"la-dak’ (Ladakh) ‘a country of mountain passes.’ ”A trip to Ladakh is like no other. Lush green, snow-capped, and arid mountains, high and low, cover the vastness as far as the eye can see. Musical, mineral-rich, clear water streams pass through villages. Flags fly high atop monasteries, guiding your journeys. The dry, dusty wind and the tall poplars sway together. People wear long silk and wool robes, with tattoos and deep-set wrinkles adorning their faces. Mud, stone, and wood houses are a familiar sight along the way. You hear the wind, the river, the stream, the prayer bells, and the trees. You look out, you look up, or you look within — you’re never lost. You’re never lost in Ladakh. The blue sky, the pervasive mountains, the singing streams and dancing rivers, the picturesque valleys, the brightest stars, and the whistling winds all guide you home.” "