We are going to see another incredible sight......

12 Aug After settling one night in Nubra Valley which is relatively lower than most part (approximately 2000+ m above the sea), we have more mountains to go after breakfast...... Today we are driving up 4,350 m high to Tso Panggong. This high altitude salt water lake is 134km long, extending from India to China, where 60% of its area belongs to Tibet. The broadest width of the lake is 5 km and since this  being a sensitive area, we need to apply for special permit to enter here.

We get to see species of unusual animals and migratory birds ( we did not see any bird though) particular to this place. This time we tried the other mountain pass, Changla Pass which is lower, after we have "conquered" the highest pass yesterday.

But it proved that it was not an easy feat. It was worse in some ways that we went rocking and rolling the entire day on this pass where there is no specific route that we can see. The driver has to be very skilled and good in sense of direction because wifi is not assessable here so there is no GPS to guide us at all. We had drive on top of stones and pebbles and river streams many a times. But it was an adventure for all! We do not get to experience this in may places that we have visited.

 The route to the lake is not all tarred so it was rather savage still

 Sometimes our cars need to go over mountain streams that appeared out of nowhere

 We have never seen a marmot let alone two before, which is unique to this area

Your producer of Pashmina is in front of us!!

After about 5 hours of travelling, we at long last saw the beautiful "lady" in front of us! The water was so beautiful in all shades of blue against the sunlight. The clouds also form a fantastic backdrop against the mountains.

      You can tell they are Singaporeans on the yaks because one is using selfie  

There is no end in sight for the lake

A good time was had by all

We must not forget our 2 Lhadaki beauties from our group in ceremonial costumes

On our way back our driver was sharp eyes enough to point to us the family of deer on the cliff

 

We arrived back in Saboo in early evening and I think most of us had a real good bone shake throughout the day that after dinner everyone just wanted to go to bed.

Except for Gen Yeshi and me! We stayed up till 10 plus to translate the hundred over names of deceased to be announced in the Jangwa puja tomorrow morning, which Geshe Tsewang has so compassionately arranged for us.  

But meanwhile, an auspicious sign appeared in the evening before dinner and we were lucky enough to catch this!

 What a beautiful pair of double rainbow that came up form the mountain behind