         Back in Nanjing I had to check out more the Purple Mountain. David came along with me and took some pictures of me, riding some trails and also the stairs which are everywhere build in to the mountain to climb the top. I meet Alex a young international student from Netherland. He was doing Parkour and I believe he is doing it still. We went to check some different locations in Nanjing, which was also good to explore the city. Shanghai was always good for a short trip to see some art museum or that the Bund was getting face lifted. It was also time to travel a bit further. Harbin 哈尔滨 it was. Super cold, sometimes -25 degree celsius. Seen the not so „free“ Tigers at the National Tiger Reservat. The Ice Festival was something, really impressing. One year ago I arrived in Beijing. One year away from Switzerland! #10yearsinasia #january #2010 #oneyearinasia #nanjing #shanghai #harbin #beijing #mtb #purplemountain #parkour #art #thebund #tiger #icefestival #798artdistrict #china #mesumvermaphotography
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         Is the bike ok? That was the first thing which was in my mind, when the excavator shovel was hitting the roof of the mini bus. Though it could killed us all, but the bike comes first. I took the the minibus down to Manali (490 km) but we had to cross again for passes. From Manali I went then to Delhi. In Delhi I visited Uwe again, and had a nice stay at the Shangri La hotel. My India journey was over and i flew back to Nanjing with a stop over in Singapore, which I used to do a small city tour. #10yearsinasia #himachalpradesh #ladakh #manali #delhi#india #भारत #singapore #mountainbike #minibus #accident #himalaya #summer2009 #mesumvermaphotography
       Here some facts about the mountain bike trip we did. From Darcha (Himachal Pradesh) via Padum (Zanskar) to Lamayuru (Ladakh). #10yearsinasia #himachalpradesh #zanskar #ladakh #india #भारत #mountainbike #enduro #trip #himalaya #summer2009 #mesumvermaphotography
         In Lingshed, Wolfgang and Thomas had flat tyres, so they had to fix that, to get the bikes ready for next day. They where not alone, the monks had a helping hand, or at least they watched closely what is going on. The next few days were amazing, but hard, we had to climb up always some passes, but it was really fun always ride down the other side. We were 16 days completely out in the nature, with no electricity, running water (beside the cold icy water from the streams) and other things we would have in normal life. Just like nomads, depending on each of one in the group. Unfortunately Otmar left us in Padum, as he had altitude sickness, which you can’t do much about it. But we 7 people finished happily in Lamayuru. That had to be celebrated in Leh, the capital of Ladakh. It was one of the best trip I ever did so far!! Tomorrow I will post then some facts about our journey with the mountain bikes trough the Himalaya here in India, which nowadays you can do with the Jeep or motorbike as there is a road now. #10yearsinasia #ladakh #lingshed #potoksur #hanupata #lamayuru #leh #india #भारत #mountainbike #enduro #trip #himalaya #summer2009 #mesumvermaphotography
         The trail down to the small stream was really fun. But hiking up the other side was also very steep as we came down. Now we are in Ladakh the land of many passes and so it will be, we need to cross 7 more passes till Lamayuru. Parfi La pass was the first one of the total 8. In the evening after the camp was ready, we always had a little snack before dinner. Salad, Papadam, Soja and beans balls and a bit whiskey, the Apero was served. We got up every morning 6:00 o’clock, which was kinda early. But Manish brought us always Chai with enough sugar in it, so it was a boost to get up. The Hanuma La pass was again a big one with 4700 meters over sea level. On the 4rd picture you can see, how big this all is. Thomas and Manish can’t be hardly seen on the trail. The trails before Lingshed were so fun to ride! In Lingshed the monks had to try out the mountain bikes. The second time in there life to see bikes. Last time it was when I was there a year before for the Redbull trip with Rene. We stayed one night in Lingshed. #10yearsinasia #zanskar #ladakh #hanumala #lingshed #india #भारत #mountainbike #enduro #trip #himalaya #summer2009 #mesumvermaphotography
         Except the Shingo La pass, we had no pass to climb till Padum. Mostly it was going up and down, but not really hard climbs, really nice enduro ride in a beautiful landscape. Padum is a nice small village (though is the capital of Zanskar) but after 7 days being totally isolated from the outside world, which means, no cars, no electricity, just like nomads it was nice to see some civilization even it was in Padum limited. But after spending one full day there, and two nights we went then further to Pishu. The Parfi La pass was in front of us, and we had about 600 meters to climb but had then again a 600 meter descent, but it was much steeper (check the last picture, Thomas riding that trail down the stream, which is also the borderline from Zanskar and Ladakh). The nights where incredible, there are so many stars in the sky and the milky way is easily to see, as the light pollution is like zero up there in the Himalayas. Our cook and guide Manish was amazing, he was always in a good mood, and like a party animal. He let us forget all the hard climbs and the thin air on this altitude (average 4000 meters over sea level). Good lad indeed! The pictures you can see me in it those did Thomas :-). #10yearsinasia #reru #padum #pishu #parfila #india #भारत #mountainbike #enduro #trip #himalaya #summer2009 #mesumvermaphotography
         From Darcha we went up to Shinto La the highest pass of the whole tour. The Shinto La pass is 5060 meters above sea level, and there was a little bit snow. It was quite a hard walk to Kargyak into the Zanskar valley. We hoped for better weather on the other side. But instead, we had massiv snow, when we woke up in the morning. But after we left Kargyak, there was only sunshine. In Reru, a village just before Padum, the capital of Zanskar we had a nice camp. #10yearsinasia #darcha #shingola #kargyak #india #भारत #mountainbike #enduro #trip #himalaya #mesumvermaphotography
         Manali is really nice to stay a while, I did some bike riding to get ready for the big tour and also there were some wedding parties to attend. It was always fun to go there and see, how they celebrate it there in India. Once again, I went down to Delhi to pick up some mountain bikers from Europe. Dorjee came also with me, and we meet also Uwe to have a beer or two. Thomas, Wolfgang and Otmar where very keen to do the trip with the mountain bike again, which I did with Rene Wildhaber for Red Bull and Scott Bikes in the year 2008. We where the first, to cross the Himalaya in that region with the mountain bike. We went back to Manali (Manali - Delhi - Manali 1096 km) and assembled the bikes, and did some small tours to get ready for the trip. We went with a mini bus to Darcha दारचा which lies 1360 meters higher then Manali at 3360 meters above sea level. We had first to cross also the Rothang Pass, for me now the 3rd time in this journey in India. It was raining like hell, also in Darcha. But the adventure can begin. #10yearsinasia #manali #मनाली #newdelhi #नईदिल्ली #darcha #दारचा #india #भारत #wedding #3idiots #mountainbike #enduro #trip #himalaya #mesumvermaphotography
         After Delhi I went again to Manali with the bus. Dorjee a tibetan refugee as many in Manali I know since long. I was always living at his place. I been really many times in Manali, almost a local, that allows me, to walk freely and in peace with all the tourist they are there. And there are a lot of tourist, mainly from India itself. Old Manali was taking over from the tourist outside from India, the Hippies. There is a love/hate relationship in India with those tourists. They need them, but also not really like them. There is this question in India, some will ask you: ARE YOU A TOURIST OR ARE YOU A HIPPIE? But Old Manali has to offer more, if you walk out of the tourist paths. It’s very traditionell and people are super friendly. As I know some locals, I went for a walk there for meeting some people. #10yearsinasia #manali #मनाली #india #भारत #people #mesumvermaphotography
         Traveling is not always to see something new, is also to meet some friends. When I was in Delhi my old co-worker from Germany, back in Switzerland Uwe was working at the moment in India. I visited him overtime when I was in Delhi. I had also the luck, that I could stay in the Shangri La Hotel, so fancy place, I could not afford it myself. It was always a pleasure to meet him, and have a little retreat from the busy streets in India. Unfortunately I lost track from him, after 2015 I did not hear from him anymore. I hope all is good with you, and if you are not here anymore, your nickname is SPACELORD so hopefully you will rock up there, wish you only the very best. I will still post some pics from you, as we did quite a long journey together in the year 2010. I miss you!! Well, I was hitting the road up to McLeod Ganj मस्तोद गंज (484 km with the bus). Not the first time I been there, but as Britt, Yuko and Sho where also traveling to the foothills of the Himalaya हिमालया and I wanted to meet Dawa an old friend of mine, it was good to visit the place again. It was raining a lot, so sometime it was just best seat in a restaurant and have a Kingfisher Beer. If it was not raining I did some small hiking trips near by McLeod Ganj. #10yearsinasia #newdelhi #नईदिल्ली #uwe #spacelord #shangrila #friends #mcleodganj #मस्तोदगंज #himalaya #हिमालया #india #भारत #rain #monsoon #मानसून #kingfisher #mesumvermaphotography
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