Hotel Cho Palace Leh

... as I thought it's going to be. The icy part somehow disappeared. And here I am taking pictures at the Khardung La! A few more hours and I'm back to Leh, coming to the hotel first, making sure my private room is still available. Then checking the web, taking (kind of a tepid) shower and then going to Lamayuru - all with the scooter. The news aren't good - tonight is the last night here - the restaurant is closing. Now I don't have a choice but to leave the town :) <br><br><br><br>

... son (he's probably 12) speaks (well, he tried to) English. He explained to me that his father is a soldier and the big brother is (what a small world) in Diskit gompa. We even tried to find him in the pictures I made in the morning, but he wasn't there. While mother &amp; grandma was preparing the curd and the rice with vegetables I was doing the homework with the kid. It proved that all the textbooks are in English!? And these include math, English and science (a mixture of basic ...

... The serpentine started to become more casual and less asphalted from one hand and more perilous from the other. Needless to mention that it was all remarkably beautiful around. The mountains I was approaching, the valley I was leaving, the perspective that was opening. There were road-stones every kilometer - there were some 10 left, but the progress was very sluggish. I also was fighting all the time with the klatch of the Vespa - the gear wasn't really in perfect condition. <br ...

... br>We camp in the garden of our guesthouse, which is beautiful but where the owner is a businessman and not very friendly. <br><br>I am bored, so I fixed a broken lawn chair.<br><br>Difficult to sleep that night as man or animal ruffles through our bags and keeps us from sleeping.

... homme. Après un jour et demi de repos, David va mieux.<br><br>Dimanche 20 septembre, nous partons le matin de bonne heure pour aller au PANGONG LAKE. Un lac d&#8217;un bleu-violet incroyable contrastant avec le beige-brun des montagnes avoisinantes. De retour à TANGTSE vers midi, nous mangeons un petit quelque chose que nos deux estomacs fragiles supportent et reprenons la route. La montée jusqu&#8217;au col est raide. A un moment donné, la pente est trop forte ...

... who, when asked to help with Tom's crampons, decided to take a slide down the mountain instead, slashing his hand. Much blod, ya get me?<br>Back at the bottom, met with the victims of the cruel mountain, ate lunch, passed out, ate dinner, involving an iced banana cake, once again passed out...<br>The morning.<br>We had to say goodbye to Chiring, Tashi and Chandar. Who were honestly 3 of the greatest people we've ever met. I'll really miss them, despite only knowing them for 3 ...

... paksu sakslast. Istume ka nemad üle. Päike kaob mäe taha, lehvitan norrakale ja võtan suuna alla. Allaminnes ilmneb, et nii hotellimees kui ka väike tüdruk juhatasid mind tegelikult õigesti, ainult mina tahtsin ikka põikpäiselt mööda seina üles ronida. Taipan äkki ka, keda norrakas mulle kangesti meenutab - Ken-Marti Vaherit. Nüüd jääb veel ainult välja mõelda, keda Anu mulle meenutab. Eestlastega muidugi võib vabalt olla, et nad meenutavad neid endid mõnes ...

... blow the tire out earlier since the roads were so bad. We got stuck in a ditch earlier on the drive but I was so caught up in helping to get us out I forgot to get pictures of the moment. Finally got out when about 10 other guys piled out of the back of a truck that happened to pass by to help us. Crazy adventure.<br>I hope some of the pictures and vids do it justice. I went to many very ...

... we saw the most glorious sight up ahead. Tibetan Buddhists have a fabulous tradition that trekkers love involving marking high passes with strings of prayer flags tied to sticks or held down with giant piles of rocks. We could see the flags waving and knew our first pass was conquered. There were even rocks spelling "Welcome". As we sat to rest, we noticed a group of trekkers heading our way...coming ...

... Readings Start 4723m 4257m 3950m 3788m End Picture List: 01 Open Plain 02 Markha Valley Girl 03 View from Ganda La Base Camp 04 Markha Valley Home 1 05 Markha Valley Home 2 06 Markha Valley Old Lady 07 Treking Team and Local 08 Markha Valley Scenery 1 09 Markha Valley Scenery 2 10 Markha Valley Scenery 3 11 A Zeus 12 River Crossing 13 Local Girl 1 14 Local Kids 15 Local Girl 2 16 Markha Valley Scenery 4 17 Mountain Range 1 18 Mountain Range 2 19 Gongmaru La Pass