Snow Flakes, Football at 11,000 feet Et al

Got up at 8 in the morning to find that it was snowing outside. First thing I did was rush out to feel the snow flakes on my face and the experience was awesome! This set out the tome for the rest of the day.

Today was the day to spend time at the library AND play football in the fields of Leh!

Slept late the previous night got up late in the morning went late to the library and spent the day in true holiday spirit.

Went to the library at 11 and got access to the net for the first time in a week. Spent the entire afternoon downloading mails and generally browsing the net.

Packed up at 4:30 and set off to the Leh market. Had samosas and tea and the bought Football! A bunch of heavily clad men kicking football around the streets of football would have been a sight for the ladakhis.

My first contact with snow.

LFC

On a Long and Lonesome Highway

28TH March, 2008: The Trip to fanjila

A very unforgettable but very tiring day, so will keep the thoughts small and the lots of pics.

Started off the day at 7:30 (even I am surprised!) on long and beautiful road to Fanjila. The road trip lasted more than 31/2 hours, which was one of my most memorable trips. I'll let the pics do most of the talking.

We were going to Fanjila to survey the implementation of a hydro project. The scenery was extremely lovely but the climate was equally harsh, it was an eye opener to see the way people of this small village, it houses only 14 families, go about their livelihood. The ladakhi's are extremely hospitable treating their guests like family.

We encountered yet another Laylee part of out trip when got to eat Chole Bature (yep, pure authentic chole bature) in a village, named Nimu, on the way to Fanjila.

The beautiful village of Sumdho

After the visit to fazila we had to visit the village by the name of SumDhu, which is just three buildings in the middle of nowhere. The walk up to the village was just enthralling, and this was also the first time I got a real feel of snow!!! (it actually felt like flakes out of your freezer).

Ladakh

The first post was a little monotonous because all we did was sleep, will try and be a little more descriptive in the future posts.

Got up at 8:30

Freshened up with hot water, which got frozen on the face. Took the idiotic step of wetting my hair resulting in ressy spiked rock star for half the day.

8:30-9:00: Had breakfast (Puri and Jam and boiled eggs)

9:00-9:30: got dressed to go out to the office only to be disappointed that the trip was postponed

10-12: Went out for a walk to get acclimatized to the weather and it was a wonderful walk(basically around 400meters taking pictures!!!)

12-1: Slept or tried to

1-1:30 : Had Lunch(something which I don’t remember)

2:30- Went to the office which is 2 kms away in a cramped up jeep

Met the director of Ledeg, Mr Sonam, and had a debriefing of what all activities was being currently carried out by Ledeg.It was quite astonishing to see how many projects they were involved in.

And of course also got the assignments that we were supposed to complete.

5:00- walked to the leh main market, where we were in for quite a surprise and that’s when we got the feeling of getting screwed over. And that’s when I realised I had PAID Rs700 for nothing.

Bought hunter boots, for Rs175, and eat samosas and tea (yes yes yes, you do get all that in Leh).

The walk back to the hostels, around 2 kms, was one of the most exerting trips I have ever made. We somehow managed to reach the hostel panting for breath and with our heads dizzying.

7:00- After coming back decided on who should work on which assignment(it finally came down to draw of lots) with me getting to work on the MHU project.

Played cards and had fun till 8:30

9:00- Dinner(Noodle Soup)

10 - this is the time I will remember as the dawn of realization! Till now all I had to look forward to was the snow covered peaks and the wild waters on which I could go rafting. But at 10 P.M. of 27th March 2008 I realized how much books I had to study over the next 6 weeks.

Sleeping early because I have a headache, don’t know whether it is because of the weather or the books, and also because we have to be up and ready by 7:00 tomorrow morning- I wonder how that’s going to work out.

Globalization!!!

Ya I Know

The Trip officially Begins

5:30- left lodge

8:30- Flight leaves Delhi (very delayed)

10:45- landed at ladakh

11:15- drove in a jeep and checked into the lodge

Breakfast (Hard puris with apricot jam)

Settled into the room and slept

11:30-1:30- Sleeeeeeeeeeeeepz

2:00- Lunch (Rice, Dal and some subji)

Slept

Coffee (went for a walk)

Slept again

Dinner- rice, dal and green subji (a nice session with the coordinator)

Played cards

Slept

And ya, watched a movie and read 10 pages of Freakonomics

Delhi from the Top

This is where I want to be

Parked at Ribok

The Delhi Union

before :)

Thanks to Mote for the Pickle!

The President's House

Our first experience in a Metro

Thats it for today, after the expeditions around delhi its off to Ladakh early in the morning tomorrow.
Thanks to Amit,CP,Palak and Anuja for showing us around. Especially amit and CP for the Car Ride ;-)