Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Ugh once again we enjoyed the delights of India throughout the night ... dogs fighting, cars tooting and best of all just when we were finally dozing the 3am call to prayer from the nearby minaret!!! Oh joy!! And there is another at about 6am.... so between all that and by Delhi belly ... I'm not loving India as much as usual!!
Today was special though .. We packed and headed to West Ladakh by 4wd with a guide. The scenery was amazing - we passed by dozens of military bases in this very arid almost moon like landscape. Finally we arrived at Likir Monastery, this was the monastery Sabine was so keen to visit. It is spectacular built in the 10th century and currently run by the Dalai Lamas brother. Our local guide asked if a lama could say a prayer for Sabine, explaining she was meant to be on this trip. I had a framed photo of her with me and ... we were escorted into a very special chamber that is used by the Dali Lama when he visits. So the prayer for Sabine for her safe journey onwards was held in the very chamber the Dalai Lama uses. As the lama chanted the prayer and tears flowed down my cheeks I knew Sabine would have been delighted! I felt closure at last.
Next we went to another area in the monastery and were permitted to sit at the back and listen to the monks chant, beat the drums and blow the horns. Awesome!
There was a school also attached and Shari had brought some pencils with her .. so we sat with the monks sipping black tea and waiting for the mini lamas who were about 7 years old to have their lunch break! As the children filed out in their maroon robes they accepted a pencil and let us take some photos!
We had lunch there and headed to the very old Alchi monastery. Here we watched a older woman and a lama carefully picking thru apricots and taking the pips out. They use the pips to make oil.
Onward to West Ladakh camp a bit weary only to find major roadworks and a delay while a huge amount of earth and boulders were pushed into a river. Finally back in the 4wd and our camp site was literally 2 mins up the road!! Yes thats India!!
- comments