The Touring Diary

First week of July 2012 Here is the list of mods that we did on the bike: Free Flow air filter so that the bike breathes freely at such high altitudes. K&N filters or MWR air free filters are nice ones. I am using MWR air-filters Saddle Bags holder frame. (check the pics for description) Tank bag that can be fixed on a non metallic tanks Extended custom front mudguard. Electric mod so that electric tyre inflater can used using bike's battery. Day-wise trip log: Preparation Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11

World is really small, well it has become small, thanks to technology. I would like to share a very emotional incident that happened this weekend. A small background first: This is regarding my  Himalayan trip last year  where I had visited Kargil and a village near by named Akchamal. I had taken several photos of the place and had shared those on flickr.com Two months back: On my flickr album I had got a comment on following photo of the village akchamal: Actual photo:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/sumitplall/4989038281/in/set-72157624409223587 I had got comment from a flickr member. Following is the conversation I had with him on flickr: Comments and faves * *** ( 2 months ago ) IT is my village akchamal.. *****! ( 2 months ago  |  edit  |  delete )   Glad to know that you are from the same village. I have some pictures of the kids from the Akchamal Village https://blogger.googleusercon...

16th July 2010 Day 13 Chandigarh - Delhi I woke up late the next day as I was undecided whether to stay back or head to Delhi. Jai's mom had prepared nice parathas for us and she was insisting that I should stay with them. If I stay back I would be having virtually one day to pack my bike and board the flight for Bangalore on 18th and this might not be sufficient as I wasn't sure how to send the bike whether on train or through some courier service. Also 18th would be Sunday and wasn't sure if the train parcel services are open on sundays or not. I decided I would stay with them till lunch and then I will leave so that I have 17th which is a Saturday and will be able to parcel the bike either way. Finishing breakfast I asked Jai if I can get my bike washed before starting. He took me to a near by service station where I got the bike washed. Bike's chain was REALLY lose by now and the service guy said the links have to be removed since he can't tighten it anymor...

15th July 2010 Day 12 Manali - Chandigarh Next morning we woke up, packed up our things and were ready to start our way back.  But before we started took some pictures of the bike all covered from yesterday's mud adventure :D Jai and Nirman's bike's welding had broken and they wanted to get it fixed. I started before them and they would catch up with me after fixing it. After some confusion and miscommunication between us we got late and it was afternoon and we hadn't left Manali. We were just riding by the river (don't know the name) and we saw a lot of camps for river rafting. Once we thought of going for it but it would need 8 people and also we couldn't have left our bikes and luggage with the camp guys and go for rafting. So we decided to continue further... We saw river bank which was shallow and one could go into the water and may be have a bath :) Both Jai and Nirman wanted to take a dip and so we parked our bikes in shad...

14th July 2010 Day 11 Rohtang Pass - Manali: only 50kms covered and the whole day under the sun... Last night wasn't a good night sleep at all. As I mentioned it was damp, soggy, very cold...I might have slept only for a couple of hours and it was more of wait till the morning. At 5:30/6 am as the sun came up I woke up, collected my things from tent and walked till place where the bikes were parked. The other guys Nirman, Jai had already woken up. As I mentioned I had hit off really well with Jai and Nirman. We three were gelling well and it was nice to be with a good company after being almost on my own from last 10 days. Asked the shop guy to prepare some breakfast and tea.  But first as the last day it was time to "freshen" up :D obviously it was to be done out in the open :D. We had tea and some breakfast and decided to move to the landslide location because we wanted to be the first one to be crossing once the debris is cleared by the army guys and state auth...