Leh City

After Ten days Vipassana Meditation Course,

I am back to the center of Leh City.

Leh seems to be a big city to me,

I am still the same person,

but something has changed.

We come back to hearth hostel,

and we feel so much connected with our vipassana mates.

So, we decide to meet all together in our hostel again.

To celebrate that we made it through this course,

and also to celebrate the birthday of Issac.

And of course, drinks are necessary!

But, it's "dry" day, and the one and only wine store

in town is closed.

Well, I am definitely not that kind of person

who give up just like this.

So, I ask Anish (from the hostel),

if by any chance I can get alcohol somewhere.

In the end, he bring me to the

"underground black market"

I am not so scared, but in the same time,

it's really "underground" and dark.

So Anish open the door from the middle of nowhere

and we arrive in the "black market"

The woman ask, "what do you want"

and then I answer "what do you have"

Well, it's funny when I think of now.

I am the only woman there except for the owner.

I have to say, it's very special experience for me

Walking in the main market, you always hear "Julley"

"Julley"means "Hello"

or it actullay means everything

One time I ask, how to say cheers in ladakhi

and he thinks for while and say "Julley"

"O Julley" means "Thank you"

"Ya Julley" means "Bye"

You feel the positive vibes around you,

I am really grateful to see those happy faces!

Of course, it happens something that challenge me

In ladakh area, the connection is not that good

even sometimes when you connected with WIFI

but anyway, not many places have it

I need to contact my family that I will stay in India

a bit longer

Also, after 10 days, I need to contact my family

My phone doesn't work, same with the internet

It's 7pm at night, I go to a shop randomly

just to ask if they know where I can recharge

The owner say that he can help me

After one hour of trying.

finally my internet is working again

But then he refuse to take extra money

but just the money he helps me to charge

Then, he tells me that during the winter time

It's very dangerous to walk alone without a stick

Cold winter and not every shop it's open

especially during the night,

Street dogs are a big problem, and they do bite

during the winter time,

they don't have anything to eat

So then, the owner walks me back to my hostel

with a stick

Little things but it melts my heart.

"O Julley"

In my hostel, because of the cold winter

Same with meditation center,

all the water pipes are frozen

And the "ladakhi style toilet",

it gives me the motivation to walk 20 mins

to the main market every morning to do my "business"

Well, I won't post the ladakhi style toilet here,

but if you want to see, ask me in private

and I will send it to you.

Please, not to mention about shower,

we don't actually shower

But actually I enjoy it very much,

it's totally a diffrent experience,

but it reminds me,

we don't need much to live.

Ancient Palace Leh,

around 30 - 40 mins from main market

All they way up to the Palace,

surrounded by breathtaking views

You can see all Leh city from here,

also all layers of mountains behind

Simple way of living, and the communities are happy

We find a spot with lots of prayer flags,

and we walk up to the top

We meditate for few minutes under the strong wind

The moment we open our eyes,

that feeling is kind of strange but full of power

“I like the mountains because they make me feel small

They help me sort out what’s important in life.”

― Mark Obmascik

When I am at the top of this part,

It reminds me the last day of vipassana

We all want to climb up the mountain in the back

of our center

Just would like to see what's behind there

It's actually forbidden to cross the border

(we can't cross the assigned border during the course)

But we all climb up and every one of us

The last group sitting is calling,

Assist teacher is ringing the bell

That time I am still up in the mountain

I don't not reach the peak because we don't

actually have enough time

And the bell is ringing,

I am nervous because of the bell

But in the same time

I am saying "Anicca Anicca Anicca" all the way down

All our vipassana mates wait until all of us come down

from the mountain

No one leaves the team and go to the hall

That's the power, we are in this together

What's behind the mountain?

More mountains

If you think you are at the top, it's never the top

There's always a higher peak.

To be continue