Made it to Leh … in extreme Northern India … on a wing and a prayer. The city is nearly 2.5 times higher than the elevation of Denver — so it took me a while to get my bearings.
Leh is a town that’s filled with adventuresome folk. Perched precariously at the base of the Himalayas, it offers tourists plenty of thrill-seeking fun. Since I was only feeling moderately motivated, we decided to hire a guide to take us to the highest point in the world that you can access by motorized vehicle. It’s nearly 19,000 feet above sea level. On the way up, I started feeling woozy, but managed to suck it up. We clicked off a few pictures and headed back down. By the time we reached the village, I was completely shot. It took every ounce of energy I had to crawl in to bed. Turns out I had extreme altitude sickness — which is like the world’s worst hangover that you can’t shake. Five gallons of water, 12-hours of laying horizontal in my tent (with one foot on the floor to stop the “spins”) and a bottle of aspirin helped me acclimate to the universe again.
On our 2nd day, we took it easier and scheduled a day trip to some of India’s oldest and most revered Buddhist temples. For the first time in the history of tourism, patrons who visited the monasteries showed amazing self-restraint … showing reverence and respect to the monks traipsing around the village. I can’t say the same for the pushy vendors trying to sell crap on the streets.
The word of the day up here in the Himalayas is “apricots”. You cannot walk 10 feet (or whatever that equals in kilometers) without running in to someone dealing the spherical, orange fruit. I have currently eaten my weight in apricots — whether it be from a street vendor, smeared on a croissant in the form of jam or as some sort of exotic dessert. As of this writing, I’m still enjoying the taste … we’ll see how long that lasts.
The “resort” I’m staying at is truly in the middle of nowhere, but shockingly it has a very, VERY faint wireless signal that tourists can use to stay connected with the outside world. Our accommodations include a yurt (a oversized tent) and a small bathroom with (praise Baby Jesus!) hot and cold running water. It’s not posh, but given the terrain … it’s practically a five-star hotel. (Or the equivalent of a Best Western in the States. I kid.) Electricity comes and goes … so people scramble to get anything accomplished in those 20-minute windows. There’s a lot of solar power going on up here too … so I’m feeling green-friendly.
Leh is also a haven for tourists hunkering to escape the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities. Unwashed hippies, groomed Europeans and religious enthusiasts all come together in this town. It’s like “We Are The World” — with glaciers. Tomorrow — we’re off to meditate and do yoga with some monks. Or at least attempt both of ’em.