tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28014388618620761172024-03-05T00:50:14.078-08:00Chai by the roadsideNaini's travel talesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801438861862076117.post-71584795928021078392013-07-07T08:21:00.003-07:002013-07-09T06:32:46.918-07:00Working with Avalokitesvara Trust in Ladakh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Working with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AvalokitesvaraTrust?fref=ts">AvalokitesvaraTrust</a> has been a wonderful learning experience for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px;"><i>The trust's vision is to empower children with the gift of education, the joy of learning, bringing </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px;">previously absent opportunities for a better overall quality of life in the region.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px;">The aim is to enhance the mental, emotional and psychological development of children within </span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px;">and beyond the education they receive at school, giving them the best possible foundation for </span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px;">the rest of their lives</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px;">.</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The opportunity to meet the amazing children of Ladakh, along with the mysteries of the mountains, and the hospitality of the people, make it a memorable experience indeed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In some of the schools of Leh, one would find the traditional set up- the teacher is usually in front of the class while the children quietly sit and read a chapter. The walls are bare and there are no desks. Students prop their bags as tables as they complete an assignment.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When I arrived and was given a class to take, I introduced group work. Students tackled a chapter about different types of forests. But each group had to focus on only one forest. I asked them to share their understanding of their section by creating a collage. As each group presented their work, they learnt from each other. The once quiet classroom, was suddenly buzzing; students were engrossed as they collaborated with each other.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here they are by the end of the lesson!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FpgVAgYS3BMJfWKHENT-OWckhrNXkW9yWLguA4vgpRhSLSfjGpeyIXpcYX8qBnB7SIfv-qAbpuR7pMV2Nu42_9fB9BSsZ6AwcAbD-FXS9fDuobsg5aVnf4FuCAikAereMroNnxZCBIqs/s1600/DSC_1175%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FpgVAgYS3BMJfWKHENT-OWckhrNXkW9yWLguA4vgpRhSLSfjGpeyIXpcYX8qBnB7SIfv-qAbpuR7pMV2Nu42_9fB9BSsZ6AwcAbD-FXS9fDuobsg5aVnf4FuCAikAereMroNnxZCBIqs/s640/DSC_1175%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In another class, I read them stories by Eric Carle. The students were thrilled to be able to do something else apart from write in their exercise books. The trust had provided me with different coloured crepe paper and glue. We used this to create beautiful art work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For first timers, these pieces of worked impressed me very much. The children were budding artists!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In grade 6, I addressed the topic of Indus Valley Civilization, using the inquiry method. Each child was given a topic they had to research about. We asked permission from the school to let us use the computers in the administration building. I had opened a few websites on each computer as I knew the students did not have prior experience with research. As they researched, the Mohenjodaro civilization came to life before their eyes. They could travel in time and view relics from the past. The text book content receded. The students were ready to get their hands dirty. Using clay, straw and old cardboard boxes, they created burial sites, homes, clothes and jewelery to depict life of those times.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I went off to a tiny school in the village of Nang. There are 12 students and a handful of teachers. What a wonderful and joyous time we had here. The Trust's aim was to set up a library and fill it up with children's books from around the world. The students were so excited to receive them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here is a glimpse of our experience in Nang.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0G1Z96gdUJ0IZnJtT5cuv9mLVzU-V9yHME0D5HlKzGkWlgNDSlCNbJjHr0H3YwjyXry9NoZaeH2LXNx1VaxzJfBzq98sfRQiGlSY9OkXN97Xar4Fj3V840zUlu2a8_yfEQ_J-DGFSnVC/s1600/DSC_1399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0G1Z96gdUJ0IZnJtT5cuv9mLVzU-V9yHME0D5HlKzGkWlgNDSlCNbJjHr0H3YwjyXry9NoZaeH2LXNx1VaxzJfBzq98sfRQiGlSY9OkXN97Xar4Fj3V840zUlu2a8_yfEQ_J-DGFSnVC/s640/DSC_1399.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Students enjoying the experience of tables!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5RcqSwK-3TGZ3FkCF0SVP4pUqM2nW_H8vmTwn0x9MEqTGEDfY2WZP-BSDsRhTG8yGN7PvQ3CUPCiyOn4H4c64iMfJunUD_yntYuRPeF0s7qPz8KISlFUGNw0XC__97hYryxcXYKBR3XC/s1600/DSC_1493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5RcqSwK-3TGZ3FkCF0SVP4pUqM2nW_H8vmTwn0x9MEqTGEDfY2WZP-BSDsRhTG8yGN7PvQ3CUPCiyOn4H4c64iMfJunUD_yntYuRPeF0s7qPz8KISlFUGNw0XC__97hYryxcXYKBR3XC/s640/DSC_1493.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After reading the story of Elmer, the elephant, students created their own version. Here is Deachen posing for me!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I enjoyed spending my time with the lovely people of Leh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I would like to thank Abhigya who is running this amazing project, along with Deachen, Phuntsok and Disket for making my stay there so worthwhile.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r91R7JW5DJyH7VnwjSVU8VolAKuSEwYrmal7oUAxEgXOwK5TH4owlelC9jqez-tApiPeccegjVQ-BExLk1xrjPf39W_Jo38ahh-YD8mHbAPo36SGHwGSezrTQrlCDHisH1UOLMZ2qGU1/s1600/DSC_1299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r91R7JW5DJyH7VnwjSVU8VolAKuSEwYrmal7oUAxEgXOwK5TH4owlelC9jqez-tApiPeccegjVQ-BExLk1xrjPf39W_Jo38ahh-YD8mHbAPo36SGHwGSezrTQrlCDHisH1UOLMZ2qGU1/s640/DSC_1299.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Here I am giggling with the kids. They love to be photographed!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Naini Singh</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801438861862076117.post-12362146671479040172013-07-06T11:00:00.001-07:002013-07-06T11:12:40.976-07:00Prayers in the wind- a video<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I apologize for the many errors (writing being cut off) but it was hard to create one using a phone and poor connectivity.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Q4R48uqD00Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
My email id: nainibasu@gmail.com
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801438861862076117.post-91769879759791923082013-07-03T19:52:00.000-07:002013-07-04T07:31:22.029-07:00Pristine moments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Equipped with warm clothes and chocolates, I head off to visit a tiny school in the remote village of Nang. As we leave the dusty brownness of Leh and head towards the interiors, the sky becomes bluer, the mountains a brown wrinkled vastness, like the residue of a dream. Tired as a result of the hectic schedule and lack of sleep due to bed bugs, I doze off, only to wake hours later to the sound of happy laughter of children.<br />
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I rub my eyes and look around. More mountains, but this time a valley too, with a clear brook gurgling through dense, sweet smelling pine and apricot trees. A tiny school lies along the incline of a hill.<br />
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Next to it, is my accommodation. Deachen's parents' home. A typical Ladhaki house with a courtyard, a temple with old fascinating relics of Buddha in many forms, a gong, wooden prayer wheels with silver filigree work and the subtle smell of smoke, incense and old walls. The next room is full of traditional rugs and carpets; then follows a kitchen with the most archaic, intricate cooker I have ever seen. Brass and turquoise stones decorate its edges.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house where I stayed for a night.</td></tr>
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And of course, in one corner, the elusive, antique Chinese thermos with its metaphorical symbols. [The reason I am so fascinated with it, is due to the fact that in the earliest centuries of Buddhism, the image of Budhha was never used. Instead, images symbolizing Buddha were used to convey his teachings. These symbols (lotus, a conch shell, golden fish, etc) were present on the thermos. Today, the Chinese are mass producing these flasks, but the traditional symbols have been replaced with pictures of grotesque flowers.]<br />
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We relax in the sitting room. Deachen's cousin has just arrived. She quickly changes as she does not want us to see her dressed in the elaborate, traditional robe. Each of us dons the silky bridal gown along with a heavy 24 carat gold necklace! Let's just say, I wont make a very good Ladhaki bride! Here is Diksit and Deachen having fun with it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk53ZGDuZdKXR8RMsqw9X166q5Dju2TvsCUGb3lCjw6QQkVwHUDSQ6GRaa55ls8OtyQEhsRyPfHGdqdRW68S6pTXQd1e1HiqpiXOH5MkWxzFF7dat7NTjypDl5r4TFXfTSwDmwzivDzcZV/s1600/DSC_1459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk53ZGDuZdKXR8RMsqw9X166q5Dju2TvsCUGb3lCjw6QQkVwHUDSQ6GRaa55ls8OtyQEhsRyPfHGdqdRW68S6pTXQd1e1HiqpiXOH5MkWxzFF7dat7NTjypDl5r4TFXfTSwDmwzivDzcZV/s400/DSC_1459.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjLWR0Mgh5MiOsUajvKlmv7eukvjX1mo-JathruCnCjGypzRrJJuSHW4uCw6nK4jJulahbq3Gv_vxt0ep5IZzXdMi3D5SGuQzJxoQkKkifebF6H8AKG09jJ_nfgG6BPxKDWZjdm6HqjEP/s1600/DSC_1465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjLWR0Mgh5MiOsUajvKlmv7eukvjX1mo-JathruCnCjGypzRrJJuSHW4uCw6nK4jJulahbq3Gv_vxt0ep5IZzXdMi3D5SGuQzJxoQkKkifebF6H8AKG09jJ_nfgG6BPxKDWZjdm6HqjEP/s400/DSC_1465.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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The rooms of the house are cold and silent, and as I peer into each one, I feel their cold, resilient, enigmatic stare. A clock ticks somewhere. It is freezing cold. The stillness of the night is suddenly shattered by the most eerie sound I have ever heard. A Himalayan fox.<br />
Outside, I see a small construct made of mud bricks and straw looming over the house. The pit latrine I had been dreading. I surreptitiously feel inside my back pack to see whether my head light is in place. It is.<br />
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I sit, waiting for the food to come. I am cold and miserable. Deachen's dad, a wonderful gentleman, throws the warmest, softest blanket over me; a hot pot of coffee soon warms my chilled bones. He chats with me about religion, politics, Ladakhi culture and tradition. Slowly, the cold recedes. I smell pipping hot lentil soup, chicken curry and rice. Diner at last! This is accompanied by Ladhaki chai, a reddish concoction, made by churning butter with milk and salt.<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTunRV--8NF8U9C1Iszc5qM4T1Hvt1LVspVCsPNvzeScXJPjtAriw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTunRV--8NF8U9C1Iszc5qM4T1Hvt1LVspVCsPNvzeScXJPjtAriw" width="640" /></a></div>
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We finally head towards a room in the far corner of the house. There are windows everywhere! I peer into the darkness and see a million twinkling stars. The milky way is very clear tonight. It takes me a while to get used to the aliens sheets and blankets, but sleep soon arrives as the stars fade along with the distant barking of the fox.<br />
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Tomorrow, when it unfurls and blooms, turns out to be a very happy day indeed.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801438861862076117.post-47956009318235995182013-06-29T02:43:00.002-07:002013-06-29T02:47:06.236-07:00The other side of the moon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Leh, the capital of Ladakh, is an ancient kingdom with a cultural heritage that includes indigenous traditions and those acquired from Tibet and the ancient Buddhist regions of present-day Kashmir and Central Asia. "The old town, with its 200 stone, mud and timber houses, which lies at the foot of the nine-storey former palace, is considered one of the most intact historic Tibeto-Himalayan urban settlements in the world." www.unescobkk.org</div>
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I will be going to stay in this part of Leh which is not beautiful at all...at least at first glance.</div>
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All the blue, green and sheer immensity of the landscape gives way to a dull, dusty and muddy brown. Brown hills, brown walls, brown roads, brown houses, brown trees. The trust that I am working with, is shifting office and I will be moving into a tiny clay house right below the foot of the spooky Leh palace. As I climb my way up to the office, I see stacks of clay and wooden houses built on top of each other.The doors are tiny and one needs to bend to enter. The stairs are also made of wood and clay and there is no light to pave the way.</div>
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I'll leave you will a few shots of the other side of the moon. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1LeXLBfo2RlVjMdnW57WxCR-l2_BvMKCH0hwgmmhyphenhyphenybHiBgO9aN3Kz_VZErR9fFd771Fr14JrJa4MDelk3WdIycR1JZIK2xRQQVORcU0TG9aaYKqOF4NIJCUB4RAKZ6YJTs4kWZtLDYK/s1600/DSC_1230%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1LeXLBfo2RlVjMdnW57WxCR-l2_BvMKCH0hwgmmhyphenhyphenybHiBgO9aN3Kz_VZErR9fFd771Fr14JrJa4MDelk3WdIycR1JZIK2xRQQVORcU0TG9aaYKqOF4NIJCUB4RAKZ6YJTs4kWZtLDYK/s640/DSC_1230%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The office</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimibJExnmroRdEgwD-jSUoF4w3vtNTiFcdnnd_s0Nfmi-7LWZ9KwGjlokBlhGRAdSlXbhqhBjauRa1hmZDNNc2SZs9xfcp2w7EIxGLlf_c4kFT18sdv_q5HbfYFzQ7Vw-NazwT-ItlK7GE/s1600/DSC_1231%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimibJExnmroRdEgwD-jSUoF4w3vtNTiFcdnnd_s0Nfmi-7LWZ9KwGjlokBlhGRAdSlXbhqhBjauRa1hmZDNNc2SZs9xfcp2w7EIxGLlf_c4kFT18sdv_q5HbfYFzQ7Vw-NazwT-ItlK7GE/s640/DSC_1231%5B1%5D.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leh palace high above</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHoMea15G8Zv4SxteT-Vq4D6Mnla9jmsebXnVLpAp_NUOROhmh2oIqCkt0VOXJHNyOufvO3avF86kbHWo0gGSSxQBQl5AYovRz8zCQ4mN62xICVNlzol7T0AQZ4VOaLjrQQg9VXMzUknv/s1600/DSC_1235%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHoMea15G8Zv4SxteT-Vq4D6Mnla9jmsebXnVLpAp_NUOROhmh2oIqCkt0VOXJHNyOufvO3avF86kbHWo0gGSSxQBQl5AYovRz8zCQ4mN62xICVNlzol7T0AQZ4VOaLjrQQg9VXMzUknv/s640/DSC_1235%5B1%5D.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My quaint room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhkCnxZGPnguazSqGJZV_uo11OgKEvucJN8DFM9rvKl4J3H4K4Dp2w7uhNLY5xDS00QQm-kpsuOr639VZR7RvUAEAeayp7AZNifhALPuZyzdXldyagpbdoliTM_CwukvHGXe0voDECSNW/s1600/DSC_1239%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhkCnxZGPnguazSqGJZV_uo11OgKEvucJN8DFM9rvKl4J3H4K4Dp2w7uhNLY5xDS00QQm-kpsuOr639VZR7RvUAEAeayp7AZNifhALPuZyzdXldyagpbdoliTM_CwukvHGXe0voDECSNW/s640/DSC_1239%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leh Market below</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr9fgeZvJHX9ILANIWg5D8nHpIpsvjW3upyYz22hvOM1DDCdAh5YQv5IJoV3sEyy_oTgGA7K872RuNt5fuQzuTWBFqDF5HHomgU13Kpzkk83CjiyzEiz4CM08VzgB4jRuTCM0LoTD002D/s1600/DSC_1233%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr9fgeZvJHX9ILANIWg5D8nHpIpsvjW3upyYz22hvOM1DDCdAh5YQv5IJoV3sEyy_oTgGA7K872RuNt5fuQzuTWBFqDF5HHomgU13Kpzkk83CjiyzEiz4CM08VzgB4jRuTCM0LoTD002D/s640/DSC_1233%5B1%5D.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A window</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDKQpJk9nGELCHcPmzp_vTdjOkrdODeRSAFSzZa5SKwJtdXXQYySJYk6eFRETmf0asJuz6MOW8aH9U8TvsdGt5o2dZmb8r0AjqoCBjkiK9cPe5DjpZoCEJDihvAxxI-Xr3YHiMKRu05Iu/s1600/DSC_1236%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDKQpJk9nGELCHcPmzp_vTdjOkrdODeRSAFSzZa5SKwJtdXXQYySJYk6eFRETmf0asJuz6MOW8aH9U8TvsdGt5o2dZmb8r0AjqoCBjkiK9cPe5DjpZoCEJDihvAxxI-Xr3YHiMKRu05Iu/s640/DSC_1236%5B1%5D.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Ladakhi door</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAZ4FxlwvoEN9LAteJaAjnulis8-9Jjz0tmbgzGSn0DxIITMkTVrxdCWk5JkVCM05JOSBi77K1YM3__w4nwUUxqjr-gcAuDQxtA52HY4O1o235CKC5qdZz0kZDEDNrgYEFcY0txGEBSQI/s1600/DSC_1250%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAZ4FxlwvoEN9LAteJaAjnulis8-9Jjz0tmbgzGSn0DxIITMkTVrxdCWk5JkVCM05JOSBi77K1YM3__w4nwUUxqjr-gcAuDQxtA52HY4O1o235CKC5qdZz0kZDEDNrgYEFcY0txGEBSQI/s640/DSC_1250%5B1%5D.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The way out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7Pb985krAmlYMeG4M3lq7jL31CaJc1loSgG654dTuyzcCz_SECecGboJUQqUbvPwJhXpHrV9nCk33Aa1d6TWECKpmcQsdj2pHzG92iLe3EK3uSCkkr6rhoUhflWImzXWZtC2SWil-4KR/s1600/DSC_1244%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7Pb985krAmlYMeG4M3lq7jL31CaJc1loSgG654dTuyzcCz_SECecGboJUQqUbvPwJhXpHrV9nCk33Aa1d6TWECKpmcQsdj2pHzG92iLe3EK3uSCkkr6rhoUhflWImzXWZtC2SWil-4KR/s640/DSC_1244%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers adding some colour to the otherwise all-pervading brown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801438861862076117.post-76698427304911646682013-06-27T22:42:00.001-07:002013-06-29T01:51:01.536-07:00School in the clouds<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The time had come when I had to leave my guest house and go to
a boarding school. Was it going to be a cold and uninviting place? Was my room going
to be dark and dingy? The unrelenting Himalayan wind left not much room for
positivism. However stunning Ladakh is, the cold can douse any sense of
adventure if you are not suitably prepared. It was therefore a very pleasant
surprise when my taxi veered towards a simple yet sprawling school overlooking
the icy caps of the Stok Kangri. The sight was breathtaking. </div>
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<a href="http://www.footootjes.nl/Panoramas_Ladakh_2008/Images/StokKangriFromLeh_0887_400x268SS_sh0.5-50_ACEnnn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://www.footootjes.nl/Panoramas_Ladakh_2008/Images/StokKangriFromLeh_0887_400x268SS_sh0.5-50_ACEnnn.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Jamyang School
was started by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It opened in the year 2008 and has
been running quite successfully for the past 5 years.</div>
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I was led to a corner
room. Thick red carpets lined the floor while bright magenta and gold curtains added
warmth to my cozy Tibetan-style room. Two single beds lined either side of the
walls. The bathroom was tiny, clean and equipped with a geyser and a western-style
toilet. A newly fitted shower glistened becomingly
in one corner. This was better than the guest house I stayed in!</div>
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What friendly people surrounded me! Gorgeous children with
rosy cheeks and shy smiles greeted me everywhere I went. The cook, guard and
warden were so very amiable. I was taken aback by the sense of plentiful around
me. Every one ate as much as they wanted to. For breakfast, I was served at least
7 gigantic timoks (ladakhi steamed bread) of which I could only manage half… of
one! The vegetables were acquired from the school’s green house. At night, if/when
the power went, I pulled the nylon cord that hung beside my bed. Solar light
flooded my room. I did not have to stare out of the window and contemplate my
unchartered future!<br />
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The first day I stepped into school, I felt awkward and
nervous. I am aware of how people from all over the world come here to change
lives of the poor. They leave, feeling they have done a world of good, when
what they have actually managed to achieve, is to leave the children with disconnected
remnants of their tradition and culture. (Not my opinion! I watched a
documentary on this. The name eludes me.) I was determined not to make that
mistake. I just wanted the kids to have fun. I wanted them to
sit in groups instead of structured rows. I wanted to sit and have a chat with them
in order to get to know them.</div>
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The students kept asking me when I would come to their
class. They eagerly waited for me to walk into their room. They watched with
baited breath as I took out oil paint, pastels, acrylics, canvas, coloured
paper, brushes, colourful beads, clay, strings and different sized cartons from
my magic box. They gasped with delight, gingerly feeling everything. I asked
them if they had drawn a picture, or made a collage. One student thought hard
and exclaimed that he had done this once before. He was in grade 6. I read them books they could connect to. There
were a few Tibetan tales that I had carefully selected from the library. As I
growled, whispered and sang my way through the books, the children listened,
absolutely still. </div>
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Here are a few shots of the students at work. What bright and enthusiastic children!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsloChPEKF0Yag1yizWvzHqMJH-9tIT19JA1WRZbOHsuIlMOugB7DM2LivzRIg9eSxu2Dlv4XTWJAOC9yTYie_loIRxl-pFMhE_oTZCNEFueIz2iT4pnBGx1WUleSgkykx89P8h-LHKz94/s1600/DSC_0595%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsloChPEKF0Yag1yizWvzHqMJH-9tIT19JA1WRZbOHsuIlMOugB7DM2LivzRIg9eSxu2Dlv4XTWJAOC9yTYie_loIRxl-pFMhE_oTZCNEFueIz2iT4pnBGx1WUleSgkykx89P8h-LHKz94/s400/DSC_0595%5B1%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNWPIHaltg7ZjiPIG_hKKjNSSebVTYukCl-zrgK_64VA695Z1Hl6iozaYL8jHfiHukJkSe8kw92LEXn1JUS8m2DCK90UTSIXovdU2hsMY9piu0SKVbUenWSZoOkEnm6KgXW9ueuv0eugG/s1600/DSC_0606%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNWPIHaltg7ZjiPIG_hKKjNSSebVTYukCl-zrgK_64VA695Z1Hl6iozaYL8jHfiHukJkSe8kw92LEXn1JUS8m2DCK90UTSIXovdU2hsMY9piu0SKVbUenWSZoOkEnm6KgXW9ueuv0eugG/s400/DSC_0606%5B1%5D.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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The students read and imitate Eric Carle's art.</div>
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Here, the students abandoned their text books and created collages of different types of trees- Deciduous, Evergreen and Coniferous. They had to wrack their brain to translate facts into a visual piece!</div>
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The library was packed with excellent books from all over the
world, including China! The Hungry Caterpillar, Where the Wild Things Are, Dr Seuss’s
books, you name it, it was there. Students came in at will and glanced through
pictures. Some tried to read, but I could make out they could not understand
much.</div>
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I strongly feel that is not just enough to donate. Teaching
children how to turn the pages of a book, how to keep them back in the correct
place, these are absolutely imperative. In the store room, expensive water
colour boxes, gouache, acrylics, brushes were lying unused, forgotten. The
paint had dried up and I could find no use for them.</div>
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(There is a knock on the door at this point as I write my post…Lob
Sang and Karma are waiting outside. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKILnH3yy8aY9tP10EkJHvIYlxudGEbiiAkmAkJcpzhw7c6GNNmPCTEOwbDrgBBtIaWy18O-MJbnmWLPF-TOD4J9E_HDlbhtp2Z7pDcM1OptEPio6jZjP0Rwlglkym7_UH9Y7FPlE10nss/s960/IMG_0936%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKILnH3yy8aY9tP10EkJHvIYlxudGEbiiAkmAkJcpzhw7c6GNNmPCTEOwbDrgBBtIaWy18O-MJbnmWLPF-TOD4J9E_HDlbhtp2Z7pDcM1OptEPio6jZjP0Rwlglkym7_UH9Y7FPlE10nss/s320/IMG_0936%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The weather is beautiful. The hot, desert-like
afternoon has given way to a foggy, overcast evening. The setting sun is
casting an ethereal almost sublime reddish hue over the drizzly landscape. One
cannot, they insist, stay inside the room during conditions such as these.
Karma is off to his village where they eat only meat and curd. So he wants me
to come with them to buy fresh Ladhaki potatoes, onions, tomatoes and cabbages.
I am honoured; I would also like to try out my new Millet: a bright-red, fleece-cum-wind
and rainproof jacket I bought from a trekking shop. When I arrive home, there
is hot Thupka -clumps of dough, with yak cheese and brown chewy lentils
floating in yellowish milky gravy waiting for me. Along with it, a gigantic
Chinese flask full of hot water. What a flask! Intricate pictures of dragons,
lotus flowers and golden fish adorn its huge aluminum body. Its special cork
and cloth cover keeps water hot for over a day. I curl up with a packet of Lays
and bottled, synthetic mango juice which tastes, for the first time, like manna
from heaven.</div>
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The days at school always end fast. I have so much do and so
little time. As I sit on my little veranda and watch the sky turn from a bright
cerulean blue to reddish-purple and finally, pitch black, I ask myself this
question: Did I touch the lives of any
person today? Lob sang says, accordingly
to Buddhism, it is destiny that I am here. I was meant to meet him, to teach in
a school in the clouds, to sit on the veranda on the 27<sup>th</sup> of June
and look up at the bright stars. I won’t wrack my brains too much then. </div>
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Good night my little children of Ladakh. Sweet dreams.</div>
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<a href="http://www.footootjes.nl/Panoramas_Ladakh_2008/Panoramas/20080820_NightSky_wc_corr_1000x374SS_sh2-150_wc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://www.footootjes.nl/Panoramas_Ladakh_2008/Panoramas/20080820_NightSky_wc_corr_1000x374SS_sh2-150_wc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.footootjes.nl/Panoramas_Ladakh_2008/Panoramas_Ladakh_2008.html">http://www.footootjes.nl/Panoramas_Ladakh_2008/Panoramas_Ladakh_2008.html</a></span></div>
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Here's me signing off with a few glimpses of my travels around Ladakh.</div>
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At the Thiksey Monastery</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RsVNHmgHeq1PJxb5HUgsVlwvobjpBV08T5-UY8rXfpZFAiXR8aeLtntwaJPVImzDyQ_02QhgLr0z7udLAfNTwdvzNK1aHS_FIKuLP36ks9sL3VlbE5Mcr-lRf9QQUfQA3TfPNOXBg4lG/s1600/DSC_0407%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RsVNHmgHeq1PJxb5HUgsVlwvobjpBV08T5-UY8rXfpZFAiXR8aeLtntwaJPVImzDyQ_02QhgLr0z7udLAfNTwdvzNK1aHS_FIKuLP36ks9sL3VlbE5Mcr-lRf9QQUfQA3TfPNOXBg4lG/s640/DSC_0407%5B1%5D.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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At Thiksey Monastery, with Deachen (Left)</div>
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Up among the Himalayan range, at 17000 feet, I touch snow for the first time.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmL8BVjtNLCcb0BtSV33cuzlJ94ht_hNKc86KVGurO1_Qci2UXi7rMOegSz4G2Ad6ux6tj_OnZ6bYnMN9qe-ZX7lHg9rc0tfo6ZuqzQ0FB3o8yIU7ykN7d134wL4qbPjN8o5t9Ap-Ub7Gn/s1600/DSC_1094%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmL8BVjtNLCcb0BtSV33cuzlJ94ht_hNKc86KVGurO1_Qci2UXi7rMOegSz4G2Ad6ux6tj_OnZ6bYnMN9qe-ZX7lHg9rc0tfo6ZuqzQ0FB3o8yIU7ykN7d134wL4qbPjN8o5t9Ap-Ub7Gn/s640/DSC_1094%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved this sign against the mountain backdrop!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The famous Pashmina Mountain goats.</div>
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Yakkity Yaks</div>
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<i>The</i> Lake....</div>
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Ice cold water of the Pangong Tso lake. Most of it lies in China!</div>
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Resting. Headache. Breathless.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801438861862076117.post-27561885351087327892013-06-22T04:24:00.001-07:002013-06-22T04:32:41.903-07:00Shades of white<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Armed with Ali’s lucky charm
around my neck, I set forth on another adventure. As I was waiting for my
flight, the efficacy of my charm was sorely tested when Phuntsok my guide, who
was to receive me at Leh, called to give me some bad news. The Leh flight for
the 15<sup>th</sup> had been cancelled! I checked the weather status on my
phone, and it seemed that the inclement weather was to continue for the next
few days. What on earth do I do in Delhi if that be the case! I hadn’t prayed in
a long while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Eventually, I did land in Ladakh!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">As the plane made its descent, the craggy white peaks of the mountain ranges resembled milky white marshmallows bobbing up and down on a plate of cream. Shades of white. Passengers from the plane ignored
all postulations from the flight attendants and started clicking photos in a
frenzy of excitement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The doors of the plane
opened. I stepped out cautiously. Weeks of pouring over books and internet
sites had scared me into thinking that something drastic was going to happen to
me at this altitude. Nothing happened. I was fine. I was fine during the car
ride. I was fine when I reached my hotel. I was fine the next day. No headache
or nausea. Just a little breathlessness as I climbed up the stairs into my, oh,
so cozy room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">It is really cold. You
feel worried when the denizens of this place complain of the cold during the
summer months. At night, when the power goes off and your laptop has only 13
percent battery charge, you find yourself staring out of the window and looking
at the pale imprints of the grayish-blue mountains against a pitch black, ominous
sky. Loneliness is a tough companion. She makes you look within. No friends or
family to distract you from yourself. All you can hear, is the uncomfortable
silence within.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The next day, feeling
vitalized and refreshed after a long hot shower, I set off to explore the town.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The market was a bustling and
lively place. As most touristy places, the main road was lined with shops
selling different goods. I ended up buying knickknacks (9 shawls and umpteen
number of silver jewellery) for family and friends. Ate lunch in a Kashmiri
restaurant with a bunch of red and burly men; bought a cinnamon roll from a
famous German bakery (Pumpernickel) and then ever so slowly, made my way home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Right now, the sun is
setting. I anticipate the power will go off anytime soon. I’ll light my candle
and stare out of the window as the sound of old Hindi music from the kitchen
below permeates the still Ladhaki night. No matter. I’ll get used to this. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">By the way, all these pictures are taken of my Sony Xperia. No fancy camera.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801438861862076117.post-42006239868126764832013-06-15T02:17:00.004-07:002013-06-29T01:56:21.512-07:00"Leh it on thick"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Numbers trouble me. My cranial nerves revolt every time it confronts the convoluted, irrelevant, human imposition we call numbers. Which is why I thought I was travelling on the 16th of June, 2013, instead of the 15th... until I happened to absentmindedly glance at my ticket and do a double take! As a result of the malfunction of my peripheral nervous system,(I am <i>not</i> to be blamed!), I had to re-book my taxi and dye my short, luxuriant greys super fast.<br />
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I had the privilege of eating lunch at the canteen (a dubious concoction of carrots and okra)which I hope I may keep within the confines of my stomach when I reach Leh. Yes, I have been fretting about High Altitude Sickness.
So when you read my next post, I am sure you will be eager to know whether I will have managed to keep the contents of my stomach.<br />
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This is what I have learnt about how to acclimatize when going to heights over 6,000 feet. Leh is situated at a height of 11,000 feet.
Because of the drastic reduction of oxygen content in the atmosphere, the body tries to adjust by getting rid of fluids. We also tend to breathe strenuously. Drinking lots of water and eating mostly carbohydrates (not fatty stuff, as the body requires more oxygen to breakdown fat)is the answer to AS. And of course, plenty of rest.<br />
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I thought I was being efficient and courageous when I volunteered to work for <a href="http://avalokitesvaratrust.org/">The Avalokiteshwara Trust</a>. I booked my flight and started preparing for the trip. Of course, I forgot to book a guest house!! The last few days were spent in a flurry of phone calls. and it was with a sigh of relief that I was accepted at the <a href="http://www.smanla-guesthouse.com/">Smanla Guest House</a>. I managed to get a cosy room on the first floor. The owner also happens to be a very famous Tibetan doctor!<br />
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In my back pack, I have lots of granola bars, dried nuts and fruits and chocolates. My clothes consist of short and long sleeve T-shirts which I will wear in the following manner: short sleeves, long sleeves, short sleeves, long sleeves, short sleeves, long sleeves, then a fleece jacket, and finally, a wind cheater. This is for extremely cold weather. For me, extreme weather is about 14 degrees centigrade with no wind blowing. I choose to ignore the fact that it will go down to zero or below. In which case, I will definitely be dead.
I have collected a combination of clothes from <a href="http://www.luhta.com/">Luhta</a> and <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home">Patagonia</a>, reliable outdoorsy brands which, hopefully, wont let me down.<br />
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By tomorrow I will be up over and most probably out . Brrrrrrrr<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3Leh34.1525864 77.5770534999999234.0474809 77.415691999999922 34.2576919 77.738414999999918