Holiday Plaza Hotel Srinagar

... young monks, of course) serve hot drinks and some food in the intermissions. The young monks are released after the first part of the pray. It seems like they are the only working force in the monastery - later I saw them cleaning the yard - it looked like child labor, actually. 
Well, the pray is over and I can continue my journey in Nubra valley. That's what I thought, but first thing (after I got fueled up at the Tibetan Food) I wanted to fill up the Vespa. Getting to the ...

... 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 ...

... it's fun, but after the tenth time, she has had enough. <br><br>We visit carpet factories, woodcarving shops and a really nice jeweler whom we can trust. While I do fall in love with a magnificent Kashmir table, 1 meter in diameter, the CH3000 price tag is just out of my budget range. So I opt for some jewelry instead and order a ...

... paistva templini ja homse bussi järele. Buss läheb hotelli juurest 8.30.<br>Kaifin mõnda aega seina seest pähe voolavat kuuma vett ja proovin hotelli pisikese seebiga midagi mustade juuste vastu ette võtta. Siis vedelen toas, jalad aknalaual, vaatan hotelli aeda ja põldudele ja ootan, kuniks päike pisut madalamale vajub. Sirvin ka sajandat korda matkaraamatut ja satun peatükile, mis hoiatab asjade eest, mida ei tohiks teha: minna Kargilisse, minna Suru jõe orgu ...

... investig*tions into the shooting of * south K*shmir vill*ger from the d*y before. `However, the biggest sl*sh of violence hits the region preceisily on the d*y I le*ve. In the cource of the five d*y b*ttle th*t ensues eight soldiers *nd 17 Isl*mic fighters *re killed in the Sh*msb*ri forest ne*r the Line of Control, * ce*sefire line th*t divides K*shmir between Indi* *nd P*kist*n. The milit*nts were &#8220;well-tr*ined, he*vily *rmed *nd indoctrin*ted&#8221; *ccording to Mr. Singh ...

... the boat. I did have a strange toilet arrangement though. Not content with a strange hybrid western/Asian toilet I also had a second western toilet! Ashraf and Sakina owned the houseboat and were my hosts. They lived in the more modest houseboat moored behind ...

... i dropped off my stuff on the boat (looked like the pictures. *sigh of relief*) then i got a boat tour of the huge lake in the middle of srinagar. when we were touring the lake, the boat guide said that a lot of people come up here to meditate. i want to be one of them! maybe i'll finally get the hang out of it; must try it tonight. i'm surprised by how much i've sweated so far on this trip. it's the freaking himalayas but my back is drenched and ...

... entry and assumption from the name "Baby Trek", this is not an easy stroll across the mountains. The name comes from the fact that it is only 3 nights, you can do it without a guide and with minimal gear as you stay in guesthouses in villages along the way. Because of our recent bouts with altitude and stomach issues, our trek has been reduced to only the first leg. So this is the super baby trek ...

... a lad from nearby showed up as well (Pic 14, 15). The kids were suited to be able to see the pictures on the digital camera. GPS Altitude Readings Start 3760m 3789m 3959m 4004m Camp Day 6 We decided to push on and do the final pass of the trek today. The pass is called Gongmaru La. It meant a long tough day climbing over 1000m's in altitude. It also meant we could finish on day 7 instead of day 8 and save $25 each. We made our way out of the gorge and up ...

... The next one over w*s c*lled "Mon*rch". An Austr*li*n couple belonging to the were v*c*tioning in the Mon*rch. They h*d hoped to move into Amy, *nd were pretty *ngry, when they figured out th*t we got Amy. Mon*rch h*d three bedrooms, * living *nd dining room, kitchen *nd ver*nd* *nd three b*throoms. It w*s obviously much more expensive th*n Amy which h*d only one bed *nd b*throom, kitchen, dining / living room *nd * ver*nd*. <br><br>The neighbor to the other side ...