Spent 10 days in Markha valley of Ladakh in North India, a Tibetern area in Himalaya with other 6 tourist from Israel, Belgium, Austria and Ladakhi guide, Tibetern cook, Nepali horsemen and Indian ponies. The scenery was great, several passes above 5000 meters, Dalai Lama's birthday was just yesterday, and it snowed during the past 4 days so we had to camp in snowfield, sleep in wet sleeping bag and all day only Indian Dal and Chapati for food. Crossing rivers several times a day when the water is at least knee high and no higher than 5 degrees, drinking stream muddy water directly from the snow mountain, no light no fire at night so the only entertainment was everyone sang his national songs, and a bottle of local beer was shared by all of us for two days.
Unlike my trip in Thailand, most of the tourists in India are above 30 years old, either close to retire or ex salary earners like me, so the topics we had during the trek are far more serious and mostly related to politics, economy or human right. As probably the only Chinese in the area, everyone was a bit surprised, if not shocked, when I told them I am Chinese, from China. So many times I have to recite 'Chini Hindi Bhai Bhai' (Chinese Indian Brothers, said Chow Enlai and Nehru) to active the atmosphere, as Dalia Lama is so important in local and tourists' life, and 20% of the population here are Tibetern refugees.
Going to Kashmir soon, the used-to-be Tibetern Buddist Kingdom. Srinagar next stop.
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