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| Trek Amazing Ladakh, dancing with locals |
Eine Reise in
unbekannte Höhen
Karma – was für eine Name für einen Guide im Himalaya.
Gleich die erste Begegnung am idyllischen Flughafen von Leh ist außergewöhnlich
herzlich. Und auch wenn die Luft dünner ist in Ladakh, so ging uns nie die Luft
für spannende Unterhaltungen aus. Auf unserer Trekkingtour über Photoksar und
Skyumpata Camp nach Lingshed und weiter bis nach Hanumil sind wir der
buddhistischen Kultur und dem einfachen Leben in den Bergdörfern dank Karma ein
deutliches Stück näher gekommen. Karma hatte es sicher nicht leicht mit Jörg
und mir, zwei Lehrern, die gerne Löcher in den Bauch fragen. Doch verging kein
Abend, an dem wir nicht über Glück, Bildung, Erziehung, Landflucht, Glaube oder
sonst was angeregt und gewinnbringend geredet haben. Und das stets in einer
unglaublich faszinierenden Landschaft, an der wir uns nicht satt sehen konnten.
Besonders gut hat uns die Mischung aus ernsthaften Themen und ansteckendem
Humor gefallen. Ein kräftiges und herzliches „Julley Julley“ begrüßte uns jeden
Morgen, wenn wir zu früher Stunde „we want tea, we want tea!“ aus unserem Zelt
skandierten. Sowieso war die Verköstigung auf dem Trekk ein Traum – sofern man
denn der indischen Küche zugewandt ist. Und wir staunten nicht schlecht, wenn
wir Dorje, unserem Koch, auf die Finger schauten. Was der kleine Ladakhi in
seinem Küchenzelt auf den Kochern zusammengezaubert hat, sucht ganz sicher
seinesgleichen. Und so haben wir auf dem Trekk sogar minimal zugenommen, weil
wir uns unzählige Male mehr als satt gegessen hatten… 
Ein Höhepunkt unserer Reise war sicher ein Dorffest in
Lingshed, das wir zusammen mit Karma besucht haben. Zum Glück ist der
traditionelle Tanz nicht allzu komplex, so dass wir uns nicht wirklich
blamieren konnten. Die Bilder, die uns an diesem Festtag geboten wurden, werden
wohl ewig in Erinnerung bleiben.
Wir betrachten die gemachten Erfahrungen mit Karma als ein
wunderbares Geschenk und
sind froh, dass wir die Chance bekommen haben, mit ihm und seinem tollen Team auf Reisen zu gehen. Das Auftauchen in unbekannte Höhen und das Eintauchen in eine fremde Kultur ist ein Segen für jeden Menschen, der vom hektischen Stadtleben hierzulande umzingelt ist. Für uns war es eine Reise, in der die Zeit verloren ging, das Fremde sich auflöste und Zufriedenheit der Menschen und das einfache Leben einen ungeahnt bleibenden Eindruck hinterlassen hat. Julley Julley!!!
sind froh, dass wir die Chance bekommen haben, mit ihm und seinem tollen Team auf Reisen zu gehen. Das Auftauchen in unbekannte Höhen und das Eintauchen in eine fremde Kultur ist ein Segen für jeden Menschen, der vom hektischen Stadtleben hierzulande umzingelt ist. Für uns war es eine Reise, in der die Zeit verloren ging, das Fremde sich auflöste und Zufriedenheit der Menschen und das einfache Leben einen ungeahnt bleibenden Eindruck hinterlassen hat. Julley Julley!!!
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| Trek Amazing Ladakh |
Trek Amazing Ladakh Review by Kerstin and Birger, Germany
Trek Amazing Ladakh photo by Kerstin |
Unser
großer Zanskar – Trek im August 2011
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| Trek Amazing Ladakh, Kerstin and Karma |
Im
Sommer des Jahres 2011 waren wir (zwei befreundete Ehepaare) drei wundervolle
Wochen unterwegs in Ladakh.
Zum
Akklimatisieren in Leh und im Indus-Tal wurden wir von Karma Namgyal, einem
ehemaligen buddhistischen Mönch mit perfekten Englischkenntnissen, in
verschiedene Dörfer und Klöster begleitet. Hier öffnete er uns viele Türen , in
einigen Familien erlebten wir mit ihm die warmherzige Gastfreundschaft der
Ladhakis .
Im
Anschluss an diese Zeit organisierte er für uns ein perfektes Zelttrekking vom
Indus – ins Zanskar-Tal. Begleitet wurden wir von 10 Pferden, den
Pferdeführern, Koch und Gehilfen. Es war ein 3-wöchiges Trekking mit Expeditionscharakter
durch die traumhafte Landschaft Ladakhs.
Wir
haben Karma als unglaublich fürsorglichen, stets fröhlichen und äusserst
intelligenten Guide mit großem buddhistischen Wissen kennen und schätzen
gelernt .
Jederzeit
würden wir wieder mit ihm unterwegs sein wollen….
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| Trek Amazing Ladakh |
Alles
Gute für Karma!
Julley
und bis bald!
Wir
wurden und bleiben Freunde!
Kerstin
und Birger, Martina und Norbert
Trek Amazing Ladakh Review by Gudrun and Thomas
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| Trek Amazing Ladakh, with Gudrun, Thomas, and Karma |
Dear Karma,
The 14 days you guided us through the Ladakh mountain range was way beyond everything we had expected.
It was not just the overwhelming scenary of moutain peaks, colors, passes and people you introduced us on our way. It was this extra, unexpected element you addded - your deeply serious and warm caring for us made us feel absolutely safe at any time.
By the way, the quality and taste of the menues we had while trekking with you were not matched by any restaurant while travelling in India.
Our memories of the time spent with you seem to resist fading - all memories are very clear and shining brightly. We just have to come back some day.
The 14 days you guided us through the Ladakh mountain range was way beyond everything we had expected.
It was not just the overwhelming scenary of moutain peaks, colors, passes and people you introduced us on our way. It was this extra, unexpected element you addded - your deeply serious and warm caring for us made us feel absolutely safe at any time.
By the way, the quality and taste of the menues we had while trekking with you were not matched by any restaurant while travelling in India.
Our memories of the time spent with you seem to resist fading - all memories are very clear and shining brightly. We just have to come back some day.
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| Trek Amazing Ladakh, stupa |
Gudrun and Thomas
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| Trek Amazing Ladakh, another remote village |
Trek Amazing Ladakh by Petra and Berti, Germany
"We trekked twice with Karma, once in the winter (Chaddar to Lingshed), and once in summer (the long approach to Mt. Nun).
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| Trek Amazing Ladakh, Karma teaching me... |
The first time, we were very impressed by his organizational
talents, his knowledge about the country, culture and Buddhism, and his
open-mindedness for our "western" way of thinking.
The second time, it was to meet again the very
good friend he had become to us.
We can highly recommend trekking with Karma --
it will be a unique experience and he will take very good care of you!"
Petra and Berti from Germany
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| Trek Amazing Ladakh |
Trek Amazing Ladakh is Highly Recommended
"I would do this tour again and again at any time and certainty it
was not my last trekking tour with Karma!"
"It was for me a spiritual, sensuous and
cultural trip which led me travel through the Buddhist part (Ladakh and
Zanskar) of the Indian federal state of Jammu & Kashmir. The "Roof of
the World" held many highlights for me, the breathtaking flora and fauna, the
Ladakhis in their everyday life, and the priveledge to be present in the
monasteries while the nuns and monks performed their Pujas (prayers for the
wellbing of all beings).
The people of Ladakh are incredibly friendly
and welcoming and I received through our guide Karma (a former monk from the
cloister of Lingshed) deep insights into Tibetan Buddhism and the social
environment "behind the monastery’s walls". I was continually invited
to share the famous "butter tea" along with the homemade bread of the
monks or nuns in their private lodgings and had so many rich personal and private
experiences.
On the trekking tour I was cared for and supplied like at a 5-star hotel. The tents were always already put up when I arrived in the daily camp. Thus I could rest after the trekking day a little bit in the tent or in the food tent with a warm cup of tea, biscuits and cakes and allow me think of/ remember and cherish the fantastic experiences of the day once again.
Karma has an open, compassionate heart, he has persuaded me/ us in every regard. He was aware at all times of the potential dangers on the tour and led us always to arrive safely and perfectly content in the camp. The day trips and distances were planned really fantastically and he tuned in to each individual and to the group, and the tempo of each member.
The whole organization was perfect. This is of course was also a result of the really great team (horse leader, cook, assistant...) which Karma has put together. The "boys" supplied me/ us on this tour very well and accompanied and supported us every time and made this trip therefore a magnificent experience.
Many thanks for everything to all the
fantastic people on this tour!
"I would do this tour again and again at any time and certainty it
was not my last trekking tour with Karma!"
Trek Amazing Ladakh Review by Stephan and Marlene
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| Trek Amazing Ladakh |
Dear Karma,
On two separate occasions, once in 2005 and again in 2006, we undertook a trekking tour with you, your beautiful wife Dolkar, and your wonderful team.
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| Trek Amazing Ladakh |
Thank you so much for this wonderful time in Ladakh.
We can highly recommend to anyone a tour with you.
Since we first met we have shared a deep friendship with you and your family and we hope that we can once again, as soon as possible, come back to Ladakh.
julley, julley
Stephan and Marlene from Germany
ReplyDeleteIt was for me a spiritual, sensuous and cultural trip which led me travell through the Buddhist part (Ladakh and Zanskar) of the Indian federal state of Jammu & Kashmir. The "roof of the world" held many highlights for me, and thus I could accompany beside the breathtaking flora and fauna also the Ladakhis in her everyday life and might be present in the monastrys by the nuns and monks with her Pudjas.
The people have taken me up very guest-friendly and I received through our guide karma (a former monk from the cloister of Lingshed) deep insights into the Tibetan Buddhism and the social environment "behind the monastries walls". I were invited to the famous "butter tea" or also to selfcooked bread of the monks or nuns in her private lodgings and had so also a very private experiences.
On the trekking tour I have been supplied like at a 5 star hotel. The tents were always already built up when I arrived in the daily camp. Thus I could rest after the trekking day a little bit in the tent or in the food tent with a warm cup of tea, biscuits and cakes and allow me thinking/ remembering of the fantastic experiences of the day once again.
Karma has an open, compassionate heart, he has persuaded me/ us in every regard. He has recognised evry time the dangers on the tour and led us always arrive save and perfect in the camp. The day trips and distances were planned really fantastic and he has tuned individually to the group and the tempo of each member.
The whole organisation was perfect. This is of course also depending on the really great team (horse leader, cook, assistant...) which Karma has put together. The "boys" have supplied me/ us on this tour very well and have accompanied and supported us every time and have made this trip therefore a magnificent experience.
Many thanks for everything to all the fantastic people on this tour!
I would do this tour again and again at any time and certainty it was not my last trekking tour with Karma!
Thank you so very much for your kind words. Trekking with you was wonderful and becoming friends even more important. I hope to see you again soon! Ladakh will be waiting for your next visit!
DeleteWe´ll meet again, my friend!
ReplyDelete