Born to be Wild: Traveling the Lonely Planet Way!

[HitchHiker]

I thought of starting a thread like this a couple of months back… wasn’t sure if people would be enthu. Also didn’t want to start a duplicate thread and face the disgrace of having it locked (Please Don’t lock this! I searched, I swear!) …

Anyhow, the first issue was put to rest today at the Delhi PG meet where I met at least two other chaps (Vipin_Singh and AlbatroS) who fancy impulsive (or as impulsive as impulsive can get for working guys) road trips to obscure destinations.

Before anyone calls up the friendly neighborhood travel agent to book accommodations at The Grand… let me clarify, we are talking “Lonely Planet” type – eating at cheap dhabas – “country roads take me home”- “Born to be Wild” - hitchhiking – SHOE STRING BUDGET – NON TOURISTY kind of travel trips here.

We can share experiences, exchange tips, or plan trips through this thread.

Dunno if that was a good enough introduction… but hopefully should be enough to get the flavor across and to spell out how this thread is different from the other threads on travel and photography, and places to visit etc.

Cheers!

Vaibhav.

A link to our Bible: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

[Vipin_Singh]

Hey,

I am sure this thread would soon get mobbed by the unconventional travellers lurking on this forum.

I would have posted earlier, however I was trying to find some information on a bike trip to Ladakh so I could add it here. Had second thoughts and would wait to hear from others before overloading the junta with information

Would be adding this thread to my signature soon !

[HitchHiker]

Ya, that sounds great!!

Ladakh is awesome.. but there might be some issues when we go on our own... some of my relatives had gone there last year...

I am not saying this is definitive, just that we ought to look into it...

Firstly, there are some security clearances that might be required, at least there will be areas we won't be allowed into without some formalities.

My relatives actually had an army driver, since only those guys seem to be the ones who know the proper routes (might be wrong on this, I've just heard second hand)

Secondly, the weather, obviously, can gt pretty harsh so we'd better be prepared for that...

Will speak to the people i know and come back with more...

[AlbatroS]

Here I am...and sweet smell of Unknown and UNEXPLORED..is already fillin up my Nostrills...

GUd wrk hitchhiker....

i'll post soon in detail wat we stand for ..u described a decent picture..it was lacking in the High Adrenaline part though..c to it..


c ya ppl

Nd hey nice meeting you people...we'll gel well!!!

[HitchHiker]

Originally Posted by AlbatroS

Here I am...and sweet smell of Unknown and UNEXPLORED..is already fillin up my Nostrills...

GUd wrk hitchhiker....

i'll post soon in detail wat we stand for ..u described a decent picture..it was lacking in the High Adrenaline part though..c to it..


c ya ppl

Nd hey nice meeting you people...we'll gel well!!!

The thread's name is "Born to Be Wild", dude!
ok ok, i get what you are saying... just didn't wanna sound reckless, thats all!

[ninja_talli]

anybody interested in goin on long drives? me last month went from pune to banglre in car..... was lovely..... finally india's road's are improvin! almost 90% we had 4-lane or of that sort all the way......best was the night drivin

next trip is to take my bike on a longggggg bike maybe to my hometwn baroda!

any experienced long-bikers? advice plz!

and is there any site which gives a proper detailed road descrption of how to travel to from a certain city to another?

[morbidkk]

somebody from xbhp.com canhelp you to find out auch routes

[HitchHiker]

Originally Posted by ninja_talli

anybody interested in goin on long drives? me last month went from pune to banglre in car..... was lovely..... finally india's road's are improvin! almost 90% we had 4-lane or of that sort all the way......best was the night drivin

next trip is to take my bike on a longggggg bike maybe to my hometwn baroda!

any experienced long-bikers? advice plz!

and is there any site which gives a proper detailed road descrption of how to travel to from a certain city to another?

For starters, I hope you have a cruiser... otherwise bike riding for long distances can be hell on the back... even on good highways!

As for guides, it should not be a problem in the plains... information about highways is pretty easily available... buy a normal road map...

for finding out about little known places, I suggest you get the Weekend Getaways from Mumbai guide.. i think its published by ToI or HT (not sure)... I have the one for Delhi and its really good... tends to overstate costs coz usually its for family vacations, so don't worry about those (not that the prices are exorbidant otherwise... just that you can manage on much less)...

Personally, I am all for a sojourn in the hills... less traffic, superb scenery... just cruise along... you can't go too fast ... and thats not a great idea anyway...

[Vipin_Singh]

Originally Posted by HitchHiker

Ya, that sounds great!!

Ladakh is awesome.. but there might be some issues when we go on our own... some of my relatives had gone there last year... I am not saying this is definitive, just that we ought to look into it...Firstly, there are some security clearances that might be required, at least there will be areas we won't be allowed into without some formalities.

My relatives actually had an army driver, since only those guys seem to be the ones who know the proper routes (might be wrong on this, I've just heard second hand)

Secondly, the weather, obviously, can gt pretty harsh so we'd better be prepared for that...Will speak to the people i know and come back with more...

When I had been there I was able to go to almost any place which one could reach on foot/ Jeep/Bike..we do need permits to go to a few far flung areas but those are easy..esp. if you want to hire a guide who can arrange the permit from the Ladakh District Admin office for about Rs.100 to Rs.300.

Knowing the army helps however it is not at all necessary..the soldiers are fun people to hang out with and as long as you don't try run away with their gun or something they would be pretty cool with hitch hikers visiting them.

Routes are pretty much mapped out by the army and one can get hold of road maps easily at any of the bookshops. BRO has done a pretty good job with the milestones and direction markers.

Weather would rule out going to Ladakh for 8 months out of 12. You can only fly into Leh between Nov-June. One can only drive on the Manali-Leh and Leh-Srinagar highway between July-October. During these 4 months you can manage with the city kind of wollen clothes(which you might need to pull out when there is strong wind or at night). Days are pleasant and I am talking from my experience of being there in September end.

I think the real issue with going to Ladakh is that not everyone likes the barren landscape. There is no life form in sight for 100s of miles. Forget a mechanic, a place to eat/drink or rest for dozens of kilometers so one should plan the stops etc. well in advance.

[sapphira]

Hi... adding some tips for Ladakh...
If you have no time constraints then take the Shimla - Rampur - Sangla - Kaza - Leh route. The changing scenery is really spectacular but the road is a bit worse off than the Manali - Rohtang road.
But some really nice things to do and see enroute... accomodation can be a problem though... but there are govt. lodgings and the monasteries might let u stay too.
Its one of the best drives in the world...