MANALI
Travel Route: Rohtang La Pass — Old Manali
The roads are always under construction. It’s fascinating to watch the labor-intensive methods. And to note that the traffic never stops due to construction — I can’t see that ever happen in the USA, the road would be closed until it’s all completed.
On top of the Rohtang La Pass, we danced to the end of time.
Indian road signs are playful, catchy, snappy, and pointed. The road from Leh to Manali is 18 hrs of switchbacks over five mountain passes, so most of the road signs are focus on one issue, safe — driving. As we climbed the Rohtang La, the landscape became greener and greener.
Some of the great post signs:
· Enemies of the road-liquor, speed & load
· Drive on horsepower, not on rum power
· If you speed, your family won’t sleep
· Make love, not war, but nothing while driving
· Keep your nerves on sharp curves
· Don’t gossip; let him drive
· Driving risky after whisky
· Alert today, alive tomorrow
Old Manali is a restful village, laid-back, surrounded by peaks and lush green vegetation. There are many young Israelis visiting Old Manali; they are on a rite of passage.
India’s democracy is alive and kicking, just take a glimpse at the English language newspaper headlines, and you get the picture.
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