तुएस्दय 21st

Dropped Katie off to Delhi at 530am!!!
Finally left for Manali the long way round ( Go Charley & Ewan) Learnt how to do water and waterfall crossings. The Enfields are amazing, first gear little or no throttle and if they dont stall, they will chugg through anything. The road had been washed away and was closed. We waited for the bulldozer to sort of clear a path and we were away.On the way our crazy lead car driver liked shortcuts... why would you use the tar if there was a dirt/sand track that cut off the hairpin? We headed over the edge at one stage- acute mountain sickness makes you sleepy which is not too much fun but this dirt/sand woke us up. Each time we think a road is bad IT GETS WORSE!! We travelled across the More Plains a large area of dust and dirt. The roads filled the valley a bit like the NT if you dont like the road you just make a new one so the whole plains are filled with tracks. Once again 1st gear no throttle and the Enfield just chugged along. Jo was chasing Raj but lost the others behind so thought she would stop. In the middle of a desert like valley, no vehicles or road to be seen in either direction. Dead quiet and where the #*#* was that road anyway. Then trucks could be seen on the far right of the valley and of course we were taking the left side. The others had caught up Michele had taken a small lie down in the sand. So we gathered together and off again. After a discussion we thought perhaps the right side might be better, surely the locals knew .... Ah well as long as we went south we would get there eventually.
We lunched at Hot springs which were not like the Peninsula ones at all. We rode through lots of wildlife Yaks, horses, goats and sheep. Passed a Nomad group of tents thought it was our accomodation would have been happy as the roads were tough. Then 40ks or fairly ordinary dirt/sand/rocks to get to the stunning Tsomoriri Lake. It was a stunning landscape but we werent up to enjoying it much. We were still up high again & acute mountain sickness claimed a few of us again. The tourist tents were great with an ensuite! No hot water but at this stage all we needed was a toilet! we did celebrate with a scotch that night. The next day were still ordinary, dont think the one drink hurt us though!

सन्डे/ Monday

Attempted access to Pangong Lake alas no permits thus a wasted day. Hurry hurry and wait seems to be the Indian way. Visited another Monastery and then home.
This was in the area where the mudslide had travelled down the hill. With no vegetation there is nothing to stop it. This was kinda like the Eastlink of vic, the road that takes you everywhere. We got good at the trafficc, roadworks and towns (also the military, the animals and the people!)
Monday Katie decided to bail and fly to Delhi Tuesday.
Michele, Jenny S Julene & Kerrie were driven to the Lake Pangong Interesting trip beautiful scenery 8 hours driving roads worse than the highest pass. Glad we weren't on the bikes.
New guest house missed the old boys. Met a group of dentist doing volunteer work from USA

फ्रिदय 17th

Friday 17th
We set off over the pass good weather, no snow, very little traffic unbelievable. At the check point we had noodles at a restaurant. Stopped at the top briefly and had a reasonable trip down. This was Julenes first attempt over the pass and no dramas! After the trip down we had a picnic lunch on the roadside. Jo heard Ritu mention trying to organise a workshop at a college and didn’t follow the lead car (it was going past the college) Consequently headed off toward the petrol station and got stuck in a heard of sheep ( always fun) both ways and ended up behind the girls which made good filming through Leh traffic. It was peak hour, school out and busy. Happy to be back at our hotel for dinner and sleep.

सतुरदय 18th

Saturday 18th
Went shopping and on tour in the car. We visited the Womens Alliance Co Operative where the middle man is cut out. We had to get the shop open and they had some interesting local garments. Katie got a fabulous red woollen jacket that everyone had tried on. We also bought some local shawls. Later we ventured up to the Tsemo Gompa where we had great views over Leh. We watched the local women and men carry stone on their backs up to the Gompa to do repairs. Trying to figure out an easier way, but we thought ah well it is employment. Then on to the Leh Palace well worth the visit where we met a Singaporean couple who were trekkers and had a lovely chat to us. Even about our PM! Back home to try for internet access and shopping. Ritu took us through the market to a jewellery shop where you can buy precious stones to have set at home or already made up. We also bought shawls and scarves.

ठुर्स्दय 16th

Thursday 15th
Early next morning Shubha Ritu Jenny Jenny & Jo went for a long walk through the area. We found prayer temples and the road up to the monastery. These are built into the side of the mountains which is an amazing feat in itself. There was Sanskrit written in stone placed at the prayer temples and also embedded in the wall on the walk to the monastery. It was peaceful and the local water source comes from the melting glaciers. The valley is almost cut off over winter. The guesthouse grew all their vegetables. The place was warmed by the sun during the day and maintained a pleasant temperature overnight.
Julenes first day on the bike and she adjusted well. A camel ride was on for those interested the next morning and we all travelled out to the sand dunes. Raj showed us how to cross rivers easily. We headed up to Diskit to another monastery from where we had a great view of a new one over the way. The off to town for lunch with the locals. A workshop had not been confirmed and Ritu & Shubha had to quickly go and set up. The local women had travelled into town for it and we were late! Jenny & Jenny went to help with the breast examination and screening. We had another pleasant evening at the guesthouse.

वेद्नेस्दय 15th

We had been briefed by Raj about the bikes and were getting used to them. There are 3 500cc Classic & 2 350 cc Classic Royal Enfields. The bikes are fabulous for the type of riding we are doing. Steady and solid. The sport bikes wouldn’t be so much fun! The traffic, animals, people horns beeping ‘ I want to pass’ or ‘I am passing’ make for a noisy environment.
We were told to be up and ready by 7am…. We left at 10! Julene was discharged from hospital and was travelling in the car. We left her bike at the hotel.
We travelled to South Pulu where we stopped for about an hour for permit checks and road opening information. The altitude was affecting us with easily getting short of breath. We had some food at the canteen local deep fried bread…… interesting and of course tea.
The ride up over the Kardongla Pass is only short in ks but long in time. The tar gives way to gravel, sand and rocks. Throw in snow, slush, trucks, buses, animals and it was probably the hardest ride we have ever done. Up at the top approx 5600m depending on which map you read it is the highest motorable road in the world. We stopped for longer than the recommended time for photos etc. Once again getting short of breath and headaches. Kerrie, Michele and Jo were SO RELIEVED to have actually made it! We breast cancer gals had a moment for our mates that have not been as fortunate as we have. We left pink ladies up there with the prayer flags.
The shop was SHUT so no souvenirs- sad face.
One of the gals had to jump in the car so Raj took the lead. The trip down was not much better- still snow and slush. Hope the helmet cam has picked up the conditions. It was amazing scenery riding through the mountains but not a lot of time for sightseeing…. Keep those eyes on the road/track.
Down at North Pulu the other check point we kept going a little further for lunch. The road was good and it was a treat to almost have fun (the beauty of Indian roads is that you cannot assume anything!)
The Nubra Valley was amazing to ride into. The mountains and road were not too bad. A few rough patches. One water crossing. Raj had shown where not to go & Jo didn’t hear the NO THROTTLE part of the conversation. Consequently nearly lost it but managed to avoid Raj, the lake and his bike. Kerrie fared better and got through with only a toe touching the water!
The guesthouse was clean & we had HOT water showers. We were so relieved to have survived the pass but were not too keen to do it all again the next day. Luckily we had 2 nights here.

Tuesday

Tuesday 14th
Up for an early morning get to know the bikes and the horns, animals, people, rocks dirt, cars and bikes! We rode/drove up to the Shanti Stupa which gives a fabulous view over the valley. The head monk is a Japanese man who has been here for 30 years. It is a beautiful stupa.
Ritu and Shubha conducted a screening at the ITBP.
The afternoon we went to the 17th century Hemis Monastery a couple of hours out of town. The ride there was OK but included road damage from the mudslide, lots of fine dust, traffic, towns, we were later than we thought arriving consequently we had to ride home in the dusk/dark not particularly fun. The roads are ordinary in daylight let alone without a headlight!

मोंडे 13th

Monday 13th
Our itinerary has been flexible due to weather/road conditions and Ritu has been organizing educational workshops in remote areas, as well as breast screening. Our final destination was uncertain, but Michele and Jo wished to visit the home of the Dalai Lama if possible. Although this was not achievable the Dalai Lama came to us! He came to visit the Ladakh areas people after the cloudburst and mudslide. The people were very quiet and sat for hours waiting his presence. There were thousands of monks, nuns, men, women, children, and elderly along with foreigners. We had a special area to sit and had a fabulous view. He spoke with a translator in Tibetan and Ladakh. The first announcements were move cars with licence plates nos and turn off mobile phones! The only other information understood was global warming, cloudburst and mudslide. It was a privilege to be able to be in this moment. We shared tea and rice with the crowd.
That morning there was a screening at the General Hospital ( Military) with around 75 women attending, for a mini workshop and screening. The people involved were from the Military and the Ladakh Scouts. Local Medical staff were also educated on breast screening.
After the Dalai Lama audience we went to Indo Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) Ladakh for the Ritus workshop and screening. The presentation was to the officers’, soldiers and their families doctors and para medics. We participated in using the teaching aids that we brought over first showing the male medics how to check and then the women.

SUNDAY 12th

Sunday 12th
Whilst Katie was at the local hospital (IV fluids, meds ) with Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) the NSW team had arrived. Later that day Jenny R & Julene also had a visit to the hospital. It had been damaged by the mudslide and concrete buildings brought in and opened up to get it running again. The staff were all fantastic and good care was received.
A workshop was conducted at the Nunnery. There is an amazing Nun who has been working on raising the status of nuns and women since the 90s. We shared chanting and dinner with them. Dr Tshering Palmo spoke to us about the history and the future of the nunnery. She has a vision to bring women in from outlying areas for healing times as after the disaster there is a lot of depression in the community. Jenny R and Jo felt this experience was similar to one that their local Yoga group had held for women from the Victorian Bushfire affected area. They are trying to raise about $4000 AUS for a threshing machine to aid them with their production of medicines. Cost of a women per day at the retreat is approx. $2.50 for food.

I'm having a great time!

Hi everyone, I finally got into the blog and the internet so can post. The bike trip has had some ups and downs, literally! A couple of days ago I rode the higest motorable pass in the world! What a buzz! More so to be sharing the experience with 3 other AHT sistas and some new friends. Our support teams have been wornderful. We are in for changes as we change locations, each experience adding to the whole. I have been fortunate enough to be part of a demonstration workshop in Leh to show women how to self detect breast cancer; they were wonderful! More stories on the way as the tour continues. Hugs to all our followers, Julene xxx

प्रे Leh

Before our arrival, Ritus 4 wheel drive had broken down on the way here with the clutch plates burnt out.. She had to be picked up and transport all her gear. One night was spent sleeping in the vehicle and 2 workshops had to be cancelled. Another car has been hired for the journey, but all the sponsorship signs are not with us. We would like to acknowledge Womens Cancer Initiative- Tata Memorial Hospital, (WCI-TMH) ,Rajdeep Buildcon P/L, Royal Enfield and Ford Motors India. Royal Enfield has sent along 2 representative Raj and Mr Jassa to look after the bikes!

Leh

Have arrived in Leh, an amazing place . The cloudburst/mudslide has made a lot of damage to the town. The hotel is OK . The NSW gals have come and we are all together. We have had 3 hospital visits with 4 people suffering from altitude sickness. The locals have been fabulous to us from the hotel communication is easy. We are delayed a bit until everyone is fit and well. In 2 sleeps we will be crossing the highest passable highway in the world. The bikes look great and hopefully we will have a ride this afternoon. The town is a buzz of excitement today as the Dali Lama is arriving to offer prayers and hope to the flood victims. Pictures will be posted soon.

फर्स्ट निघत इन India

Well we have been on the road for30 hours and will be on the plane to Leh within the hour. See the photo of our first nights accomodation! Hope to hear from you all.

Singapore

Well we have arrived in Singapore our first stop 13 1/2 hours travelling time. So far so good. Hoping Yash will meet us at Delhi to collect all the stuff!