Arrival [May 12]

I was supposed to arrive in Leh the next day. I had to travel early (12th May) due to the Go Air fiasco and the higher ticket charges for 13th May. So I had to book one extra day at the hotel, as discussed earlier MMT is useless from the viewpoint of customers. 

Having done all the bookings, I set forth on 12 May morning on A IndiGo flight. I carried stuff I will need while I land there in my cabin baggage itself. This included Lip balm, Sunscreen, binnie, jacket and gloves. As we were flying north and I was on the east side of the flight it was sunny and I closed my window. But when the captain announced we will land in 30 minutes and the the weather is a pleasant 9 degree Celsius I pulled up window and good heavens the sight 

I have only seen such a heavenly postcard type view on TV. Me and other passengers couldn't take our eye away from the window. I was wondering if this was a road or a river.

Must be a frozen river I realized later when I saw actual roads. Roads are very thin as seen from flying altitude. 

There was an altitude above which there were snow caps and below which it was barren. There is no vegetation at these harsh altitudes.

And as you can see these mountain tops are sharp. I remembered my geography lesson that newly formed mountains have sharp top while old ones erode and become blunt.

The few clicks I managed do not do justice to the beauty and grandeur I got to see while flying. I felt all the hurdles I faced from Go First fiasco, D not able to make it, everything is justifiable for this view. D really missed this.

Captain mentioned Leh airport is a defense airport and photography is not allowed. When we landed the weather was excellent as far as Leh is concerned. It was sunny and not very windy. The airport was the smallest one i have ever seen, with just 3 rooms. But once inside the airport I started feeling cold and had to wear my gear. I had already applied the Sunscreen while inside the flight. This is the very moment I learnt Vodafone has 0 network in Ladakh. Zilch. My phone connection sims, both Vodafone are thus useless plastic here. I got to know this from the MMT guy once I came out. MMT guy was not aware I am coming early (to avoid this confusion I had followed up with MMT multiple times but their operations, aah). He had to make a few phone calls and it got sorted. I headed to the hotel and while on the way had to make a work call (Remember I am earlyto Leh and I have to work today as my vacation starts tomorrow). The driver was kind enough to lend me his phone. BSNL and Airtel works here.

Royal Holiday was a quaint little hotel was 15 rooms and friendly staff. I am staying for 3 days - 1 day of my own booking and 2 days of package booking. The views from room was spectacular. 

Remember that Mani Ratnam movie Roja.

This view is on the west side and I could see sunset but not the sunrise. Sunrise from room looked like this 

So the first day I am supposed to work from Leh. The wifi is not working in my 3rd floor room. So staff asked me to make myself comfortable in the dinning room. It was anyway empty throughout the day. So I setup my workstation here. The stagf gave me a complimentary adrak chai.

Post work in the evening I strolled out. I learnt that Leh is a quaint little town with lots of SUVs fighting for space. I had an early dinner at Ladakh Himalayan Kitchen. The reviews were good so I went ahead and had a Chicken Thenthuk.

The smell as soon she got it on my table. Waah. I congratulated myself for my choice when I sipped the first spoon. I thought the quantity was too much and that I wont finish it. But it was delicious and yours truly finished it. 

On my way back I purchased an organic lip balm and a bottle of Apricot Preserve from "Dzomsa, The good for all" Shop. They sell authentic organic stuff. I had already read about them know a travel blog. 

Hot water comes in the evening from 8 to 10 pm. I took my first bath in Leh. Ooof when the temperatureis 0 degrees. I think the first time is always difficult. But post bath I was feeling warm. The bathroom looked like a steam room after bath.

Next fight sleeping. With Thermals and sweater, with my comforter under the hotel's comforter I slept for 7 hours with one break. Not bad. I have a slight headache thats coming and going. I believe thats my body acclimatizing to 3500 metres where oxygen is only 65% of what it is at sea level.

Also my room had the early morning wakeup service by this bird. It comes around 6 am and pecks the window glass :).

But this service is too early as hot water in the bathroom comes only at 7 am. Also breakfast will be served from 7 to 9 am. So I thought of utilizing this time to blog about the day before.