Friday, June 25, 2010
We got to Ladakh... and off to Markha
Just a quick post to say that we got to Ladakh and are beginning our Markha trek early tomorrow morning. We are way excited but really nervous at the same time. Our guide speaks really good English, which we are so glad for, and it seems as though he is going to take EXCELLENT care of us. We have all done a lot of last minute shopping, and maybe some luxury shopping as well, and have really just been loving it here. It is like a dream! Love you all! Lots of pictures to come.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Oh Oh It's Trekking Time...
We are leaving today for our trek.
12 days Markha Valley Trekking ( Maximum altitude: 5030 m )
Day 01 Arrive Delhi, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 02 Delhi – Leh (3500m) by plane.
Afternoon at leisure in Leh, where we can take a walk to the colorful bazaar. Overnight Leh Hotel.
Day 03 Free day in Leh. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 04 Leh – Marteslang by car/bus – Chokdo (4050m) in 5 hrs. (trek).
We leave the Indus valley and head south. We progress along the river whose banks are punctuated with ochre rocks.
Day 05 Chokdo – Latza Kongmaru (4800m) in 5 hrs.
After crossing narrow gorges, we start our ascension towards the Kongmaru La.
Day 06 Latza Kongmaru - Kongmaru La (5030m) – Nimaling (4650m) in 5 hrs.
From the pass, there are great views north towards eastern Korakoram and China, whilst the southern view is dominated by the shapely Kang Yatze (6400m) and the Ladakhi range. We take a ridge trail and descend zigzagging across scree. Afterwards, the path meets the Nimaling summer pastures, used by Hankar and Markha shepherds.
Day 07 Nimaling – Hankar (4000m) in 5 hrs.
We steadily descend through meadows to Thachutse and cross the Nimaling river. The trail follows the Markha river now, and will do so for the next few days.
Day 08 Hankar – Markha (3850m) in 4 hrs.
Several monasteries and ruins are scattered along the trail to Markha. After Umlung the valley narrows and becomes a gorge just before Markha. This large village has a fort and a monastery perched on the northern hill. The gompa is reputed to be one of the oldest in Ladakh.
Day 09 Markha – Chalok (3450m) in 4 hrs.
The trail passes through quite lush riverside vegetation . En route, we come across more derelict monasteries, some well maintained shortens and at least one good example of a wolf trap. Wolves become a nuisance during the winter as hunger forces them into the villages.
Day 10 Chalok – Shingo (4150m) in 6 hrs.
We criss-cross the Markha river and cross it on bridges set at many of the most difficult crossing places. From a tiny group of stupas, we leave the valley and continue upwards along a river bounded by willows and wild rosebushes.
Day 11 Shingo – Ganda La (4920m) – Rumbak (3750m) in 7 hrs .
At the pass, colorful prayer flags flap in the wind, with the Zanskari range in the background. Afterwards, we descend steadily along the Jingchan river. We get great views towards the Stock summit and the Stock Kangri (6121m).
Day 12 Rumbak – Namlung La (4570m) - Stok (3700m) in 6 hrs - Leh (by Bus/Car).
Descending from the pass, we enjoy excellent views towards the Indus valley. Eventually, we reach Stock, which is famous for its palace and museum.
- At 3:00 we will take a taxi to Dehra Dun and then a train to Delhi.
- After a good night's sleep in Delhi we will fly up to Leh, Ladakh and take a few days to adjust to the altitude.
- On Saturday the trek will begin. Below is an itinerary which isn't exactly what we will be doing because ours it's as long but pretty close.
- The trek will be done on July 3rd and then make the trip home. Well... kinda... Chris will be coming back to Mussoorie to finish up his work, but Nicole and I will be traveling to Agra and Dharamsala with a couple from their school.
- We will be returning to Mussoorie on the 11th. VERY EXCITING!
12 days Markha Valley Trekking ( Maximum altitude: 5030 m )
Day 01 Arrive Delhi, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 02 Delhi – Leh (3500m) by plane.
Afternoon at leisure in Leh, where we can take a walk to the colorful bazaar. Overnight Leh Hotel.
Day 03 Free day in Leh. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 04 Leh – Marteslang by car/bus – Chokdo (4050m) in 5 hrs. (trek).
We leave the Indus valley and head south. We progress along the river whose banks are punctuated with ochre rocks.
Day 05 Chokdo – Latza Kongmaru (4800m) in 5 hrs.
After crossing narrow gorges, we start our ascension towards the Kongmaru La.
Day 06 Latza Kongmaru - Kongmaru La (5030m) – Nimaling (4650m) in 5 hrs.
From the pass, there are great views north towards eastern Korakoram and China, whilst the southern view is dominated by the shapely Kang Yatze (6400m) and the Ladakhi range. We take a ridge trail and descend zigzagging across scree. Afterwards, the path meets the Nimaling summer pastures, used by Hankar and Markha shepherds.
Day 07 Nimaling – Hankar (4000m) in 5 hrs.
We steadily descend through meadows to Thachutse and cross the Nimaling river. The trail follows the Markha river now, and will do so for the next few days.
Day 08 Hankar – Markha (3850m) in 4 hrs.
Several monasteries and ruins are scattered along the trail to Markha. After Umlung the valley narrows and becomes a gorge just before Markha. This large village has a fort and a monastery perched on the northern hill. The gompa is reputed to be one of the oldest in Ladakh.
Day 09 Markha – Chalok (3450m) in 4 hrs.
The trail passes through quite lush riverside vegetation . En route, we come across more derelict monasteries, some well maintained shortens and at least one good example of a wolf trap. Wolves become a nuisance during the winter as hunger forces them into the villages.
Day 10 Chalok – Shingo (4150m) in 6 hrs.
We criss-cross the Markha river and cross it on bridges set at many of the most difficult crossing places. From a tiny group of stupas, we leave the valley and continue upwards along a river bounded by willows and wild rosebushes.
Day 11 Shingo – Ganda La (4920m) – Rumbak (3750m) in 7 hrs .
At the pass, colorful prayer flags flap in the wind, with the Zanskari range in the background. Afterwards, we descend steadily along the Jingchan river. We get great views towards the Stock summit and the Stock Kangri (6121m).
Day 12 Rumbak – Namlung La (4570m) - Stok (3700m) in 6 hrs - Leh (by Bus/Car).
Descending from the pass, we enjoy excellent views towards the Indus valley. Eventually, we reach Stock, which is famous for its palace and museum.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Adventures in India... Week 1
Since my last post, we have done SOOO much. So here is my attempt at keeping you all updated without taking up your whole day with tons of details...
Thursday afternoon-
Friday-
The jewelry shop... AMAZING
Saturday-
We dressed up in traditional Garwhali outfits.
The traffic was crazy
Thursday afternoon-
- We went swimming with some of her students and then had a fun potluck with them. They are so fun and adorable.
Friday-
- We went to Nicole and Chris's school and I got to see where they work and just all around the school. It was so fun to finally be able to visualize everything!
- We went into town and went shopping. This was intense and we got a bit carried away, but who wouldn't.
Nicole getting her foot traced for some shoes to be made.
A tailor's shop where you could get anything made or altered. I had my saree , a tank top, and a dress made. It was so fun to get to sort through all the fabric and get to create my own clothes.
Nicole and I got coats made for us. This is the 'before' picture. After pictures to come later! :)
Matthew is also getting a suit made over here so we got to pick out the fabric. He would just throw the fabric out right in front of us. I felt like I was a princess or something with all these colors flying around me.
The jewelry shop... AMAZING
I bought way too much
Saturday-
- Nicole, Chris and I went to Happy Valley. This is a Tibetan Refugee Camp. We rode bicycle rickshaws and visited a Buddhist temple and flag hill. It was so fun. It was great to get some fun time with Chris too! What a great brother-in-law!!! We also got to ride a man powered ferris wheel and ate domino's pizza!
Chris picking out his suit.
Chris's 'Before' Picture
We dressed up in traditional Garwhali outfits.
Our Bicycle Rickshaw trip to Happy Valley
The traffic was crazy
The Buddhist temple.
Up at Flag Hill... where people place Tibetan prayer flags as an act of worship. It was incredible!
Riding the man-powered ferris wheel.
They would swing around the ferris wheel to make it move. It was INCREDIBLE!!!
Sunday-
They would swing around the ferris wheel to make it move. It was INCREDIBLE!!!
- WE HAD A LAZY DAY! We pretended to pack, but instead laid around. We went to a Mundan ceremony. This was for a little boy's first haircut. It was very interesting and fun to see the culture in a different light.
- We are for sure packing today and were going to pick up some things in town but it just started STORMING!!! Big time and it's hailing!!! WOOT WOOT WOOT!!! Maybe we'll have to go jump in puddles later.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
India...
I have officially made it to India. WOO HOO!!! Everything went very smoothly. I got to the airport at 4:00 for a 7:20 flight so that my parents could get out without much traffic, and just waited and waited. It went pretty fast actually. But then I got to the gate and they delayed departure till 7:45 and then 8:15 and then we didn't get on till around 8:45. Then we sat and sat and sat until 10:30 when we actually left.
The trip officially began. No turning back now. I sat by the cuttest little 2 year old and her mom. But for most of the trip, her mom sat with her other daughter so I got to have an adorable 2 year old laying with her head in my lap. It was so fun!
Finally I got to Delhi at about 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday their time. It took awhile to get my luggage but a nice man from Indianola, Iowa was actually there and helped me and made sure that I found Nicole.
It was a wonderful blessing. It was so much fun to see Nicole. We headed off to the hotel and got there quite easily and realized that we only had 3 1/2 hours to sleep till we had to get up for the train, but as probably expected, we talked and laughed and giggled and everything, getting only 1 hour of sleep.
The next day we got up, went to the train and road that from Delhi to Dehra Dun, after having to fight with a man to give us n unreasonable price to carry the luggage, riding with a train load of loud kids and almost getting off at the wrong stop.
But we made it! We quickly got into a taxi and started up the mountain, but not before doing some fun shopping. I got a sari! It was so much fun. They just took the saris and throw them out in front of you, so there was fabric going this way and that. The fabric looked like that of princesses. So fun!!
Finally we decided on one and made the rest of the horrible drive up the mountain. UGH! Chris walked in from work about 2 minutes after we got there. We just relaxed and went to bed WAY early. I think I slept for around 13 hours. Then today, we got up, got ready and went up to Chardukkah. A bunch of other teachers were there and we just ate and talked.
It was really fun to meet some of her friends and see everything, but oh my the altitude is horrible! Now we are back at their place and just getting organized and everything. This afternoon we are having a swimming party with some of her students. SO FUN! And that's about it! More to come in the future!
The trip officially began. No turning back now. I sat by the cuttest little 2 year old and her mom. But for most of the trip, her mom sat with her other daughter so I got to have an adorable 2 year old laying with her head in my lap. It was so fun!
Finally I got to Delhi at about 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday their time. It took awhile to get my luggage but a nice man from Indianola, Iowa was actually there and helped me and made sure that I found Nicole.
It was a wonderful blessing. It was so much fun to see Nicole. We headed off to the hotel and got there quite easily and realized that we only had 3 1/2 hours to sleep till we had to get up for the train, but as probably expected, we talked and laughed and giggled and everything, getting only 1 hour of sleep.
The next day we got up, went to the train and road that from Delhi to Dehra Dun, after having to fight with a man to give us n unreasonable price to carry the luggage, riding with a train load of loud kids and almost getting off at the wrong stop.
But we made it! We quickly got into a taxi and started up the mountain, but not before doing some fun shopping. I got a sari! It was so much fun. They just took the saris and throw them out in front of you, so there was fabric going this way and that. The fabric looked like that of princesses. So fun!!
Finally we decided on one and made the rest of the horrible drive up the mountain. UGH! Chris walked in from work about 2 minutes after we got there. We just relaxed and went to bed WAY early. I think I slept for around 13 hours. Then today, we got up, got ready and went up to Chardukkah. A bunch of other teachers were there and we just ate and talked.
It was really fun to meet some of her friends and see everything, but oh my the altitude is horrible! Now we are back at their place and just getting organized and everything. This afternoon we are having a swimming party with some of her students. SO FUN! And that's about it! More to come in the future!
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