Mimi Cho - Photo Scholarship

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

INDIA | Thursday, 4 July 2013 | Views [374] | View Larger Image

Spiti is a cold desert valley in the Northern Himalayas. We travel along the Chandra river to arrive at Rohtang “Pile of dead bodies” Pass. The winding dirt roads of this beautiful mountain range freeze over all but a few weeks a year. While icy conditions on our ascent forced us to take an alternate route, on our descent the sun may not be the only deity shining on us.

The lady beside me speaks no English nor I Spitian but through hand gestures she’s understood and accepted my offer to carry her crate of eggs on my lap, for which she shares her packet of marsala ‘twisties’. The eclectic North Indian music playing from the radio is the perfect soundtrack to the rugged rocky landscape we are rolling through. We pass a herd of goats, then a red fox darts across the road in front of us then vanishes up the mountain as quickly as it appeared.

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I spoke too soon. Light rains have caused a landslide just big enough to force an impromptu stop in the village of Chhatru - population 120 at 11,100 feet. Chhatru's only cafe makes a killing that night. With nothing to do but wait for morning and hope for clear roads, stranded travellers (local and international) pass time with chow mein and chai.

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Mimi Cho - Photo Scholarship

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

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