We stayed in Leh for the Ladakh festival and it was worth to wait. The festival has started on 1/9 and lasted for 15 days. We stayed for the first 3 days.
The festival has started with a great parade; all villages in the area walked with their local customs and played some music. There were also some other groups like camels, yaks, polo players, monks and one of tourist that were going for a 2 months trek with camels. Ophir helped them to carry their post. The parade ended in the polo ground where a lot of people waited for it (also the locals). They have danced some local dances and than asked from the audience to join them.
We have been also to a mask dance in Phayng monastery (30 minutes drive from Leh). It was a 2 hours of dancing, which at first most of the people were tourists but in the end you could also see a lot of locals. The dances are done by the local monks of the monastery and it is done with rich customs and fancy masks.
The Last event that we have participated was - The Polo game. For us it was the first time to see such a match.... and it was really great. 2 teams, 5 players on horses in each team and the purpose is to hit the ball on the ground with a wooden bat and to make goals.
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Saturday, September 17, 2005
Friday, September 16, 2005
India, Ladakh - 'Baby' Trek
So after we adjusted to the alltitude (3500 meter - for us it took 3 days) in Leh, we decide that we are ready to do an easy trek. We took the bus to Likir - Ophir on the roof with other israelis and Irit - in the bus with some locals eating appricotes. we stayed for the night and played yatzee game with Alex & Martina. In the morning we went to the Likir's gompa (monestary), which was really nice! than we started the trek to Yangtang village. On the way we climbed a mountain, asked people how much time to the next village Sumdo. we got answers: "to Sumdo one hour and to Yangtang 2 hours". it took us 3 hours to get to Sumdo village, which has 2 houses!!!!!!!! (and they call it a village! and mark it on the map!), no guest house and ophir was feeling quite dead! we stayed for the night and hoped for the best, because the only person who knew english went. Evatually 2 danish ladies came and it was quite nice. We also tried to help the locals with their field working but with no success. The next day we continued to Yangtang, 2 hour walk and we rested for the day, realy hard climb! the next day we decided to make the trek shorter and we went down a long the river next to Yangtang back to the main road.
In the picture you can see our 'Rujum' (pile of stones) to mark the way for other people who will come this way! Irit is putting the last small stone.
In the picture you can see our 'Rujum' (pile of stones) to mark the way for other people who will come this way! Irit is putting the last small stone.
India, Ladakh, Leh
We arrived to Leh, after 3 days in the beautiful Kashmir area. The Ladakh area is a desert like but it has really high mountains with snow. It has also rivers from the melted snow. We came in the middle of the high season, that means that almost all the guest houses were full. After more than 10 guest houses we found Fatima's guest house. After meeting a nice couple Caroline & Eric we were invited to dine with them and Fatima's family. We promised to make something so we did Israeli Salad (which was a great success) and mashed potatos. Fatima's family made a Ladakhi dish with boiled vegtables and 'kuftaot'. In the picture you can see the way of cooking....you can find Fatima on the left, Noshin sitting om her and her daugther. The way to cook is: down on the kitchen floor is where you cut and arrange the food and you stand only next to the fire. after this night we promised to cook for them another israeli dish.... Shakshuka!
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