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Water in the waterfall had a nice temperature for bathing, around 20 degrees Celsius. This is the yogi's home (see photo 359). 

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400-km long way from Manali to Leh runs through a mountainous area with spectacular views. Trucks, buses and military vehicles meet on the narrow and dangerous road above deep precipices. Many people pay a death toll on this road.

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Snow at this altitude is completely normal. Our bus's tyres had run out of profile long ago and were totally inappropriate for snow on the road. The bus was dancing above precipices and I was afraid for the first time since I've come to India. 

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Lack of air density in Leh (3500m) can cause headaches to people not used to high altitude. The land of Buddhists and almost everlasting sunny weather. Ladakh is a desert in the middle of Himalayas, monsun rainy clouds are prevented from reaching this place by high mountains.  

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Mountains everywhere. Gompa is a local name for a Buddhist monastery.

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It was merely a coincidence I came to this place at the time of Buddhist celebration. The bus to Hemis gompa celebration was a target for local kids, trying to make us wet by watering the bus through the windows. The worse was for passangers sitting on the roof. Notice the old Ladakhi man sitting in the middle and rotating his buddhist praying wheel.

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Buddhist festivals are famous for exceptional masks.

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A new temple, opened by Dalai Lama himself in 1986.

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Buddhist gompas and other houses impressively climb hills above the plain area.

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Yaks have their origin in Tibet, this side of Himalayas is quite devoid of them.

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Trekking and tenting (altitude 3500-4800m). Mountains covered by snow in the background reach over 6000m.

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The road to Nubra valley has a reputation as the highest motorable road in the world. It passes Khardung La (5602m).

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Engines don't cope easily with altitudes over 5000m-their melancholic sound doesn't touch drivers' hearts at all, who push them to places above snow line.

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The highest motorable road, the highest temple in the world. Feet and other English units are still in use popularly in India (see inscription). Water boiling point is reduced that you can almost hold a glass of boiling tea.

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The sun at this altitude is strong, so prevention from exposure is necessary. The guy in the middle is Jovo from Australia, on the right Cecil from France, the left one is me. We were travellling together for a few days.

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Kids standing before a shop at the end of the world. It was not possible to buy commercial bier, but the shop-keeper provided me a home-made one, unfortunately without hops and totally tasteless. But anyway, thank you very much! 

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Stupas-symbols of buddhism. Soldiers didn't allow us to cross the bridge, borders both to China and Pakistan are not far away.

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Sand dunes in the middle of Himalayas, with wild camels running around freely. The latter can be dangerous.

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Soldiers coming back from the frontline to Pakistan. Dangerous situation regarding war outbreak is over-for now. For how long??

A military truck gave us a lift back to Leh. Crossing again Khardung La was not easy for soldiers, one of them was vomiting. This kind of intimacy between men is much more common than in Europe.

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Jaipur-one of the most touristic cities in India, renowned for its red colour. A real desert is not far, that's why it's possible to see camels. 

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Cows on streets tell us we are back again to Hinduism.

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This pigs were lying in a by-road-channel, filled with garbage and not healthy looking water colour. Disguisting smell was perhaps due to sewage system water inside. The pigs seemed to be extremely happy, but as a tourist you find out it's better to be a vegetarian in India.