Near the yak encampment. Lingti plain. Gyal Chand’s (pony man) tent. Christina photographing yaks
On the way to the Phitse-La. Johnny Noble & Kranti Singh on a pony.
Gaddi, Summer camp on Lingti, beyond Bara Lacha La. A young man wearing a tweed ‘chola’ is churning butter in a sheepskin. Note the kitchen utensils, another sheepskin sack, and the hookah. A homespun blanket is drying on the wall. Pile of dried roots for fuel.
Our tents near the yak encampment. Lingti plains. Gaddi flock in background.
At Testha. Johnny being given a glass of chang ‘one for the road’.
We met Dorze’s mother along the way at a village beyond Testha. She is wearing traditional headdress, with ear pieces and cloak made of goat and sheep skin.. Tall stepfather has a traditional spoon hanging from his waist. Another man is pouring chang from a kettle to welcome us. Men and children are wearing traditional hats.
Dorze’s mother pouring chang for Gyal Chand, our pony man. We met her along the way at a village beyond Testha. Note traditional drinking cups & woman’s cloak made of goat hair. And the durri/mat of goat or yak hair.
Johnny riding a pony along the left bank of the Phitse-Chu. Somewhere along here we saw a yak which had lost its footing and was being swirled along in the river. We were not encouraged.
Zanskar. Johnny on a bridge. In August 1975, my brother Johnny Noble, Kranti & I went to Zanskar (I was 3 or 4 months pregnant with Rahul). Chamba & Dorze, both Zanskaris, came with us. We went via the Baralacha-La (Pass), 16,000 ft & the Phitse-La, 17,000 ft. We camped at Testha village, home to Dorze & his wife. And then after Padam on (Zanskar HQ) to Karsha village, home to Chamba. After that we crossed the Pensi La & left Zanskar via Kargil town & on to Kashmir.
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Rope bridge across the Phitse-Chu. We are trekking along the left bank.
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Below Karsha village. Chamba being greeted by his mother, it was some time since he had come home. Kranti and pony in foreground..
Zanskar, Karsha, Chamba’s village. Traditional mud brick houses with furze on roofs. View cross the Padam plain to the Zankskar, or the Great Himalaya, range beyond.
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Testha children. Caps & woollen rags & an amulet on the girl/boy in front.
Kurgiakh Valley. Testha child, chortens marking the path down from Kurgiakh village. Another path climbs up the hill
Testha. Making a rope. Chortens in background.
Testha children in bonnets
Testha children, girl in middle with necklace. Child asleep on sister’s back
Testha children. Ragged cloak in which to carry little brother & sister. Child with amulets in pouches on his / her back.
Zanskar. Testha woman & children.
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Karsha, Chamba’s village. Detail of mud brick house in foreground and furze on roof. materials. Other similar houses on the steep slope above, some very substantial.
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Children in front of Karsha village, Chamba’s home village. Contrast between sunlight and shade too much.
Karsha, Chamba’s village. View South through the village and across the plains of Padam to the Great Himalayan range, or the Zanskar Range beyond
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On the way from Padam to Kargil. Yaks yoked to the plough. Woman leading them and man guiding the plough behind.
Christina riding towards the Pensi La Pass on the way to Kargil.
Karsha, Chamba’s village. View South through the village, chorten in foreground, and across the plains of Padam.
Kasha village. A house entrance & baskets of dung/wood roots ? for fuel.
Karsha village. Chamba’s house. Furze in foreground, for fuel and or for the roof ?
On the way from Karsha back to camp, it’s getting late & dark. High snow peaks in the background and silhouette of chorten on the hill.
