The Chadar 2005: the Zanskari people

Children everywhere.

Some places we stayed at were light and airy, others as traditional as it gets.
In Neraks we visited Stanzins' uncles house for tea, and to buy Chang. Stanzin holds his young cousin.

Still snowing, still snotting.

Here we visit morning puja by the nuns of Zangla Nunnery, who gave us a delightful welcome.
Here we waited again for the snow to stop, watching trekkers giving up on the Chadar, plodding back to Padum and evacuation;
they mainly gave up at the dam we eventually crossed.

The summer sitting area at Stanzin's house in Zangla was our kitchen; the 3rd (and not the last) time his family has welcomed us.
We also visit in the summer, and our trekkers have brought many yak hair rugs made by Stanzin's
mother (below) and sisters. Here his Nephew Tenzin investigates our kitchen; note the balls of yak and sheep wool hanging up,
the poplar braches that insulate the roof, and the sacks of tsampa behind.

Bread is baked about 3 times a week in winter; the flat stone over the fire
is the griddle on which it is baked, this bread is for a puja that day.