: Somewhere between the Earth & Heaven

During our last trip to Leh one of the locals told us that Ladakh is supposed to have 300 days of clear skies and 65 days of clouds. Staring into the brilliant blue infinity that stretched in front of us it was difficult for us to believe that even a single wisp of cloud would dare to provide a contrast to the azure skies. So, this time around when we planned our trip to Leh in May we were excited about the prospect of rain and maybe even snow as predicted. And we were not disappointed - the seven days that we spent in Leh, the weather gods granted our wishes and more. All we could do was stare at the veritable feast for mind and soul.

Sun setting on the Stok range - definitely closer to Heaven than Earth

First day at Padma. The Stok mountain range that had looked all pristine and benign during our last trip
were hardly visible this time. Strangely though it was a sight that soothed the nerves of the two
souls tortured by Delhi summers

Leh town as seen from Shanti Stupa with the dark menacing clouds looming in on the two bikers. However,
we soon realized that the Leh clouds had the looks but not the wherewithal for a big downpour. After all
the town receives an average annual rainfall that is less than that of Sahara desert.

Tsemo (Red) Gompa and the ruins of Victory fort perched atop a hill overlooking Leh town with a Buddhist

flag in the foreground. The thick cloud cover gives the impression that the Ladakh range that frames

north Leh has magically disappeared.

Suddenly there was a break in the clouds giving a glimpse of the blue that we had ogled and taken for granted during our last trip. This picture was taken on one of the bike trips to Victory fort perched on top of the Tsemo Gompa

After two days of cloudy skies a bright almost clear morning with the peaks sunning themselves in all their glory. The tall green poplar trees provided the perfect contrast to the sky. Staring at this picture in the artificially cooled environs of our house makes us ask the eternal question -"What are we doing here?" or even better "Why are we not there"

Early morning sun on the Stok Kangri peak rising majestically at 20135 ft higher that most mountain peaks in North Amerian and marginally lower (by 200 ft) than the famous Mt. McKinley. Apparently, on clear days one can see K2 in the Karakoram range to the north and himalayan range stretching to the south from the summit.