Lunar Landscapes In Kashmir

We are on our way to Srinagar. Behind every mountain and after each curve the landscape changes en route between Leh and Kashmir. From an American route 66 feel to old-crinkled-skin mountains (called The Elephant Hide) or sandcoloured mountains with a hidden oasis in...

Picture perfect in Jammu and Kashmir

“I don’t think the farmer likes you to stand in his mustard field!” Our guide warns us several times when we (carefully) walk through a field filled with bright yellow flowers. How could we not? With Lamayuru village in the background this makes a perfect...

Say a little prayer

In and around Leh we visited the most beautiful monasteries and one thing I like in particular are the prayer wheels. These prayer wheels are cylindrical wheels on a spindle you can spin round and round. The wheels are decorated with lines of prayers, so turning the wheel...

Jule! Jule! Jule!

Young ones. Old folks. Sales men. And even the kids playing on the streets in Leh say Jule. At first we had no idea what it meant, but Jule means a lot: it’s a friendly way of saying hello, nice to meet you, goodbye,welcome and how are you. It’s never been...

Stupefying Shanti Stupa

After cold nights in tents, altitude sickness on the high passes and 21 loop-roads we finally arrive in Leh. One of the most beautiful sights in Leh is the Shanti Stupa. While we visit we learn it was built quite recently by Indian and Japanese Buddhists. Of course the...

Be Gentle On My Curves

Two days after the Gata Loops we are driving on the More Plains. A plateau with huge, golden mountains on either side. There’s no road here so to get from one side to the other you have to drive through tons of sand. Some parts are more sandy than others and our stubborn...