Space Walk Ladakh

Okayyou · #1 Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 10:15 PM**

Onto Stop IX of the Asian Saga - Ladakh. Previously I showed stop VIII, Kashmir, here. I made my way from Srinagar, Kashmir to Leh, Ladakh in a two day overland journey. The first day took me into the green and forested Himalayas, up winding switchbacks packed with lumbering commercial transport trucks. These trucks are beautifully painted and decorated by their drivers; each having a unique way to express "BLOWHORN and "USE DIPPER AT NIGHT'. Even their horns have been customized so they sound like some Bollywod melody. Passing these slow moving trucks on the narrow dirt roads was a harrowing experience. No guard rails to help avoid the hundred foot drops. Eventually the verdant peaks gave way to an arid landscape and the Kashmir Muslim architecture and culture were replaced with those of Tibetan Buddhism. Within 12 hours the entire scenery had changed and I was in what felt like a different country.

The next morning my driver and I continued on to Leh. We stopped for lunch and I decided to try some apricots being sold on the side of the road. I bought about a kilo and must say they were, quite possibly, the best tasting apricots I've ever tried. Unfortunately, they didn't taste so good on the way back up

About an hour after I arrived in Leh, I developed a full blown case of food poisoning. I had big plans for the region and the last thing I needed was to be bed ridden. I did my best to see the city but my health was pretty sapped so I couldn't spend my usual energy and time exploring. I feel I missed a lot of B-roll shots, especially of Leh.

I visited multiple monasteries and caught a morning prayer ceremony at Thiskey monastery. I was hoping for a larger ceremony, and didn't get the mass shots of the monks I wanted but the experience was one to remember. Just outside Leh is the highest motorable road in the world. The altitude, bumpy ride and residual sickness nearly made me nearly vomit several times. On the other side of the pass, several hundred kilometers away exist two humped mountain camels. I was going to ride one but was too sick so I napped in the car instead.

I'll stop the wall of text here, let's start the show.

• Video Link

I was so sick I could barely get out of the car for this photo.

That ends the Himalayas, next I'll return to Earth and touch down in Amristar.

diskojoe · #2 Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 11:54 PM**

very nice.

KevinFromTexas · #3 Posted **Jan 15, 2013, 12:23 AM**

Awesome photos.

arkitekte · #4 Posted **Jan 15, 2013, 3:08 AM**

Those mountains are wicked. Nice set!

ColDayMan · #5 Posted **Jan 15, 2013, 4:23 AM**

India is an amazing country.

xzmattzx · #6 Posted **Jan 15, 2013, 4:24 AM**

Great pictures!

Danny · #7 Posted **Jan 15, 2013, 10:16 AM**

A true lesson of photography! Thanks for sharing these spectacular shots, Okayyou!

Those landscapes and mountains are simply amazing, and your people shots too.

Congrats and greetings from Madrid, Spain!

giovanni sasso · #8 Posted **Jan 16, 2013, 8:38 AM**

i want to be in that smoky room, but i do not want to be riding in a truck on roads with cliffs where you can see other trucks that have already toppled over 'em. yo man, funk dat.

the mountains and the camels and the buddhas. and as always, the colors.

mrnyc · #9 Posted **Jan 19, 2013, 8:53 AM**

the navel of the world. absolutely stunning scenes and photography.

thanks for suffering the food poisoning and those terrifying roads for us.

toyota74 · #10 Posted **Jan 20, 2013, 9:29 PM**

Amazing job....cool country..

montréaliste · #11 Posted **Jan 20, 2013, 9:59 PM**

My only disappointment is the lack of industrial infrastructure. I would love to see a great big Oil refinery or some such, right smack in the middle of where the monastery used to be. It's a matter of taste I guess...

LSyd · #12 Posted **Jan 20, 2013, 11:46 PM**

national geographic is awesome. oh wait, i mean ssp.

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Ch.G, Ch.G · #13 Posted **Jan 21, 2013, 12:21 AM**

These photos are incredible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okayyou

I was so sick I could barely get out of the car for this photo.

Okayyou · #14 Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 6:06 PM**

Thanks all. Yes the vertical might of the Himalayas is unmatched, and I wasn't even in the steep stuff.

gio - I've always had a bit of an issue with winding roads on mountain sides. At least in the States there are generally competent drivers, traffic rules and well constructed roads. Passing those trucks on the outside of a curve with no guardrail was a bit like Russian roulette.

mrnyc - It wouldn't be right if I went to India and didn't get sick. Surprisingly, no issues the rest of the time and I still like apricots.

montréaliste - can't say we share the same taste but there were some pretty big hydro plants. In general Ladakh is fairly undeveloped.

Ch.G, Ch.G -

Xander202 · #15 Posted **Jan 25, 2013, 6:08 PM**

Beautiful place, never been to that part of India.

Based on your pictures it seems to be India only by borders and politics, it seems culturally the same as Tibet....tourists might not be able to get into Tibet right now, but it looks like if you go to Leh you are in Tibet for all intents and purposes! Is that a fair assessment?

Okayyou · #16 Posted **Jan 25, 2013, 6:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xander202

Beautiful place, never been to that part of India.

Based on your pictures it seems to be India only by borders and politics, it seems culturally the same as Tibet....tourists might not be able to get into Tibet right now, but it looks like if you go to Leh you are in Tibet for all intents and purposes! Is that a fair assessment?

Yeah, I'd say that about sums it up. Originally I was going to check out Tibet when I was in China. Then the Chinese government banned all foreigners from May to Sep. There are still restrictions, no single travelers, only groups of 4 or more people of the same nationality, etc. It was much easier to visit Ladakh. The Dalai Lama spends much of his time in Ladakh, I missed him in Leh by one day.

Xander202 · #17 Posted **Jan 25, 2013, 6:58 PM**

Also, you quoted the rooftop picture on my Paris thread, but I loved these rooftops!

chevy064 · #18 Posted **Jan 25, 2013, 9:12 PM**

I have to admit, I had no idea what to expect when i clicked on this link. What a FANTASTIC thread. Amazing images and scenery. I love how you also captured the people.

What kind of camera did you use? Beautiful quality.

R@ptor · #19 Posted **Jan 27, 2013, 4:03 AM**

Another jaw-dropping set.

The Tibetan influence is definitely undeniable in that region.

So how did you cope with the altitude? I plan a big Himalaya tour for next year, however I'm a bit worried about getting altitude sickness considering that I was never in heights above 13,000ft.

Okayyou · #20 Posted **Jan 27, 2013, 6:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevy064

I have to admit, I had no idea what to expect when i clicked on this link. What a FANTASTIC thread. Amazing images and scenery. I love how you also captured the people.

What kind of camera did you use? Beautiful quality.

Thanks, using a 5D mk III.

R@ptor - I don't think the altitude would have been bad if I wasn't sick. I had no issues in Kashmir but that was camping around 11-12,000 ft. Leh is around the same altitude and I felt fine there other than the stomach issues. Going over the pass was bad, but that was 18,000 ft, and I was sick, and the road was really bumpy. I think a day or two is about all you need to acclimate.