Bila diingatkan balik rasa seram pun ada especially waktu hujan. Dan itu juga kami alami masa on the way balik from Leh to Srinagar.


Terperangkap dalam jam di Zojila Pass
 
Horrornya kalau terperangkap dalam jam kat sini

Nasib tak baik berjam juga nak tunggu traffic reda

Enjoy below view on the way from Sonamarg to Kargil via Srinagar-Leh Highway.





Welcome to Kargil

Oh, nanti masa kat Kargil Border, need to fill-up one form with all the personal & transport details. So, always keep your passport with you. Actually, tak susah pun procedure tapi macam nak kena isi form bagai tu yang buat leceh sikit. Kami semua kena keluar kereta & masuk kat dalam office dia untuk isi form. Lepas tu nanti dia akan check & baru boleh settled. Dia punye officer semua pakai army uniform complete dengan senapang ok. Rasa macam dalam cerita Hindustan pulak. Hahaha.


Form yang wajib diisi tourist entering Kargil

From Kargil border, we continued our journey to Kargil Town. Still long way to go.

Perjalanan dari sempadan kargil to Kargil town mengambil masa lebih kurang 2jam lagi. Tapi perjalanan tak terasa sangat pun sebab view sepanjang perjalanan menuju Kargil, wow sangat. Cantik. So, sila segarkan mata sepanjang perjalanan nak enjoy the view to the fullest. Aku ada share video sepanjang perjalanan aku kat Ladakh ni di IG. Dari first day sampai lah ke last day. Boleh tengok kat situ kalau rajin & nak nampak gambaran keindahan perjalanan kami. Kadang-kadang gambar saja tak cukup meyakinkan, so, kenalah buat video baru nampak the real journey to this little piece of heaven.


View on the way from Kargil border to Kargil Town

View on the way from Kargil border to Kargil Town

View on the way from Kargil border to Kargil Town

View on the way from Kargil border to Kargil Town

Entering another small town otw to Kargil Town

View on the way from Kargil border to Kargil Town

Almost there

The mountain behind is the Pakistan Border

Kami sampai Kargil Town around 6pm gitu. Masa ni masih belum gelap lagi tapi kelam kabut juga sebab nak kejar waktu solat Asar yang dah nak habis tu. Tadi masa on the way ke sini, sebab yakin boleh sampai sebelum waktunya, so, tak adalah kami stop mana-mana. Alhamdulillah, smooth journey on our first day.


Sampai sudah Kargil Town

Kami akan stay di sini before next destination to Leh

Kargil Town

Kami stay di Hotel Zojila (nama pun dah sama dengan jalan yang paling bahaya nak ke Ladakh). Nasib baik hotel tak scary macam Zojila, hehehe. Kami dapat price Rs2500/night included breakfast & Buffet Dinner. Senang makan kat Hotel ni, kebersihan pun terjamin sikit. Ohh, actually hotel sepanjang trip kami semua arranged by Owais. Aku cuma akan advise budget ok ke tak saja. Kalau ikutkan semua hotel yang dia recommend pada mulanya semua budget Rs3000-Rs3500 tapi bila kami dah sampai sini semua less than Rs2500/night termasuk Hotel di Leh.


Our Accomodation at Kargil
 
Room for two

Konsep travel aku kali ni, agak berlainan sikit sebab aku tak guna package. Semua arranged by driver tapi kami hanya akan bayar semua bila dah sampai destinasi. Kiranya cash flow tu nampak lah ke mana. Siap boleh bargain lagi tu.



To be continued...


Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Leh Ladakh Road Trip Day 1: I'm back Kashmir

Mon, 10 Sept 2018
Route: Srinagar - Sonamarg
Estimated Time: 2 hrs drive


Finally, after about 7months, I come back again Kashmir. Not for Kashmir sightseeing but this time for Leh Ladakh roadtrip via Srinagar. Actually, kalau tak nak roadtrip to Leh pun boleh, another option is by flight from Delhi or Srinagar Airport to Leh and it only takes 1hr. Tapi sebab we love adventure (sangat lah kan), so, we choose road trip to Leh via Srinagar. Another option road trip route is via Manali & it will take longer time & km compare to via Srinagar. According to Owais, roadtrip via Manali is more risky compare to via Srinagar to Leh, less safety & cannot enjoy awesome view like thru srinagar to Leh highway. Tak tahu lah betul ke tak sebab tak pernah lalu kan, hehehe. Tapi, Alhamdulillah, cuaca cantik sepanjang road trip kami.


Antara view yang korang akan nantikan before landing to Srinagar

Alhamdulillah, no flight delay & we arrived Srinagar on time. Tak perlu nak ceritalah from Delhi to Kashmir sebab entry untuk cerita ni aku dah cover dalam Winter Trip on February yang lepas. Ok, back to main story. This time, Owais dah terlebih dahulu menanti kami di luar Airport. Kali ni on time, hahaha. Dan bermulalah perjalanan kami ke Leh. Tapi, untuk hari pertama ni, perjalanan kami hanya akan sampai di Kargih saja. Dan memandangkan kami masih banyak masa sebelum sampai ke Kargil, kami bercadang singgah di Sonamarg terlebih dahulu sebab dah sehala nak ke Kargil pun.


It's summer now in Kashmir

Some info about Leh Ladakh Road Trip via Srinagar:

Route Map: 
Srinagar – Sonamarg – Zoji La – Drass – Kargil – Mulbek – Lamayaru – Saspol – Leh

Total Distance: 434 Km

Best Time to Visit: 
Highway generally opens on early May to late October (Depends on the weather)


Leh Ladakh Road Trip Guide in a nutshell (source)


More good info for beginners --> Leh Ladakh Road Trip


Last time winter trip at Kashmir, tak sempat nak sampai Sonamarg sebab heavy snowfall, so, halfway saja. So, kali ni aku nak make sure juga sampai. Alhamdulillah, cuaca & view sangat cantik kat Sonamarg. The main activities yang kita boleh buat kat sini is horse ride to Thajiwas Glacier. Tapi kali ni tak ada snow or glacier sebab musim panas kan. But still view masih cantik & ohsem. Best sangat. Rasa macam dalam mimpi je bila tengok keindahan disini. Subhanallah. Kagum. It feels like... kuch kuch hota hai.


Welcome To Sonamarg

Beautiful Lanscape

Arrived at Sonamarg

View on the way to Thajiwas Glacier

Subhanallah

Horse Ride to Thajiwas Glacier

Route to Thajiwas Glacier

View yang tak mengecewakan

This is Sonamarg

Masih jauh lagi perjalanan

Kalau korang adalah peminat cerita Hindustan, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, dekat sinilah merupakan lokasi utama pengambaran cerita hebat ni. Antara scene yang aku rasa cukup meninggalkan kesan juga kat aku yang agak emotional ni. The last scene yang ada tunjuk India & Pakistan border tu rupa-rupanya shooting kat sini saja.


We almost there

The last scene in Bajrangi Bhaijaan was shot here

Final scene yang tunjuk Pakistan-India Border was shot here

Lihatlah dunia

Kami spend about 1-hour juga bila dah sampai kat Thajiwas Glacier ni. So, total time pergi & balik about 3.5hrs juga. Kami dapat nego price at Rs1000/horse (≈RM60). Aku rasa berbaloi sebab perjalanan nak sampai ke sini memang jauh, kena naik bukit, turun bukit. Kebetulan masa kami sampai tu memang musim panas & cuaca memang cerah & cantik cuma memang menyerah diri jugalah sebab panas lit lit. Tapi demi kepuasan yang bukan selalu pun kau akan dapat, so, kami tolak ketepi semua rasa panas itu. Hahaha. Sorry Fad.

Kami ke Thajiwas Glacier bersama-sama guide cum driver kami Owais. Nak make sure we’re in good mood & happy sepanjang perjalanan nak sampai ke destinasi. Ada orang tanya aku, macam mana boleh dapat trusted driver macam ni. Actually, aku baru saja kenal mamat yang ada iras-iras Salman Khan ni masa winter trip yang lepas. Hobi dia selfie, hahaha. So, kena baca winter trip aku di kashmir yang lepas lah kalau nak tahu macam mana aku boleh kenal dengan dia ni. And we still keep in touch sampai sekarang thru IG. Boleh lah nak contact Owais ni untuk arrange trip ke Ladakh. Aku tak cakap lah dia terbaik sebab masih banyak improvement here & there sebab ini merupakan kali ke-2 dia ke Ladakh. But, still aku rasa safe & boleh tolerate banyak benda dengan dia sepanjang trip kami.

Masa on the way balik tu ramai pulak Malaysian yang kami jumpa baru nak ke Thajiwas Glacier.


Thajiwas Glacier checked

With our guide & driver

My happy moment

Before proceed to our next destionation to Kargil, kami rest sekejap for lunch. This time special sikit sebab lunch was prepared by our driver Owais. A day before our trip to Ladakh, he asked me, which one I prefer, chicken or lamb? Spicy or less spicy? So, this is the reason. At the end, chicken & lamb with less spicy (eventho I said spicy) plus with other Kashmiri meals too. Alhamdulillah, foods were awesome & taste was really good (kalau tak, tak ada lah tambah nasi kan). Thanks owais for the foods. We really enjoyed it.

Lagi satu wajib cuba kalau dah sampai ke sini adalah Masalla Tea. Huish, tiba-tiba pulak boleh jadi suka. Tapi memang kena cuba baru tahu best ke tak.


Lunch Time

After heavy lunch, we continued our journey to real destination for today, Kargil. Another 3hrs drive thru Zoji la, Drass & Kargil.


Sonamarg to kargil

Next destination to Kargil

To be continued...


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