END OF KATREE TOUR.

SATURDAY 28.9.2013

on the TRAIN again.

this time a double decker, air conditioned , express to DELHI.

we left the fort early for our final, trip together as a group.

the train trip, in itself was not memorable for me.

what was memorable ... was ....

as the train was coming to the outskirts of delhi, the slums.

at first, i thought this is not many.

but, we kept travelling  past klm after klm of these ?????

what do i call them ?

houses. no

homes. no

but, they are peoples houses and homes.

they provide protection from the worst of the weather. 

probably not all the weather.

i recall i stood up, in my space in the train, and just looked at the sight that was moving before my eyes.

i truly have never seen a slum like this before.

there was people everywhere, washing on the lines, food being prepared on open fires, out in the open spaces.

of course the usual HOLY COW was on the roam.

here we were, on this a/c, express train, 

viewing LOST DREAMS.

these people have come from the outlaying districts, to make a better life for themselves and their family.

NEVER, HAVE I FELT SO BLESSED WITH MY LIFE. 

AS THIS IS THE LAST OF THE BLOG POSTS, FROM KATREE TOUR, I THOUGHT I'D JUST SEND A FEW PHOTOS AND SHORT EXPLANATION OF THE DIFFERENT  PLACES. 

ALWAR.

we left very early (to avoid the heat... didn't work) and a tractor was hailed as our chariot for this trip.

going to see ANCIENT ROCK PAINTINGS. 

i just wanted to sit, take it all in. 

this landscape has not changed for hundreds of years.

now, there are a few electricity poles dotted over the landscape.

one of the many rock paintings.

DEEG PALACE. 

an interesting way for the water to flow. 

FLIGHT DELHI - LEH.

first glimpses of the Himalaya mountains.

if you get the early flight, you enjoy the sunrise over the mountains.

such a sight !

accom @ JIGMET GUEST HOUSE.

jigmetguesthouse@gmail.com

this is a family run guest house.

great place. great views. great location. 

easy to get our bearings and able to get out and explore. 

this is the view from one side of my bedroom. looking at their vegetable & flower garden. 

we ate from the crop.

you can see part of where we enjoyed our meals. 

in the background, you can see the treeless mountains. 

just covered in dirt, that sometimes got airborne. 

LEH PALACE. 

from the other side of my bedroom.

what a treat it was to sit and enjoy this view daily.

i also enjoyed the CALL TO PRAYER each morning @ 5.00am.

i would wake up, get up and fling the windows wide open, and back to bed to imagine Leh coming to life for the day.

SRINIGAR.

enjoying the sunset / moon rise on the shikara.

now, whose feet are these.

mine (no shoes), allison (shoes), annie (part shoes)

it was a delightful way to spend the evening. 

FLOATING MARKET.

this is the way to shop. 

get out the boat, paddle to your favourite shop, haggle, and take delivery. 

saw all sorts of shops.

food, clothes, carpets, baskets.

this is a SHIKARA.

quite luxurious.

you can see where the 3 of us sat, and the oarsman is at the back.

the curtains on the side can be pulled to keep the sun out, or maybe some privacy.

the lotus pads, surrounding the shikara were huge. 

we had missed seeing the pale pink lotus out in full bloom, by a few weeks. there was the odd flower left. 

it really would have been a sight to see this lake, awash with pink flowers. 

ALCHI. NEAR LEH.

prayer shawls (front) & prayer flags.

at the base of a huge carved statue of the Buddha.

a bridge over the INDUS RIVER. 

near STOK PALACE.

both sides of this bridge, were covered with prayer flags.

all sending prayers around the world.

LAMAYURU MONASTERY.

everyone needs a jeep.

close up of OLD MANUSCRIPTS WRAPPED IN CLOTH.

in this one particular room, an entire wall was covered with these old manuscripts.

it was a dark room.

PRAYER WHEELS.

as you enter the monastery, always prayer wheels. 

you walk near them and spin each one. 

inside the prayer wheels, are hand written prayers.

so, again, prayers are being sent out into the world.

a small view from the monastery.

discarded homes in the foreground.

need more....

get some mud and water and build more.

simple.

splash white paint around.

no building permits needed here.

LEH PALACE.

part of the exterior. 

this was a steep walk, in the heat.

from INTERIOR OF LEH PALACE.

everywhere you looked, the HIMALAYAS, not snow capped. as it should be for this time of the year. 

GLOBAL WARMING.

SELF PORTRAITS.

left to right.

me,( one hand,, i was holding the camera), annie & steve. 

prayer flags strung between parts of the mountains.

what a view from these TOILETS. 

no... i did not go inside and squat.

INDUS RIVER. 

taken on the rafting tour.

that was one of those UNFORGETTABLE experiences.

the stillness.

the blue sky.

the white clouds.

no trees on the mountains.

mountains so high.

the occasional rapid. 

great fun. 

taken when we had a stop on the RAFTING TOUR.

paddled to the side, and got out. easier to get in, than get out.

had a stretch and a walk. 

i saw a small lizard, the same colour as these rocks. 

STOK PALACE.

with our guide TARGESSE.

www.ultimateladakh.com

targesse was GREAT FUN. 

he is flying MY KITE.

this little fold away kite, i take with me on my travels. 

whenever it gets flown, i write somewhere on its tails, the location and date. 

it is also great to make contact with other people. 

THISKE GOMPA.

huge, construction.

we stood, like deb is (not me) and tried to take this sight in.

it is still habitable and a working place.

OIL LAMPS.

inside thiska.

ALCHI.

ULE ETHNIC RESORT.

www.ulersort.com

this was where i put my bag and my head for a few nights.

very, very comfortable.

the best bed and pillow.

windows on right, the modern bathroom.

BEAUTY IS EVERYWHERE. 

WE JUST NEED THE EYES TO SEE. 

well, friends, family, this is the finish of the blog photos of katree's tour.

i had a wonderful time.

i enjoyed being part of leh (buddhist) , Srinagar (muslim) & Delhi (hindu ).

it was a rich experience.