11 9 / 2011
High Altitude Runs - My Learning!
Some general learnings from my practice as well as H-Marathon run at High Altitude Ladakh.
Esp for the Runners coming from low lying areas who are aiming to run at High Altitude Places for the first time…
- Acclimatize well (usually rest or light travel) for first 2-3 days, even if you don’t see any headache or high altitude symptoms! I totally understand that a runner can’t stay away from run but acclimatization is necessary
- Never think of running directly at High Altitude. Always have a couple of practice runs under your belt before the Prime one! Highly Necessary for body to settle & build its ecosystem according to O2 levels.
- Always run with your proper gear. If possible, run along with someone else!
- Gear includes hydration belt, couple of chocolates, GPS - highly recommend esp. in mountainous desert region, Heart Rate meter, cap, proper shoes.
- Watch out for Heart Rate. Try to maintain 140-150 bpm esp if you are looking for some good mileage & comfortable run. The last thing you would want is lying deserted somewhere in wilderliness!
- Try mouth-breathing esp if you find it difficult with nose & build in proper breathing pattern.
- Plan your track such that it passes through some habitat-village or small shop at least every 5km. Know your track in advance, so run doesn’t turn out to be a lost & found hike trail. Though that would be fun too!
- If you’re evening runner, Avoid running late even if sun sets late at high altitudes.
- Its not a place for recording your personal best. Set realistic goal considering the “altitude factor”.
- Enjoy the nature & its wonders! Weather’s highly volatile. It may terribly storm for a while, rain a little later followed by heavy sunshine & a welcoming rainbow! It’s Surreal at Heights…:)
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10 9 / 2011
Juley Ladakh - Dealing with Nostalgia!
Ladakhi Music is so Lively yet Earthly! Lately, fan of Ladakhi Pop; its really catchy.. Getting Nostalgic!!
Selected favorites…
In case of any issues about music, please mail me over!
31 8 / 2011
In Leh, What now?
So you’ve land up in Leh, and after listening to acclimatization hearings you are fed up & want to check some interesting stuff, what do you do?
- If you’ve gone crazy, go to Leh’s Sanctuary for Donkeys…
- In a mood to know architectural, sustainable work - Ledeg is the place to visit. Probably you’ll get to know a lot. If you’ve got time to spend, why not volunteer at one of their projects & know more about renewable energy sources and how to facilitate traditional arts like handicrafts.
- Also, you could check Women’s Alliance NGO. Haven’t been there though!
- Damn hungry, head to Bon Appetite in Changspa area. Not exactly on the road to Shanti Stupa though.
- Lamyuru Restaurant though didn’t try also is very known place.
- Speaking about food, how could I forget German Bakery & its peanut cookies
- Restless, go hike up Leh Palace!
- Sunset time, hurry up to Shanti Stupa & enjoy the panoramic views of Leh City!
- Try travelling in Local bus to Monasteries - little twist in touristry business, lol..
- Check Druk Padma School for its wonderful green architecture.
- Also Visit Choglamsar, a tibetian village, prime spot where the flash floods hit. Also, the place where Dalai Lama visits often.
- If you’re artist/painter/antiques collector - check Tibetian exhibitions showcasing Thangkas(buddhist paintings)
- On Budget, keep hopping around Travel Agents for a Shared taxi deal to one of those your favorite destinations.
- Still hungry, get a pack of Soft Fleshy Apricots…
- For Explorers, Do some hiking around Shanti Stupa!
- Hang around in Leh Main Market & Changspa Area & Chill \M/
- Enthusiasts - Go Rent a cycle, ride up Khardungla or if not atleast ride down;)
- Bookworms - Check some really nice Book shops in Leh Main Market.
- And don’t forget to taste Yak Cheese…oops its Yak’s female variant’s cheese. Yak is a male fyi..
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25 8 / 2011
JULEY SECMOL….for all the amazing moments I had while volunteering!
All the Best to all the students! You all ROCK!!!
17 8 / 2011
Visited LEDEG, organization working towards promoting ecological & sustainable development which harmonises with and builds on the traditional culture. Got to know about their interesting projects in Ladakh region. Great place for renewable energy enthusiasts!
Well, I will just jot down some of their interesting works they do such as…
- Popularizing solar inclined building technologies like trombe walls, direct gain walls for space heating.
- Working on Micro Hydro Power Unit Technology - technology to generate electricity on small small using water flow
- Moreover, it’s quite active in encouraging Agriculture & traditional Handicrafts. Also, have a Arts & Crafts shop at their Ecology Center in Karzoo, Leh. Got a amazing woolen cap!
- Also working on solid waste management, sustaining Groundwater use & many other youth & environmental initiatives.
17 8 / 2011
LADAKH ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL
Happens every year around July-Aug. With a couple of local bands performing, this must be a Rocking event with a complete vernacular taste! Well, I do have a small yet amazing collection of Ladakhi songs now.. Ladakhi Rock too…:D
Met a DJ & couple of other tourists who came in especially for the fest. Unfortunately, the fest got cancelled due to some security issues. Nevertheless, this goes off to My Ladakh’s Bucket List….:)
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17 8 / 2011
Having a Great time Reading Ladakh Crossroads of High Asia by Janet Rizvi…
If you’ve traveled around in Ladakh earlier, it’ll be interesting to know the roots as to how was it then & later connecting the dots to know why it is what it is now…!
Indeed a Masterpiece on Ladakh coming off through ages- from Leh being as a trade center for pashm, to influences of Dogra, Islam & subsequent economic, cultural influences on the people & their lives..
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16 8 / 2011
Its all JULEYs!! All Hellos, Thank Yous & any form of greeting, JULEY Works! =D
Thanks to local volunteer for sharing this up!
16 8 / 2011
SOLAR WALL - DOUBLE PANED WINDOW
at Druk Padma Karpo School, they say it’s Rancho’s School lately!
Okay we know, Ladakhis have houses with mud bricks to keep the building warm in winters. But, this is something I got to know now.. Special window arrangement or as they call it SOLAR WALL!
As seen in the right-top pic, building is completely covered with glass panes from outside but only a small portion(just two of the window panes) of that opens up inside, as in right bottom pic. This mechanism works on the principle of glass as a great insulator of heat. Helps a lot for space-heating in winters, saving a lot on gas/electricity for heating.
Also, I was presented the mechanism/schedule chart of Solar Wall(as on the left side of pic) as its called. It charts out the schedule as to when the outer and/or inner windows are to be opened/closed as per the climatic situation!
16 8 / 2011
DRUK PADMA KARPO (DRUK WHITE LOTUS SCHOOL), SHEY (Rancho’s School)
Is the World renowned school for its Green Architectural prowess, having won 5 Awards for Best Architecture! Also, it’s been famous lately because of ‘3 Idiots’, a Bollywood blockbuster film and referred as to Rancho’s School!
From Solar Water Heating to Traditional Toilet System to Special Double Glassed Windows, it has the best Sustainable Green Architecture I have seen so far, absolutely suiting the hostile & harsh climatic conditions present in Ladakh!
Moreover, the campus is spectacular with its open theater(as in the picture).
Although it was summer vacation time for the students, it was still awesome to know of such a great architectural place, just a 200-300 meters prior to Shey Palace!
16 8 / 2011
Visited Thikshey Gompa, one the oldest Gompa in Leh region, just 19km from Leh!
16 8 / 2011
In the Shade, Open Your Minds, Learn to Discuss, Know & Speak !!
Wonder how to teach a kid to speak in English? Different ideas were brought about & students were facilitated to speak. Usually, a particular topic & sample questions related were handed over to students and they were supposed to answer those questions as a result prepare their speech. Sometimes we used to make students play chain-story making, wherein each student were to state next action/event and you’ll go crazy listening to amusing twists as the story unfolds itself…!
It’s great to see the enthusiasm with which students learn and try to give their ideas a proper face in English! Moreover, students loved knowing about computers, preparing slideshows about their villages & one with creative minds played with Gimp too!
15 8 / 2011
That’s the wooden roof in usual Ladakhi homes. To tackle the harsh winters, its the wooden roofs that provide the warmth needed.
As seen above, usually poplar’s thick stem goes for roof building. The thin ones are mostly from Willow trees. Both of these are quite dominantly present in Ladakh region.
Other trees include Apricot & Walnut primarily used for fruits/dry fruits. And, Tables, chairs & other wooden accessories made of Walnut’s wood are of high value & quality.
15 8 / 2011
Do check Restaurant ’Bon Appetite’ off Changspa area (left lane off main road) in Leh! Though little heavy on pocket, place deserves a visit. Amazing Food & Superb Ambiance! 15th being the Independence Day was free for us, so we Leh-ehhed!
Had awesome Chocolate Dumplings/Momos! While Stanzin ordered Burmese Veg Noodle Soup..also looked quite interesting!
15 8 / 2011
With Locals, Go Local - Ladakhi Food!
Thanks to our cook Binoy! I got to taste variety of local ladakhi dishes..
From Skuu, Timok, Thukpa (Veg Noodle Soup), Tibetian Bread & Apricot Juice….
Skuu or Skyu (shown here) - pronounced like “Skew” - is a common pasta dish in the Ladakhi villages.
If more interested, check exhaustive info about Ladakhi food…
Read more for the recipe of Skew….
(Source: travel-india-mickey.blogspot.com)
