Ladak-Aksai Chin: The White Stone Desert

Kashmir is really a good destination for travelers, for adventurers, and for sightseers.

Wow! The place is breathtaking. The panoramic views are well suited for magazines and travel guide books.

Much as I want to stay one more day, my mind is raring for another travel. I have to go. The weather is fine and just right for trekking.

Where to? My schedule really was to go to Agra, India, to see the Taj Mahal. The place is farther south while I am nearer the North-East frontier. Maybe I'll just change my itinerary and go dream hunting in Ladakh. The memories of Ashton is still alive with me. I am still within the boundaries of my Far Pavilions, in the foothills of the Himalayas.

In the east is the region of Ladakh, where many of the people are of Tibetan ethnic stock and Buddhists. The 1962 Chinese invasion of India resulted in the Chinese takeover of a northern, uninhabited section of Ladak-Aksai Chin (see pictures below).

Ladak-Aksai Chin in the snow

Photos:

http://www.flickr.com/

http://www.news.indiainfo.com/

My Dream Escape

Have you ever read the classic book by James Hilton entitled Lost Horizon?

If you would like to have an spiritual journey and trying to escape the vague realities of life, this book is a must read. This book will try to answer some of man's queries about the search for immortality.

I have read this novel twice and up to now I am still enchanted by the story. Just thinking about it will put me in a dreamy state. I've been dreaming eversince what's its like to be in Shangri-La, a place where people are calm, friendly, but somewhat mysterious.

If Shangri-La is true and believed to be somewhere in the foothills of the Himalayas, I would like to be there if only in my dream.