Day 5 (18-07-2018) (Note: I shall compare the “planned tour Vs Reality on Ground”, so that it could be evident that how the things planned get change at the time of practical implementation :slightsmile:, specially the distances and kilometers )
Our planned day 5 timings and schedule of exploration was as under:
Skardu (Exploring Skardu) ----- (2h 20min + 1h 22min + 3h 30min - Total= 8h approx) ----- (77.9km + 53.4km + 125km- Total = 256.3km)
_Total Travel Distance and Time = 256.3 km, 8 hours approx. _
//From Keris, Manthoka waterfall is 30km, and before 2.5 km from manthoka waterfall, take right turn on unpaved trek
Details =Moving from Skardu at 8:00am for Manthoka waterfall (2h 20min, 77.9km), we assume to reach there at 11:00am. If physical conditions are good then we move at 12:00pm further to Khamosh waterfall near Tarkati (geo mobile Tarkati- 1h 22min 53.4km). If we adapt this then we assume to reach there at 2:30pm. Take pics and will then move back at 3:30pm to Skardu (3h 30min, 125km). We assume to reach back to skardu at 7:00pm
In 2nd option we shall move back to skardu from Manthoka waterfall (2h 20min, 77,9km), so we depart at 2:00pm and reach back to skardu at 5:00pm). In this option we shall not go to khamosh waterfall.
The actual reality on ground, is as under (We dropped Skardu portion and planned to go to Minimarg. So, today we had to visit Rainbow Lake):
So, here comes the day 5. While being extremely thankful to Allah Pak, that he had brought us out from the dreadful situation of day4, we had tight sleep at night, and due to exasperating and irksome routine of day 4, we did not get a clue, how the shades of darkness started vanishing in Minimarg. Anyways, I got up, offered prayer, and pray to Allah Subhana hu Wa’Tala to bless us for the rest of our expedition too, the way HE has blessed us so far, and then moved outside to enjoy the early morning beauty of Minimarg. It was miraculous and staggering beauty of Minimarg to be experienced early morning. The clouds covered the Minimarg village. They were kissing the mountains in Minimarg, which reflected a mesmerized and stunning beauty. There was a pin drop silence everywhere, and just few army persons were busy in their routine tasks and duty.
I was busy in taking early morning pictures, and meanwhile I noticed, the kid and wife also moved out from room. It was around 7:00pm. After taking pictures, we started to think now, how to contact our other group members, as they were in artillery mess, which was at some distance from here, i.e. brigade mess. We ordered for breakfast and decided to go to artillery mess. We noticed some delay in breakfast, so decided to move to artillery mess to bring our members along with that jeep driver who had taken us to Minimarg on day4. It took us 15-20 minutes to reach there, and we found our members outside, anxiously waiting for us. Subsequently, we went to artillery mess in order to clear the billings. The bill charged for artillery mess was 4150/Rs including night tea, which forced me to think to prepare myself for a heavy bill for my night stay in Brigade mess, as it was a VIP sort of residence. Consequently, keeping these things in mind, I went back to brigade mess with wife and kid, and asked my friends to reach there in jeep, thus we could move to Domail from there.
Upon reaching there, we found our breakfast on table. We took that and thereafter, went for the clearance of the bill of brigade mess with heavy heart. It took some time, as the staff was busy in giving breakfast to army soldiers in their cafeteria, it was their breakfast time and they were not ready to compromise on that. I felt it good but on the other part, we were also getting late. Finally, the bill was in my hand, and I was stunned to see the amount. It was merely 2287/-, including the breakfast as well as the night milk for kid. Yes, I really meant that. I was confused upon these bills mismatch of Brigade Mess and artillery mess. Upon discussing with each other, we figured out the reason, and it was most probably, as we registered in Brigade Mess as Army guests so provided with discount, while in Artillery mess, my friends registered as normal visitors/guest. Upon this, I was like 
, that I should have cleared the billing of Brigade mess firstly, and then to Artillery mess so that I could ask for discount over there too 
.
To encapsulate this, we left for Domail at 09:40am. We rushed towards jeep because, the rain started in Minimarg, and this time, we were not that much nervous as we were in jeep, not on bike 
. Now here I am confused, how to express our next feelings in words? That is really, short for words. Yes, I really meant that. Because, the beauty, the exquisiteness, the glamour, the elegance, the fascination, the delicacy, and the romance of nature from Minimarg till Domail/Rainbow Lake, looked like a fantasy, a dream, a story, an illusion and a freaking deception. It literally seized our breath and enforced us to stand still. Just imagine! An unpaved road, joggles in jeep, lush and stupefying greenery on one side along with river flowing on other side with its mellifluous lullaby, the gigantic mountains, which were being covered with clouds, seemingly right in front of you, the sweet melody of drizzling, and moreover, the entrance of the trek into glorify dense forest time to time. It was stunning, miraculous, phenomenal and spell bound beauty and is unexplainable. I literally, cannot explain my feelings and experience. Rainbow lake visit is a must recommended visit for any nature explorer.
Anyways, we reached at the entrance army chowki of Domail. The army representative told us an unfortunate news, that the entrance to Rainbow Lake is closed for some hours today due to some VIP visit. I requested him that we have come from Rawalpindi-Islamabad, and I have family with me, kindly allow us for short duration. After having discussion for a while, he finally permitted us in order to come back within 45 minutes. That really, relieved us. After covering few meters, we reached Rainbow Lake around 10:15am. It was majestic and astounding view all over, wherever we were turning our face. There were superb and daring quotations written by Pak army at different points, which was depicting clear messages to our enemies. Furthermore, what should I say about sighting Rainbow Lake! Absolutely, stunning, staggering and exquisite beauty. One of the gorgeous Lake I have experienced so far. This lake and its surrounding environment was well preserved and maintained to its originality by Army, which reflects the real beauty of this Lake. The pin drop silence and less visitors numbers at such place, is simply phenomenal and soul refreshing. You really, want to take long breaths at such places, sitting near lake, while closing your eyes.
Nevertheless, we had shortage of time, therefore started taking pictures to record these refreshing memories forever in our cameras. We had also noticed a VIP kind of Lunch arrangements near the lake by army personals. Meanwhile, we have been informed, that the mountains, which are right in front of us, facing towards Rainbow Lake at its entrance point, are the borderlines between Pakistan and India. And, when the circumstances between the two countries become deteriorate, then the intensity of Indian attacks, effect this area too. Soon after, we noticed that it is 12:00pm now, the time to move back as very short time was permitted to us by army. Suddenly my wife, asked from one army solider about another lake over here, which we heard about from others. He briefed us, that it is about 10-15 minutes walking distance from main Rainbow Lake, facing towards Pak-India borderline mountains. There was also a stream visible over there from main Rainbow Lake viewpoint, an identification mark of that lake, which is named as Crystal Lake/ seven streams Lake.
My wife was like; 
I am not going to miss that. I will not return from here without visiting that Crystal Lake, and I was like 
; what should we do, as we have to leave the place before that VIP movement. Nonetheless, we decided to move towards Crystal Lake. It was at a little descend, basically a small lake, but with purely crystal water. Now we came to know, why it has been named so? It was surrounded by beautiful flowers of different colours, which were adding the glorification of this lake. Few chairs, for visitors, were also fixed at the edge of the Lake. We also noticed few small water streams which were being fallen into the Lake, perhaps, that is why, it was also named as “seven Streams Lake”, I did not count those small water streams, but they looked to be seven, logically. After taking pictures and enjoyed short time over there, we rushed towards parking area of Rainbow Lake, which took us around 20 minutes. It was absolutely, impossible to leave such fascinating and miraculous place. However, we had to take this harsh decision. We started our departure from Rainbow Lake around 11:45am, and soon after, we noticed the VIP movement in different cars and army squad towards Rainbow Lake. The army solider at Check post, told us that now you must have an idea why did we offer you short time? They had stopped one jeep over there, and unfortunately, that jeep had to move back from there.
Nevertheless, we reached Minimarg around 12:20pm, and then after some verification at Minimarg check post, we, finally departed for Burzil top. We reached Burzil Top around 1:40pm. We faced some delays, as there was truck, which was moving towards Burzil top, and had blocked the passage due to narrow trek and sharp ascending turns:disappointed:. Though we were in jeep, but we observed, that It was bit tough trek to reach Bruzil top on bike with pillion riding. We met with brother Khaver at Bruzil top again. He offered us tea with biscuits, also served my kid with juices and lays, upon which I was extremely gratified to him. His hospitality and generosity really, conquered our hearts. We were sitting inside that small shop which was just adjacent to the main check post at Burzil top. It was cold, and the tea really, refreshed us. I went to offer Zohar Prayer, and meanwhile my other members started fixing that raise wire of my bike, which one of our member, had brought from chillam Chowki market on day 4. Unfortunately, the wire could not be fixed, because it was not a genuine wire. The genuine wire has a small hook on one end, which has to be fixed. It was hook-less, therefore could not be fixed. We, therefore decided, that one member will be on my bike having to chain with other bike, while I shall be in Jeep with family. My friends were very concerned, caring and cooperating in this regard. They did not let me to go on bike.
We had exchanged warm regards and said thanks to brother Khaver. He showed picture of his cute child, who was exactly of the same age of my kid. I, then realized, how these soldiers are living their lives without their family and kid, in order to server our beloved country. May, Allah bless him. Nonetheless, we departed from Bruzil top at 2:45pm. I was also concerned about my friends, so asked the driver to drive the jeep slowly. We reached Chillam chowki safely, around 4:10pm. Now, the next part was to fix my bike immediately, so that we could plan our next actions accordingly. There was mechanic but we were stuck with that hook-less raise wire. The mechanic asked that he will fix a screw on edge of wire, and it will work as hook, and your problem will be resolved. But one of my friend rejected this idea as he was afraid, the screw might get lose due to joggling trek, and if it will enter into an engine, it could create disastrous problem. We are again stuck now what to do:confused:. I was feeling bit nervous to take more risks with family. The jeep driver, at Rama also scared us about the Deosai weather. He told us, the weather of Deosai is unpredictable. It is furious most of the time. I have never been to these areas so had no ideas about this. Finally, we decided that we are not going to take risk and will move in jeep. We planned to stay night at Chillam Chowki in hotel, as it was not good to go to Deosai and to cross Sheosar Lake in darkness. I wanted to experience the beauty in daytime.
We booked one room in Dewan hotel at Chillam chowki for 2000/- , my friends gave 100 rupees to spend night with the Dewan Hotel staff, where they slept, rather than to setup camp. Unfortunately, we had forgot about that camping spot which was just before Chillam Chowki. It would have been the best option to spend night:disappointed 
The sun was about to set, and it was getting extremely cold now at Chillam Chowki. My friends went to that Jeep person to negotiate about our journey from Chillam Chowki till Skardu, he was the same driver who took and brought us from Burzil top and Minimarg. We gave 9000/- to him for Minimarg and Rainbow lake. Now he agreed up on 14000/- to take us a long with bike to Skardu, with one night stay in Deosai. After settling this all, we finally moved to room, ordered for Dinner i.e. Chicken Karahi. The room of dewan hotel was nice with attached washroom and separate area for hand/mouth wash .The dinner was delicious. Soon after, we came across another news that the driver is not agree to take us to Skardu in14000. He basically, had another Toyota-sedan diesel car in which he had to take us with bikes, he told us that it will cost him more; his owner is not allowing him. He was demanding 18000/-. Anyways, we were stuck, and had to make him round, so things were settled in 17000/-. You have to compromise on many things when you are with family. Thereafter , we took tea and then went for sleep. All the stupefying scenes of the day, were in our eyes, and our eyes were having questions in them, Can we experience more beauty than this? . What could be more glamorous then that?. Having such feelings and questions, we did not know when did we go to sleep..........
So that is all of the day 5. Next is the picture time now.
