The Top of the World

 The view from my guest house window.  I see the Castle Tsemo looming over the city if i look to the left.  There grows a garden below and there are flowers and cactus everywhere. 

Above, flowers look upon the edge of the world; I see these on my way up the 600+ stairs to the Shanti Stumpa.  A place of worship built only 30 years ago by a Japanese Buddhist monk, the Stumpa overlooks the city of Leh in glorious colors with ornate Buddhas and Buddhist stories.  I cilmbed up here yesterday, my second day at sunrise.  Practiced a little yoga and met some nice Indian people while enjoying the sun and the views.

And yesterday evening...a rainbow so brilliant my eyes felt deceptive.  And...it ends on the Castle?  Sweet.  And then...It becomes a double!?  Yay!  I ahd a great day yesterday.  The rainbow was a graceful and beautiful dessert.

My trip proves fabuous so far.  I have seen beautiful things and heard interesting sounds and tasted local cuisine.  I have even made a couple local friends.  One of them is a dog. I call him Rufzy.  He has an owner but he likes to walk along and be crazy with me. He is a funny ugly little fat dog.  The castle Tsemo behind him clings to a cliff high above city.

Prayer flags are everywhere.  These are the most dramatic I have seen.  I have sat under this prayer post on a couple occasions.  The other end is attached to a crag opposite neighboring the Castle Tsemo and when the wind blows the whole strand of flags a bounds with joy at its placement.  Coo.

My friend, Sonm, has agreed to take a break from his cafe to accompany me and guide me on a 5-6 day trek from Lamaryu to Chilling.  The highest peak we will trek sits at 4900m.  That is high.  I am so excited!  I wanted to go and he needs a break from business life.  He is a MERO guide and I feel good to have him and be on our own too.  So, we will go into the Himalaya and into Ladakh villages and get the heck out of the city.  The city, with all its charms, remains a city and though I have only been here for three days, the time has come for me to get the heck out and see some of beautiful Ladakh.  I will bring stories upon my retutn. 

love love love