16/10 - Encountrers in Naggar

We got up at 10am, taking it easy again, around 11am we had breakfast by the side of the road. We had really nice Prantha one with Paneer and the other one with Aloo (potato). It was delicious. 

Our breakfast place and plate!

Around 12pm we decided to go for a walk, the road from Manali to Leh really seems closed, it is a bummer, Damien is really gutted about it and this is creating a bit of tension right now, as we cannot really decide/agree on what to do next. Apart from that, it was good to be outside and enjoy the view of the valley, which was beautiful! We went passed a few houses, some were really typical of the area (wood and stone), with nearly always a cow near the main door!

Typical traditional house

At some point we went past a house, and a guy invited us in his garden to eat some apples. We learnt that the apples have just been harvested in the Kullu Valley (mostly by Nepalese workers) and that the area have good orchards. We chatted with him for a while, his name is Pravesh, he is an electrical engineer, an orchard owner, a weed grower (he actually offered us some of his merchandise – that we could see grow 2 min away from where we were seating! - but declined politely, both of us being non-smokers) and want to build his own hotel. Damien told him he is an architect and from there they started to talk about how houses were built where we come from, and we ended up drawing various ideas/sketches for his hotel.

Our new friend Pravesh

It was getting a bit late (3pm), and we were getting hungry so we decided to head back to the hotel, enjoy more sun in the terrace. Lunch was nice with the sun, we had a Dal Fry, a Chana Masala, Rice, Rotis, water and a mint tea. 

Around 5pm we first heard and then saw a procession in the street for one of their Gods. People were playing music, dancing around… and 3 guys were carrying the God. Apparently the guy in the middle is under the influence of drugs to be able to communicate with the God and tell the other where to go.

Godly procession

There we met an English guy, Gordon, in his 60s, who has been travelling in India (and around the world) for the last nearly 30 years. Talking to him was good because he gave us back hope for the Manali – Leh road, he had a few beers with Damien, while I was having tea. It was a great end of afternoon that became a night. We even had dinner together (Zeera Aloo – potatoes with cumin -, Rotis, Veg. momo).

Really clear day,we can see the snowy twin pic

Playing cards while the sun is going down

I am feeling much better now, (and my warm clothes are finally dry) so we decided to head to Manali tomorrow and look for a taxi to go to Leh. This is the only place where we will know if it is possible of not to go buy road.

3^rd night in the double bed in Sheetal Hotel, in Naggar.