Some photos from the beginning of my trip. Click on any image to enlarge.

Approach to Lamayuru Gompa (monastry), Ladakh. June 2006.

Woman in traditional Ladakh dress and jewellery. Lamayuru monastry, festival time, Ladakh. June 2006

Monk performing in festival costume. Lamayuru, Ladahk. June 2006

Another performer. Lamayuru, Ladahk. June 2006

Truck front. Ladakh. June 2006

Wonderful detail. Interior of Buddhist monastry also known as a Gompa. Ladakh. June 2006.

Typical Ladakh scene. Snow capped Himalayas; dry desert-like terrain and green valley. Ladakh people are expert water managers and farmers. June 2006

Pretty blue dome mosque in Leh, Ladakh. June 2006

Nubra Valley. Over the Khardung La (pass 5,602m) and down the other side. Lots of late spring snow. Ladakh. June 2006.

Another truck front. Khardung La pass. Ladakh. June 2006

Snow at the Khardung La (pass 5,602m), Ladakh. June 2006.

Sunrise over Himalayas, Tungnath. May 2006

Sunrise over Himalayas, Tungnath. May 2006

5:00 a.m. Just after sunrise. Tungnath. May 2006

The best hike of the trip was out to Gaumukh (glacier which is the geological source of the Ganges River). Photo is of the glacier valley with huge Himalayan mountain in the distance and small settlement in foreground where we camped the night before. We did 23 kms this day which was our longest hike but not the toughest. That was reserved for Kedarnath - the hike from hell. May 2006.

Driving through a land slide on the mountain road coming back from Badrinath. May 2006.

Rajastani pilgrim at Yamunotri. May 2006.

Yours truly in my sari. Aranmula, Kerala. July 2006.