Aslam-o-Alikum all,
i am writing this topic to share the experience of my trip last year "August-2016" to Rama valley that i was fortunate enough to complete Solo on my bike “YBR 125-G”.
It was thrilling, full of adventure, gave me chills 
countless times but by the grace of Almighty Allah it was not only safe and sound but got completed without a hitch Alhamdu-Lilah!, I am thankful to Allah for blessing me with the opportunity and safe return.
I have seen people going to china border on bikes sometimes solo and that’s really impressive 
. I may sound overwhelmed by the experience because this was my first time riding alone on a trip like this, I have traveled before on car and I love traveling and exploring the beauty of our great country but a solo trip like this really pushes the mental and physical boundaries “at least for me it did”. I will insha-Allah try and update the topic with more thoughts and Pictures just casually sharing the challenges that I faced in an effort it may be helpful to someone, “after all I just became an expert on outdoor adventure LOL 
”
Behold the view of Rama.
Glacier on the way to Jalkhand.
Not a huge fan of selfie but…
While traveling alone I didn’t wanted to be stranded anywhere, that can be a serious problem. GT road is quite comforting in this regard as you can find mechanics almost everywhere but after Naran things get serious facilities are few and far between. So I was extra cautious due to my lack of experience. My mechanic asked me to have tubes removed and travel with tubeless tiers “which was an excellent Idea, so, highly recommended ” and he also removed the air intake part which allowed more air towards the engine “good for high altitude”. The bike was tuned and oil changed and it was ready to hit the road.
Things I had with me in terms of tools:
- Air Pump
- Plier, screw driver, keys
- Chain Link
- clutch cable
- spark plug
- headlight blub “not recommended but you never know”
- spare tire tube/s
All the above mentioned things were easily tucked in the saddle box.
Air intake Part removed.
Oil being changed
Tuning..
Tubeless Valves being installed.
some random Pictures hope you will enjoy.
this is how the bike looked.
Makeshift tripod for time lapse:
Camping at Rama:
Nanga Parbet and adjoining Peaks:
A surprise when I stopped for oil change, thankfully tubeless tires did their job.
Worst sun burn of my life!! And it was painful.
Moon restaurant Naran..
Famous "Bhains ka gosht" of Balakot.
Bee farm stop.. While her father clicked the picture I noticed the little girl was not comfortable with my hand on her shoulder. Great people self-respecting and hospitable.
Made a little friend..
It needs some serious washing!!
Wore this t-shirt on the way home, felt like I have earned it..
While concluding this topic I would like to share some things that i learned during the journey, things in my opinion one should know before hitting the road.
a. Mental and physical health.
Before setting out for a journey a person should be fit both mentally and physically and someone with disease like diabetes, high blood pressure or any terminal disease should consult with their doctors and travel with proper medication.
b. First Aid box.
Carry with you a small and comprehensive medic box with quick first aid in case of accidents, medicines should cover areas like food poisoning, pain relievers, antibiotics etc.
c. Always Travel light!
There are many tempting items that allure you in thinking that you cannot complete the journey without them, but believe it or not you may not even open that extra bag.
This is the same what happened to me. I packed myself ready for the ultimate doomsday trip, and learned it the hard way and had to carry that extra weight throughout the trip.
d. Make an inventory.
It’s a good idea to keep the list of the things you need like camera, tripod, extra batteries, power bank, charger, tools etc. and double or even triple check that list before leaving the house.
This is yet another area that I lament I had worked on, I packed the tripod but forgot the “quick release plate” so for entire trip that tripod was of no use.
e. Keep Extra cash.
I would not suggest to travel with a lot of money, but having some extra cash is a good idea, ATM’s could be found in major cities but one cannot rely on them entirely.
f. Keep in touch with friends and family.
Lastly, let you family and friends know the progress of the journey and if you have any problem don’t shy to tell them let them know immediately.
This trip was a life changing experience. There was peace and calmness throughout the way, people were very helpful and welcoming, While enjoying my stay in Rama I got severe food poisoning and had to cut short my trip. This journey really thought me that how vulnerable and fragile we humans are and how grand this world of Almighty Allah is. I would strongly recommend to stop the 9 to 5 life for at least once a year and enjoy the beauty of nature. If you have any question regarding please feel free to ask. May Allah bless our country with ever lasting peace and prosperity Ameen.
Pakistan Zindabad.
