Exploration walks

I was keen to explore areas around my stay each day.  Ladakh is a place worth that and there is lot of peace to gather from here if you just step out around for a while.

Meet Corinna Coupette (Coco), as we explore around Mahabodhi on Day2. It was a really peaceful experience after the chatter of city tour in the morning. Corinna is doing her PhD in computer science from Max Plancks institute in Germany. The story of her childhood, the negative passion that forced her to learn everything by herself; it kicked a different angle of thoughts in me. She came out of it and now live by her rules. I learned from her to have and put forward true opinions about whatever she felt, never diplomatic. Being a vegan it was tough for her to spent these 13days, worth appreciating the efforts she put for the same.

 Day-2 morning 5.30am, I missed the gang who went to summit a nearby peak. So I went alone for my exploration to another far away location.

The wish bell (right)

 In the evening me, CoCo and Seeba tried to explore another peak, but our non-trek shoes stopped us for any extra adventure.

Mahabodhi from a nearby cliff

At Pangong Tso, I had convinced Seeba and Jose for early morning walk along lake shore, but they had alternate plans. So I again went alone on one side of lake and spotted few species of birds. Post breakfast, thankfully Ashish and Nalini joined me for exploring the other side. It was amazing as we witnessed a lot of birds during our explore and saw a different side of Pangong.

We were at the Gandela base camp (from Rumbak) at 1pm or so. We all sat around and played Cherades. In the evening all went to their solitary walks around. For me the valley across was a temptation. I talked with Rolf and on the promise of remaining in sight, I started walking towards it. After crossing a campsite, I started to climb. After about 45 mins I reached a heavenly spot. There was just the sound of flowing water, nothing else. I could see the camp-site faraway from where I climbed. I stayed there to absorb that silence. A bird visited me while I sat.

View from atop

the visitor

I started back in time and it was a sprint of 10mins to reach down. On the way down I spotted a wild hare (first time in my life!)

the hare.. little scared..

Since I mentioned his name, meet Rolf, a survival trainer from Denmark. He was leading this expedition alongside Paras. Rolf's story was yet another inspiration. He was an Airforce pilot earlier, to which he said goodbye and to explore his passion and to spend more time with his family. He has been giving extreme survival training I never imagined. Also he plans to start expeditions in Greenland for renewable energy.

My next walk was in Shingo. We reached Shingo well in time and were quite tired. I had a bad headache so we relaxed for a while.

I heard Coco was asking Jaideep to explore around. I was sure I will not be going anywhere as I had a headache. Post lunch my headache vanished and I joined Coco to explore the area upstream. As we talked, it was interesting to know her viewpoint on the different attitude she was observing towards women in India. I agreed to the disparity but the path towards an an equal status I still wonder.

that's how you enter to Shingo!