Poking a Bird

On Friday night I flicked through my guidebook and made a list of all the things I wanted to do/see the next day; the best thing about travelling is being able to completely control what you do every day and each day is different! I woke up in the night and saw a bird in my room, it was so still that I thought it must be an ornament I hadn't noticed so I took a photo (naturally) and then poked it....it wasn't an ornament!!!! I woke up with a massive headache from the altitude but I had already planned the night before to go to an oxygen bar to relieve altitude sickness symptoms. I had the most amazing Tibetan chicken dumplings and soup for lunch. I decided to brave the steep ascent up to Leh's palace and then I climbed to an even higher shrine that gave me amazing views but was completely exhausting in the 35 degree heat (when I'm not climbing the heat here is perfect - not humid at all). On the way up I stopped at a little cafe in a room carved into the hill and sat on the floor drinking the lemon, ginger and honey tea I have a new obsession with. I'm loving going make-up free and wearing comfortable clothing for once, I have to keep my arms and legs covered to be respectful to their culture but I am still getting a lot of looks from the locals, probably because I am on my own. There are a lot of stray dogs here, they are everywhere and they look so cute whilst they sleep all day but then they turn into demons at night; I have heard them having fights once it gets dark and let's just say I'm glad I had my rabies vaccination! There's also a lot of stray cows in the street which are completely harmless unless you don't spot them in the dark and walk into them!! The whole town lost internet for almost a day which is apparently quite common here and definitely something I will have to get used to!

Not an ornament!! 

Chicken Momos.

The 'toilet' at the palace.

The steep climb to the shrine.

I may have to get used to taking selfies since I'm a solo traveller!

Little tea shop in the hill.