The Ladakh Sarai Leh

... it was the first time to homestay (though afterwards it happens to be something pretty official, there are even tariffs set: Rs400 per night for a single person). Padma (this is the name of a homeowner) proved to be a very welcoming women, she invited me into her house. The main room was a big room with some mattresses & cushions along the perimeter. It was already after the sunset, so there was a little light coming through the ...

... were no any. It doesn't seem good, along with the clouds that stated to appear in the skies. So probably I'll take a bike for another ride tomorrow, and then will see if there is anyone going to Nubra. If not, I'll be probably leaving Leh - it's pity, but there is a chance that the weather window is closing here. <br><br>

... the day is that we feel surprisingly good for a change. Our bodies must have finally acclimatized.<br><br>Pictures at the top and then descent in the snow until Lasermo North camp at 4600m. Delicious meal by Sirin who is turning out to be an amazing chef.

... that have been injured or are old or disabled and no longer able to work so they are abandoned in the street after an already hard life and forced to eat garbage. We have a definate soft spot for them. One of the first things we saw in Leh was a creatively painted sign for a donkey sanctuary that you could visit. One day Nadine followed the friendly signs for miles out of town until she reached the "Home For Helpless Donkeys" set up by South African ...

... between us and on my own I bought 25+ chocolate bars.<br><br>Okay, enough. Now we're in Leh, and anxiously awaiting the beginning of the hardest trek yet tomorrow. Armed with crampons and extra toilet paper. Leh is pretty weird - everyone is amazingly friendly but the weird thing is every 2nd person is foreign. And every second of them is Israeli! Last night me and Amie went to a regular speakeasy where the owner kept hiding our beers, and spoke ...

... then turn around and wait. This seemd ok to "Carl" fesh from the Israeli army but it wasn't working for me and it was killing "Danni". She would try to keep pace and would end up collapsing every 100 ft or so and then we'd sit for five minutes. Eventually I just stepped in front of her and did the Kilimanjaro "pole pole" (slowly slowly) pace. At sea level it would seem absurdly ...

... et ma ujuma minna ei kavatse, kuniks rand nii ülerahvastatud on. Wasim paistab solvunud olevat, et ma liigse rahva all ka teda silmas pean. Ja ongi peaaegu kadunud, kui saabub tyyp Chandigarhist... Lootusetu ilmselt ka tahta Indias leida inimtühja kohta. Probleem tegelikult ka selles, et seekord ei taha ma ühtegi riietuseset märjaks teha. Lõpuks saab asjad siiski niikaugele, et saan vette ja tagasi spurtida. Külm. Aga mitte nii külm kui Khövsgöl Nuur.<br>Telkla ...

... peene hotellini, kus peatuvat ka Bollywoodi staarid, et võtta sealt mulle selgaandmiseks jakk, ja orienteerume mobiiltelefoni valguses mööda pimedaid kitsaid kõrvaltänavaid minu hotellini, kus ma jaki tagastan ja põgenen.<br>Möödaminnes näen vilksamisi ka Sonamit, kes aga mind ei märka. Seega ma ei tee ka numbrit sellest, et Sonam mulle 50 ruupiat võlgu on, sest nagunii oli Kargilist Lehini sõit kõige pikema maa ja odavama hinnaga taksosõit, mida siin kasutanud olen.

The route from Manali to Leh, covering a distance of 473 km (294 mi), is one more commonly taken by tourists. It takes two days, normally with an overnight stop either in Keylong (alt. 3096) or in tent accommodation in Sarchu (4253) or Pang (4500). Making the first stop in Keylong reduces the risk of altitude sickness (AMS). It traverses one of the highest road passes in the world and is surrounded by wild rugged mountains. The scenery is fantastic ...

... Ladakhi man was sat on a seat, and the next there was a crash and he was on the floor, on his side, with a bunch of said child's clothing in his hand. The child looked rather non plussed by the whole thing and the old man was ushered inside by the child's mother, presumably since old people don't fall well. Also to protect her child, I should imagine.