All About Ladakh

What are the sources of financing of the Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh?

the traditional way, through the alms rounds or donations in-kind by the village peasants, or - as i was told by someone living close by - through Japanese cash grants???

OK someone please explain Ladakhi teas!! butter tea (disgusting in my opinion), "black tea" - i think that what it was called - brewed with crushed nuts, usual white tea...

what are they serving to a clueless tourist over there??

and after that please tell me where monasteries get their money from

it`s an acquired taste - like the fermented herring

... and dried fish (the best beer snack).

It's all a state of mind - Think SOUP and u may begin to like it!

Ok, here's an update on the road from Manali to Leh (actually it is already up in another thread of this website).

The Darcha bridge is down and the river is now divided into three stretches. The jeeps are being pulled across with the help of tractors - if u dole out some cash of course! The new bridge is expected to be completed within 10 days.

SO if you are planning to 'bus' this road - ask BEFOREHAND in Manali.
Goodluck!

Vistet if Ladakhi teas have anything in common with Swedish fermented herring I just ain't gonna drink the tea!
Heard all about the "herring" thing from a friend who has a Swedish girlfriend.

I like it!
But than again I also love Vegemite :-)

Some Kiwi's introduced me to Vege's and I don't want to spell out any adjectives here

Here are some of the best pictures:

Jean-Baptiste Raboun

and one of the images of the road trip: here

mountaingirl, do you know the answer about the monasteries? ie surviving on cash from Japan or on alms from locals?

Hi Volga!

I don't know the true story myself - will ask a monk next time.

However, as you probably know that most of the monks do some 'part-time' work in the houses/ villages - in return for alms. They also bring in money - by way of conducting religious ceremonies in addition to donation by the locals.

Some of the monasteries also have fundings - I would say more American than Japanese fundings. Thanks to the reincarnation in the form of Richard Gere and Steven Sehgal!

We don't have a fixed 'church tax' that some Scandinavian countries have.

The Japanese angle : my guess is that it refers to the Shanti stupa , which was funded by the Japanese.

Hi Mountaingirl,

Vegemite is delicious

Nice photo 19. That I had not experienced. Yet.

what is the story about booking flights out of Leh - I want to fly there do some Trekking in the area and then get back (arrive 27th September) is it easy to book flight back when i am there and know what im doing/where im going?

Hey MG!
How bad will Leh be in December. Can I go there and still have fun?! I heard all roads will be blocked, and the only option would be to fly in?

thanks,
rz

I stayed dec-jan once . Nights are very cold (think -20 ) , occasionally really cold. Winter sleeping bag a must. Most of the snow falls in Zanskar/Spiti etc , the barrier mountains that put Ladakh in the monsoon shadow, so you`ll be lucky if you get to see Leh with a snow cover.

Weather have been increasingly erratic the last decade.Last year the Rothang la pass opened a record six or something weeks earlier than normal and last time around Ladakhis told me that the normal crossings over frozen rivers have been unreliable lately.

Winter is a good period socially if you can handle the cold and you can travel about without any major problems. Trekking .. you really dont want to put yourself in a position where you may have to make an unplanned camp without good experience, company & equipment.