Setting up prayer flags at Tsomoriri Lake, Ladakh

Tsomoriri Lake is set in the Changthang plateau in the eastern Ladakh, nearby the nomadic village of Korzok. Altitude around 15,000ft

I visited Tsomoriri Lake in early September 2009. Having just visited Kashmir only less than 3 days ago, I was experiencing a little high altitude sickness, usual headache and breathlessness, the cold icy and sandy winds made it a little more uncomfortable. There were mini sand storms blowing through the village of Korzok and that made it worse.

Came here for the Tsomoriri Ladakh festival which is suppose to feature cultural performances of this region. Somehow the locals do not know it is happening despite asking many of them on the day of my arrival. They only came to know about the festival on the actual day from the tourism officials and the district commissioner, all they knew was that a high lama was visiting the Korzok gompa.

So when is the high lama coming I asked ; “he will come only where he arrives” replied Tsering, a delightful and helpful 17year old who help run his family homestay.

In the morning, decided to mount the Tibetan prayer flags (Lung-Ta) that I brought from Leh,at the lake. While struggling a little setting it up, strong winds and occassional sand storms, two jeeps drove up and out came these 2 jeep drivers who were driving some Indian tourists up to the lake.

I was truly blessed, these angelic Ladakhis instinctly knew I was struggling with the flags and took over with the mounting almost immediately. While the angels were helping me with the prayer flags, I said my prayers and dedicated the flags to my dad for his health and well being, to my two dear friends Diana and Kam for their recent health woes. Praying for them, for their health and well-being, peace and protection

The scene was breathtaking with snow capped mountains and the blue fresh water lake, a beautiful place to be in the morning.

The lake is surrounded by the elevated valley of Rupshu with snowpcapped hills of around 20,000 ft. It rained the day before, this place is experiencing climate change to the maximum. It hardly rains here, maybe slight drizzles but this year it rained with heavy short burst of downpour, in the afternoon, the heat can be so strong with the sun beating down at 30 degree celsius

There is an art in setting up the slate rocks that the Ladakhis seem so talented in doing swiftly and artfully.

One of the Angel Ladakhi setting up the flag on the other end

The two Ladakhi helper angels who were quite experienced in setting up the flags for me.These angels were driving some Indian tourists to the lake as seen at the background. Indian army soldiers taking a break from their work. They saw me with the flags, immediately they took over my flags when they saw me with it. Such wonderful angels!

PS: sorry about the photos, I didn’t have the chance to process them on photoshop, hence all the dust spots are still there. just converted and resized them from raw files.