So here I come, after getting time, to share the story of day 7... 
Day 7 (20-07-2018) (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, specially the distances and kilometers )
Our planned day 7 timings and schedule of exploration before moving on this expedition was as under:
Details =Moving to point 500m before babusartop at 7:00am (1 h 30min), we assume to reach there at 9:00am and then from there move to dharamsar lake (1 h). We shall assume to reach dharamsar lake around 10:00am, take pictures and then move sambaksar lake hike (40 minutes). Reach there 11:00am, take pictures and will reach back to dharamsar at 12:00pm, move back to naran and will reach there around 3:00Pm. At 4:00pm leave for saiful maluk and reach there at 5:30pm, sightseeing and pictures and then leave for naran at 6:30pm and reach naran at 7:30pm, Night stay at naran.
Further, if we compare, how did we plan for the day, visiting the Manthoka waterfall, before starting our expedition was as below
Details =Moving from skardu at 8:00am for Shigar Fort (1h 19min 44.4km). We assume to reach there 9:30am. Take some pictures and move further at 10:00am to Shigar valley (16min 7.8km). We assume to reach there at 10:30am, take pictures and will depart from Shigar at 1:00am to Manthoka waterfall (1 h 37min 68.7km). We assume to reach Manthoka waterfall at 1:00pm. Will take pictures and move from Manthoka waterfall at 2:00pm to Khaplu place (1h 58min). We shall assume to reach there at 4:00pm. Take pictures and will depart from khaplu palace at 4:30pm back to skardu (2h 50min 114km). Reach back to skardu 7:30pm.
However, the actual reality on ground is as under (As we had already changed the plan, and entered Minimarg and Rainbow Lake to our expedition, so we were mildly behind in comparison to our planned tour. Today, we had to spend time in Skardu, and had to visit Manthoka Waterfall. Our main aim was to visit Manthoka, and afterwards we would decide to go to Shigar or to Khaplu. We left it to decide later.
So, here comes the Day 7, got up early morning as usual to offer prayer. Thereafter, the first thing which we checked, was about the condition of our hero, as he has some big kind of acne spots at night on his head and behind the ear. However, thanks to Allah Subhana hu Wa ta’ala, they were all vanished. Otherwise, we would have to take him to the doctor first. Therefore, the day started with good signs. On the other part, after sometime, we started listening some kind of sports activity noise, and we noticed, there was a polo ground adjacent to the hotel. A football match was being played early morning there. Anyhow, we let the kid sleep, and tried to settle down the payments with the jeep driver. On the other part, we also ordered for breakfast. After negotiating further with driver, he agreed to take 15000/Rs. for Chillam-Deosai-Skardu.
We had shifted our luggage already to a store provided by the Hotel Manager Ali Brother. He was very pleasant and supportive person.He helped us in many things. Meanwhile the breakfast was ready, as usual the parathas and omelet with tea. It costed us 340 Rs. Thereafter, my friends took the bikes to the repair shop for tuning, oil changing and fixing the raise wire of my bike, and other necessary maintenance. It costed us around 600 (my bike) + 300 (friends bike). We had oil with us which we kept with us from Rawalpindi. _ Brother Ali has supported in this a lot. He called the person to open the shop early so that our bikes could be fixed timely. This took time. The hotel has a separate parking area in the street, where we found apple trees. Anyhow, we went to room. Now we were enthusiastically waiting for the arrival of our group members. The Hero was excited for the next part of his unforgettable expedition.
Nonetheless, we departed the Hilton International Hotel for Manthoka waterfall around 11:10am. It was sunny day but the clouds were trying to hug each other from different angles above the sky in order to stop the Sun show. There were two turns from the front side of the hotel view on main road. While having the hotel front view behind you, the road on your ride side was leading to main Skardu Bazar , Yadgar chowk and towards Shangrilla. The road on your left side, turning side by side to the famous Polo ground of Skardu, leads you towards Shigar, Manthoka and Khaplu Road. There were also many shops around this part of road, particularly the handicraft, traditional local culture clothing, caps, maps etc. We also came across many foreigners on the way, perhaps going for some hiking.
As we moved ahead to some distance, it suddenly struck to me, that we did not keep raincoats with us. Therefore, my friends went there to bring raincoats. They came shortly after 15 minutes I guess. Meanwhile, I further noticed that the bike puncture kit was not on their bike. I told them to bring that kit as we might encounter any emergency, anytime, but they were reluctant to go back in bringing that as they underestimated the conditions that puncture kind of stuff will not take place in Skardu now, because the roads are fine. I kept pushing but in vain. This was second blunder, which we as a group committed, despite of my pushing, as I always tried to emphasize on backup strategy. The first blunder was the backup bike raise wire that we did not keep with us, and because of which, we agonized immensely. The second blunder was this one, not to take bike puncture kit while going towards Manthoka. You will feel the repercussions of this later in the story.
Nevertheless, we continued our journey without the bike puncture kit. From Skardu to Manthoka, one passes through different villages, which brought you again on the main road alongwith River Indus flowing on left side. Therefore, we also covered our distance this way, passing through the small villages and then the appearance of River Indus at the closure of the villages on left side along with barren mountains on right side repetitively. We also entered into a small village, having the apricot garden along both sides of the road creating a ravishing and entrancing view. My friends moved ahead, while we paused there for a while.You are standing on the road, and there are apricot gardens on both sides of road, and you do not pluck and taste any apricot, I guess that is not fair Therefore, we fervently desired to pluck apricots from the trees but were feeling confusions of being snubbed by any locals. Meanwhile, we found a boy with family near a parked car. We requested him, to tell us about the owners of this garden so that we could take permission to pluck apricots. He smiled on this and replied, the whole garden is yours man, you can pluck whatever and wherever you desire. I was shocked that the person might be kidding with us. We moved a little ahead and found a local women appearing to be coming from garden. I pushed my wife to go to her and take permission from her. Unfortunately, she did not understand Urdu, and we did not understand her local language. Therefore, a good drama was created over there. To recapitulate, she somehow understood what we meant, and then offered us large number of apricots after plucking from tree and also allowed us to go to garden and pluck whatever you want. We found these locals very generous and friendly. They really exchange smiles and warmth, signs of their friendly behavior with the tourists, and especially if you have female with you.
Nevertheless, after plucking some good number of apricots, we proceeded further. We reached to the Shigar Junction point at 11:45am, where there was turn on left side on the main road, which leads to the Shigar Fort, and the straight main road leads towards Manthoka and Khaplu. We proceeded to the main road towards Manthoka and Khaplu. The river Indus appeared again on the left side with its murky colour, and we surely did not like it, as it reminded the Chillas-Astore Road . The same unsmooth road, with mountains on right side, and river Indus on left side. My wife vociferously said, “Do not tell me that we have to cover all the distance towards Manthoka again with such route. And I was like 
. We reached to the Khaplu and Manthoka Road Junction around 12:30pm. The road towards the bridge side on left side takes to the Khaplu while the road towards right side, takes you towards Manthoka. The clouds started showing their wrath above the sky and started making us worrisome and nervous.
Every now and then, we entered into some small village with lush green fields and stupefying phenomenal beauty along with apricot gardens. People also placed the plucked apricots open in the sunshine above the roofs of their homes, also alongside the road, to get the apricots dried up in order to sell the dry apricots in market. We finally reached to the Junction point around 1:20pm, from where an unpaved passage separates you from Main road towards Manthoka waterfall. As we entered into the passage leading towards Manthoka, we became stunned and unmoved for a while. It was hardly to believe to be at such place, and looked as we are daydreaming. Oh yes, there was an unpaved road, surrounded by lush green trees on both sides. In addition, on right side of the road, after the row of trees, the river was flowing with its deafening noise showing its dominance to the surrounding environment, and that was creating an exquisite, bewitching and picturesque beauty.
After taking pictures, we proceeded further and now fervently waiting for our destination. And here it comes, the first view of Manthoka Waterfall around 1:38pm. It was an enchanting and big waterfall. The entrance fee to Manthoka waterfall was 30Rs. per person. Therefore, we paid 120Rs. there and parked our bikes. Many families and tourists group were already there. We noticed one unfortunate activity. The people were carelessly crossing the river through bridge, in order to go near the Manthoka waterfall. They were jumping and making fun on the bridge, neglecting the recent incident, which took place in Neelum Valley, Kundal Shahi /Jagaran Valley, where the bridge was broken at Kutton waterfall, resulting in the loss of many lives.
Anyhow, we spent some time near Manthoka waterfall after crossing that bridge, took pictures there and then came back to the sitting area of Manthoka Waterfall before the bridge. There was hotel having washroom facilities too. We offered prayer there and ordered for pakoras, lays and juices, costing 500/approx., while sitting along riverside. Our hero started playing near water, by throwing stones into it. Meanwhile some ducks came there, and he was so jubilant to see them. A strange thing we noticed, that one duck also attacked a little baby, though baby was saved, but you have to be careful with such things too. Some tourist group also reached their in coasters.
We were enjoying every moment over there but were unaware of the risks hovering upon us and waiting for us. Absolutely, the second intense and annoyed part of our expedition. My friend went near their bike for some work and they noticed that their bike tire was punctured 
. Ahhhhh what to say on this. I just stared my friends and reminded them about my advice of taking puncture kit with them. Now what to do. Helpless. My friends first thought that someone has done a joke and removed the air from tire. The local person who was at the entrance gate, told us that this never happens here that someone does such nasty joke, so your bike might be puncture actually. He was very generous. He stood with us, and tried to figure out how to resolve this. There were other bikers too, but they did not have the puncture kit too. We figure out one big nail was inside the tube 
. One of my friend took my bike and went to the entrance point of Manthoka waterfall where we had seen some shops while coming towards Manthoka. My wife and kid were near the riverside spending time there in taking refreshments, lays, juice, and pakoras. The hero was busy in playing with ducks. He was enjoying his time, the tension was actually for us:slight_smile:
The time was passing on. It was 3:00 pm now. Our friend did not come yet. It has been half an hour since he went for bringing the person here. Every sound of bike, which we heard, looked to be my bike voice, but unfortunately no signs of that. There were no signals, so we were also unable to contact him. One group of biker came holding an air pump. We thought they might be having the puncture kit but in vain. Although, it was sunlight, but from one side, the dark clouds were also appearing on sky, increasing our tension. I had started thinking the worst scenario, and that was to spend night at Manthoka, started discussing with people and they told, there are arrangements for that. It was useless to spend time near bike, as we just had to wait for our friend to reach back to us. Therefore, we went to riverside, kept the shopper of apricots in river and then started eating them, taking pictures, having pakoras but anxiously waiting for our friend. And it was around 3:45pm, our friend reached to us with a mechanic sitting behind him. Ahhhhhh, it brought life into us. We rushed towards them and upon asking our friend told that it was Friday, and the markets were closed, and he was lucky to find this boy as he opened his shop, but there were customers at his shop, that is why he became late.
Anyhow, the boy fixed our bike. Some local boys of Shigar, came to us and started filling air in our bike, they were very generous and friendly. We thanked them. They, basically, came Manthoka for camping and spending night, meanwhile they told us about a glamorous lake before Shigar and asked us to visit that lake. It was shocking news for me, I, generally love to visit lakes, and how did I miss to plan to visit this lake.
Nonetheless, we obliged those boys and left Manthoka waterfall. We had to drop that mechanic, so he sat with my friends. We reached to the entrance junction point of manthoka waterfall at 4:15pm, dropped that boy, he charged 200 Rs. checked the air pressure of tire again and finally we were on the way back towards Skardu. We had excluded our rest of the plan to visit Shigar or Khaplu, as we were late already and planned to roam around in Skardu bazar. The weather was appearing to be enchanting one, the thick clouds covered the sky partially from different places, while the sun was competing them with its full strength and not stopping its rays to be shower down the earth. There was a desert on the way too, so parked the bike there for some time, had fun and took pictures. It was 5:45pm and we resumed the journey back towards Skardu to reach Skardu in time.
We finally reached back to Skardu main bazar around 6:15pm. It was the point where we saw the handicraft and the local traditional clothing shops. We parked the bike there and my wife started visiting those shops. The most nerve testing part of the husband to wait outside for wife, while she goes for shopping . Oh yes, the lady started the activity for which she was impatiently waiting for so many days, while I tried to tackle the situation throughout the previous days of our expedition in telling her, that we shall do shopping in Skardu. . The excitement on the face of wife, while she got the permission of shopping, can be well imagined by any husband. No matter, you take your wife on the expedition of visiting the entire beauty of the country, but the most excited part for her, would be shopping . She purchased lots of stuff there, traditional dresses, caps, Gilgiti caps, scarves, shawls and the list goes on . The shops were good one for shopping the traditional sort of stuff.
Nonetheless, we moved back towards our hotel and reached there at 7:20pm. We took some rest, offered prayer, spent time in room and then moved out for dinner around 8:30pm. To our surprise, we saw darkness outside in the bazar. The whole market seems to close. We thought so because of Friday, but we also noticed same thing the next day, perhaps the market closes early in Skardu. Now the next thing was to find hotel. Today we desired to have some barbeque in dinner, but to our surprise we could not find any such hotel, Majority hotels were closed. Finally, we found a boy at the corner of a street having a barbeque setup. Ahhhhh thanks a lot we found him. We had taken full chicken roast with cold drink and Chapatis. It costed us around 875 Rs. We then roamed in the market for some time, and then went to hotel. An important thing to be mentioned here, we had plan to spend some more days here in Skardu and Naran, but due to an emergency we had to pack up everything and had to reach Monday morning in Rawalpindi by all means. That was the sad part of our expedition, as we were about to miss many points, and due to that emergency we had to travel through public transport, though, my wife was also not willing to travel back on bike. Therefore we had to reserve seats in public transport for our bikes as well as for ourselves. So we paid Brother Ali (manager) 2500x2=5000/-rs for bikes and 2100x4=8400/- for our booking in K2 tours Gilgit Baltistan. We also paid the hotel rents to Brother Ali too ( 3 Nights ,2 rooms, 1200 each room i.e, (1200x3=3600)+ (1200x3=3600)= 7200/ Total rooms rent paid in Skardu. Thereafter, we went to our rooms for rest and sleep, it was another unforgettable day for us, and I was not willing to go back to Rawalpindi early, but we had to cut short our plan 
