Blogs from Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, India, Asia - page 5

Today a little techie stuff. We're using this great solar panel for charging our camera batteries, light torches, mobile phone of the horseman, etc... My solar panel charges a box with special batteries, and I can use it to charge anything with USB, 12V and even 220V! This piece of equipment worked perfectly for the whole trip, unlike my hard disks... In Ladakh there is a lot of sun. So, a lot of households, even in small remote villages, have a solar panel too. They use them to have a bit of light in the evening. We also came across several Solar Power Plants, where there is a battery of solar panels to power the village at night. For the rest today was a very small day. After about an hour of walking our horsemen wanted ... read more

We're in Padum, the capital of Zanskar. A long time ago, it must have been a nice place. But the old town has been abandoned and it is almost destroyed. For the rest it is a stuffy scruffy town. A few shops, but not so many vegetables stalls. We have an "appointment" with a horseman that we had met in Lamayuru when we started. Yesterday, there was no sign of him, and for that matter no sign of any horseman at all. :-( But today we are more lucky, around 11 am, we saw some horses and, yes, the old man was there. He was accompanied by a younger horseman who proposes to cook for us. The deal is made, and although they have 6 horses/mules, they agree to go come with us. It will be ... read more

Hey Everybody, I am a bit behind with this blog. So today you'll get 3 days of trek in one go. From Day 8 til Day 10. Day 8. Hanumala Base 4000m to Zingshen 3400 but over Hanuma La at 4710m! in 7,5 hours. This is our last day in Ladakh. Zingshen is the first place in Zanskar. It was a though climb to the pass and the desent was in a beautifull stoney gorge. On one of the pictures you'll see we came across a huge Ice block. Almost the end of the summer and it still didn't melt. And the just before Zingshen we saw this unbeleivable ravine! Day 9 Zingshen 3400m to Hanumil 3410m over Parpi La 3900m, 5 Hours (oh a short day!) Today we saw the Zanskar River for the first ... read more

Finally a rest day. It is great to stop for a day after all the walking. There is a beautiful Gompa in Lingshed. We went to the Puja (prayers) and there was a very funny monk. Nadja took a great picture of him, but I do not have her pictures here, we'll have to wait for her to come back from India... We thought to go "downtown" for lunch... But in this tiny village there is of course no restaurant. But we were kindly invited into a private house and were offered a lunch. When we asked to pay, we were told the price was up to us. That's really the spirit of Ladakh, compared to our trip in the other parts of India, people here are much less after your money, it's very relaxed. People ... read more

Today I am to tired IRL and on the blog. So telegraph style: Photogsar 4210m to Senge La Base Camp 4700m. Nadja was exhausted, sick, extremely faible. In the end I ended up crrying her day bag as she couldn't walk anymore. Just before the last ascent we had to cross a freeeeeeezing river and as our sandals were packed away we did this barefoot! of to sleep now, see you tomorrow....... read more