Leh

"You take my Breath away". The chorus from the theme song of Top Gun plays over and over in my head. Partially due to the stunning views. More because the air is so this. Sitting is exercise. After you cut your finger you feel it throbbing. Here it is your whole body that throbs as your heart pumps increasingly faster to deliver fresh oxygen to your cells. I once counted my heart beat. Recalling the doctors office I watched my watch for 15 seconds and counted my heart pumping. There was no need for a stethoscope 30 beats in 15 seconds. 120 per minute. That rate brings rock stars crashing to earth. The thin atmosphere is also poor at filtering the sun's skin burning ultra violet rays. The air temp is a cool 70 degrees but your skin feels hot.
Once your body adjusts to the 12000 foot elevation and sunscreen is applied the land takes on new meaning. The this air is clean, fresh to breath, unlike anywhere is in this country. There are many westerners in the streets. The streets are lined with many shops selling local merchandise. Pashmina shawls, singing bowls and prayer flags are popular. The city itself is nestled on a small oasis between barren mountain peaks. "Gompas" aka Buddhist monasteries, sit high on the mountain peaks. In the distance snow covered peaks litter the skyline. Many restaurants have small vegetable gardens on property. It truely is a magical place.



A Tibetan Buddhist temple. I climbed to the top this morning. It was only 553 steps to the top. It is hear my heart was racing. The view was stunning though.



The view from atop the temple. It overlooks a monastery with the snow covered peaks in the background.



This sign was on one of the shops. If you dont this it's funny then it's not for you.