Leh Ladakh India

We are in Leh and did some walking up to about 12,000 ft.  Wore us out being our first day at altitude.  The flight into Leh was incredible .. First looking down at the Himalayas then weaving along between the peaks and ridges for quite a while.  Guest House is really good and our contact here Angchuck has been really helpful.  Tomorrow we will hike up to local monastary and then to the local Palace.  Maybe we can do better by tomorrow.  Peggy's bag is still missing. 

We are actually north of the Himalayas at this location --- so we flew over them getting here.  Views from plane were great!

Somewhere in the Himalayas??  Only thing we know is that it's below us!

The small courtyard at the guest house Some family members are in the photo

Guest House -- see apple tree loaded with apples and gardens.

More guest house photos

One of the owners with grand child playing.

Favorite s!!  Julian and Jake -- Are training to leave this week to ride through Asia to Vietnam.  Great guys from NYC.

More guest house and apple trees

Yes more -- nice easy place -- we love the peace and feeling here!

And more flowers

The uncle stomping woven wool to soften and then dye to make their clothing -- robes - outer wear.  He has worked hard at this for days -- then sewing them.

Outside breakfast room and hanging out area

Yes again the apple tree and the guest house.  In later blogs the apple tree will be featured again in a more active way!  Stay tuned folks!


That's it for tonight -- we're off to dinner at the Sihk's restaurant down the road.

Delhi

We are in our second night in Delhi.  We spent today doing some walking and shopping around the hotel that we are in near the airport.  Hotel Eurostar is about $21 per night wothout AC (as it turned out) but a great ceiling fan working well.  We also met a couple that was travelling aroung and we all caught a cab and went to a large downtown outside bazarr.  Many blocks jammed with people and many things for sale.  Then the driver took us to a restraurant that was too expensive then they took us out the back door down the alley to another one that was also too high and finally we went into a good restraurant for us (at least so far).   Food was really good indian and service excellent.  Cost about 200 rupees each ($3.75) and we had to send food back.

We will fly at 5:30 AM this morning to Leh where maybe our bags will meet us.  It is supposed to be cold in Leh so we really need our warmer clothes that are missing in action.  They say they will clear customs at about 3 this morning and will get transferred to Leh.  We will find out soon.  Below are a few photos.  Some from around our hotel and some at the big market and some driving to the market.  At one point we had to wait on our driver to finish his joint so we could move on to go eat.  Lines on the road mean nothing .. Nothing at all!  Wow



Room in Delhi






Selling something in the market - at one time I saw some rolling papers and a selection of fillers in the cans,

For you bikers -- state of the art,

Market with guys following us around trying to sell stuff -- constantly around us and beggars -- really hard to just walk away -- just no break at all.

Tut Tut in traffic -- look at child in back and crutches

Lady working on pulling up vines on a traffic island

Peg and Bianca discussing



Francisco and Bianca -- met them at hotel and they are in same hotel in Leh now.  From Brazil.



Susan in the center plowing ahead looking for deals.

Shoe shine guy followed us for blocks

Our driver finishing his J before driving on to next stop.

Leaving restraurant after dark and driver wants an advance to go get more to smoke or we go nowhere.

Self portrait - leaving our room in Delhi at 3A.M,  Phone rang at 2 to tell us our bags were in the lobby -- come down and sign for them -- yep almost no sleep but we have our bags,  Peggy's has not made it yet.