monasteries of Ladakh and Zanskar

More than a week is spent touring the monasteries, one of the main attractions of the area.
A day in Leh, I meet Mahindra who knows a sentence in Estonian. The most important one. A day in Hemis where there is a festival. Colorful masks and crowds. Shey with a Buddha, smiling like a lion. Special-atmosphere-Thikse after which Potala palace has been modelled. Matho up on a hill. Stok where the widow of the last king resides. A boy runs after the car to wave. What must he think of these hordes of white people who come here to click photos of everything?
One more day in Leh. Namgyal Tsemo, the palace, organizing a trek. I meet Ifti and Sunny for the first time. And one more day in Leh, mostly doing nothing.
On the way to Kargil Spituk, Phyang, Basgo and Likir. Monks practise a dance in Phyang. Old and different-looking temple in Alchi, one of my favourites. Quiet Rizong with a donkey. Giant Lamayuru. Mulbekh and Shergol.
Overnight in Kargil that is famous as a scene of the third India-Pakistani war. A short detour through Muslim area.
A lot of dust in Zanskar valley, next to gorgeous views on mountains that are 7000 meters high. "Earth is a star. We live in heaven." (Hans Jürgen van der Wense)
In Zanskar valley we visit Zangla that is closed, Thonde where there's a ceremony and Bardan up on a hill. Sani monastery is closed twice.
On our way back from Padum we stop in Rangdum. A monk wants to buy my boots, Martti fixes a car and we change a tyre.
Back in Kargil, last night together. Martti tries to give me a big part of his veterinary farmacy.
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road to Leh
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baby trek

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