I literally thought I landed on the moon when I flew into Leh, Northern India. Ladakh is situated at a height of 3505 meters and is towards the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir.  Ladakh is a cold desert laying in the rain shadow of the Great Himalayas and other smaller ranges. Little rain and snow reaches this area. Combining the high mountain with a desert makes many people refer to the area as looking like the moon. Leh is a beautiful destination with many attractions and has been the center of Tibetan Buddhist Culture. Age-old monasteries, quaint lanes, colorful markets and stunning views of the Himalayas make Leh an exotic destination.

Leh was the reason I had come to India. I had been to a travel show about 4 years previously, where the photographer showed many pictures of Ladahk, Nepal and Tibet. I decided on Northern India for many different reasons. I know that my spiritual place is in the mountains and when I saw the pictures of this area, I knew that I had to go. That night leaving the travel show, I made a promise to myself to accomplish this goal before I turned 45. I felt that giving myself a deadline would help me realize this dream.

Because Leh is very high, many people get altitude sickness. Unfortunately, I was one of those people. I arrived at my guest house at 11am and by 1pm I was having major digestive issues and dizzy spells.  After about 3 hours of visiting the washroom, I decided that I should take some rehydration salts. I started to vomit shortly after. I was told by my gasto- specialist that I drank the liquid to fast and that is why I started to vomit. For the next 36 hours I was glued to my room. I had the guest house maid bring me up rice, banana’s and mint tea. That helped alot.

I was so thankful when I started to feel better by the 3day. It happened to be Budha Enlightenment Anniversary. There was major celebrations held at the Japanese Stupa, just 500 steep steps above my guest house.  I was too weak to hike up, so I hired a taxi with a new friend and all I can say is that it was a definate “wow” expereince. The view  from the Shanti stupa captured the beauty of the leh valley. Many people arrived in their traditional costumes, and some were participating in a planned dance and music ceremony. Many local people, including the ladakhs  and kashmirs, monks and nuns and us foreigners watching the event. 

A few days later I rented a jeep and went out with 2 other people to see other monasteries, palaces and the surrounding country side. We also planned on seeing a woman oracle reader.  But when we arrived that day, it was announced that her husband had just died and there would be no readings until further notice.

Later in the week, we heard of another oracle and 4 of us ladies decided we wanted to have a reading done. It was a long evening, first having tea and cookies offered and watching the woman oracle get geared up to do a reading. Many local people show up to see the “event with foreigners”. A young man was recruited to do the translating as there was a time for questions and answers with the oracle reader.  After the experience, we decided to go out for dinner together and discuss our reactions to it. It was a very interesting day!

There are  many sacred places in the world, many just miles from home.   I have realized for me, the  deepest connections  are in the spiritual landscape. I was able to find peace, renewal and serenity in Leh.