The last day of our trek, we came down to a road where our jeep was waiting, and continued to Lamayuru. You have to cross the Fatu-la pass, an extremely scary winding road. It was hard to decide whether or not I was more frightened going up the mountain or going down the other side.

The first sight of Lamayuru gompa and town was stupifying. (The work that went into building anything in (and on) these stark mountains, and that people live here is amazing.) It is the oldest monastery in Ladakh, belonging to the 10th century with some richly furnished rooms….. .

…and always, pilgrims spinning their prayer wheels, sending their prayers upward to the heavens.

When not tenting, we stayed at local guest houses. Our guides always went in to inspect first for cleanliness (no obvious “crawlies”) and, if possible, a toilet in the room…yes, I’m spoiled…I like my very own toilet. In Lamayuru, we stayed at the “Moonland Hotel”.

The next day, we visited the gompa and walked through town.

Then walked a few miles, by road and through the fields. “to moonland” = aptly named.

Such stark landscape with occasional patches of green!

We never saw people just sitting around Lamayuru…they were always busy tending fields, goats, spinning, weaving on looms, washing pots and clothes…before long, another hard winter would set in. And they needed to be prepared.

to be continued…