Day 6..

We had the whole day to spend in Manali, get acclimatised and get our bikes checked. A few picture sessions later, we were in the main market, the MG road of Manali... A variety of handicrafts, services, sweets, foods - South Indian, Punjabi, "Chainees" and of course local flavors.. The Hadimbamata temple was just up the road from there and they had a yak you could get on, as well a guy with a (sedated, but rather deranged looking) python, that you could have around your neck and get your picture taken...

That apart, the tall trees and bustling marketplace were the major distractions there. Now we went looking for a Bull garage, and luckily there was one right near our hotel, albeit a good few bends away. My bro Ashish had his bike taken care of, and I got my crashbar welded - no surprise something broke, considering the roads leading up to here.. But better now than later, cos it was only gonna get worse. On our way back, a bakery caught our eye, and we decided to pay a visit later.

Cafe Amigos - German Bakery it was. A few tables, picture postcards of Manali hangin around, psychedelic art work by the DJ, and a fresh baked counter made up the interior. And then when GNR hit my ears, I felt that I'd just entered the Toons of Manali :) What followed was too good to be true - Nirvana, The Doors, Van Halen and the like.. Add the good food and the insane cakes and this was fast becoming a place we wouldn't wanna leave! But leave we did, cos we had to... After the night was done, we'd have to leave early, very early, for the place where most of us would encounter snow for the very first time ever - Rohtang La.

Pre-dinner plans included fuelling, and the nearest fuel station was on the way to Rohtang, a few kms through Manali. On the way back, we were greeted by a sight, which to me was pathetic. A Safari had gone off the road and half of it was stuck in the gutter. Apparently a boulder had bounced off the bonnet and destroyed the windshield. If only he had opted for the 4x4, it certainly would've been another story.. But it wasn't a 4x4, so a lot of burnt rear rubber later, he gave up, and they evacuated. We headed back for our final slumber in Manali.