Home Sweet Home
Oriental Guest House
Changspa-Leh
www.oriental-ladakh.com
orientalleh@hotmail.com
My guest house is in Changspa which is on the outskirts of Leh – about a 15 to 20 minute walk. It’s run by a traditional Ladaki family and is very comfortable. You can really see the effects of global warming here which is too bad seeing as the peoples here did not contribute to it. They build their house with dung on the outside and then whitewashed. Usually there are no clouds or rain in Ladakh but the past three years have increasingly had rain which melts the dung, goes through the thatching etc. So as time goes on the traditional Ladakhi &Tibetan houses will have to change with the environment. Water is becoming 
I love my room and if I ever get the opportunity to spend a year here I would ask for this one. The view from my bed is incredible – I look past the trees into the snow capped mountains. And the clouds are like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Then if I get out of bed I look down upon one of the vegetable gardens which Mama tends to all day and then to the right is an outdoor area with tables & chairs under an awning where people can hang out or eat at. The family and extended family all live here and run the guest house which has basically three sections. The old section where I live is mostly family and long-term 
Changspa-Leh
www.oriental-ladakh.com
orientalleh@hotmail.com
My guest house is in Changspa which is on the outskirts of Leh – about a 15 to 20 minute walk. It’s run by a traditional Ladaki family and is very comfortable. You can really see the effects of global warming here which is too bad seeing as the peoples here did not contribute to it. They build their house with dung on the outside and then whitewashed. Usually there are no clouds or rain in Ladakh but the past three years have increasingly had rain which melts the dung, goes through the thatching etc. So as time goes on the traditional Ladakhi &Tibetan houses will have to change with the environment. Water is becoming more scarce due to less snow on the mountains. It’s a very interesting place to learn about how outside influences and changing natural phenomena affect a once self sustainable culture compatible with nature. 
Common Living Room
Library with Great Books
Dining Room
I love my room and if I ever get the opportunity to spend a year here I would ask for this one. The view from my bed is incredible – I look past the trees into the snow capped mountains. And the clouds are like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Then if I get out of bed I look down upon one of the vegetable gardens which Mama tends to all day and then to the right is an outdoor area with tables & chairs under an awning where people can hang out or eat at. The family and extended family all live here and run the guest house which has basically three sections. The old section where I live is mostly family and long-term guests including Cynthia Hunt (more on 
Cynthia). Then B section was built as they had to turn so many guests away and now they have a C section which is fairly new and houses the kitchen, dining area and more rooms. Now for Cynthia Hunt – she is originally from the U.S. but came here from Canada 20 years ago – she lives here year round and is an author & illustrator of booklets, games, and classroom resources on such things as nutrition, recycling, environmental pollution, etc. for the Ladaki government. Her foundation brings people to the villages to work on various issues and assists people with Occupational Therapy such as building wheelchairs and other devices for the disabled so they can be contributing members of the village. There is a movie about her called “The magic mountain” Filmmaker: Pat Morrow, focus productions. Another interesting movie about Ladakh is called Thin Ice about a team of girl’s ice hockey that goes for competition.
Cynthia). Then B section was built as they had to turn so many guests away and now they have a C section which is fairly new and houses the kitchen, dining area and more rooms. Now for Cynthia Hunt – she is originally from the U.S. but came here from Canada 20 years ago – she lives here year round and is an author & illustrator of booklets, games, and classroom resources on such things as nutrition, recycling, environmental pollution, etc. for the Ladaki government. Her foundation brings people to the villages to work on various issues and assists people with Occupational Therapy such as building wheelchairs and other devices for the disabled so they can be contributing members of the village. There is a movie about her called “The magic mountain” Filmmaker: Pat Morrow, focus productions. Another interesting movie about Ladakh is called Thin Ice about a team of girl’s ice hockey that goes for competition. 
View When Laying in Bed
View When Laying in Bed
I’ve been asked to assist with the Omprakesh Foundation made up of three professors from Bowdoin College (Maine), Harvard, & the third I know not from where. They want me to work with them on selecting books and finding inexpensive delivery methods for books to go to various schools in Ladakh. I’m helping them now as much as I can because I am here in India and can somewhat gain access to information. I’m trying to get the Kashmir & Jammu curriculum guides that prescribe what is taught in grades 7, 8, 9, and 10. That way we know which type of books to purchase to support the curriculum. I’m also trying to understand the process for ordering books online from Delhi – I think I’ve almost got that down. All this stuff could be a full-time job but unfortunately there is no salary attached. I sure wish I worked for the University full-time as then I could apply for a Fullbright to work over here for an extended period of time. So many people want and need libraries. There is no longer a public library in Leh (the capital of Ladakh) – that says something. The monasteries all have libraries but mostly it’s religious texts, interpretations, and commentaries. All this being said I am working hard and missing out on seeing some of the sites here which acquaintances here have been going on. I am however, getting a good infusion of Ladaki culture, ways, and customs and a further understanding of their educational system.
You can really see the effects of global warming here which is too bad seeing as the peoples here did not contribute to it. They build their house with dung on the outside and then whitewashed. Usually there are no clouds or rain in Ladakh but the past three years have increasingly had rain which melts the dung, goes through the thatching etc. So as time goes on the traditional Ladakhi &Tibetan houses will have to change with the environment. Water is becoming more scarce due to less snow on the mountains. It’s a very interesting place to learn about how outside influences and changing natural phenomena affect a once self sustainable culture compatible with nature.
Outside my bathroom window is a pigeon who had been sitting on her egg since I moved into this room. The other morning she was sitting on her baby who was trying to get out from under her. It’s adorable – I had never seen a pigeon nest, egg and then baby. I sure hope she is able to keep it in the nest as it is a long way down. It’s going to be fun to watch the baby grow. Now after almost a week the mother pigeon leave the baby in the nest for short periods of time – it fluffs itself up when it’s alone and doesn’t move toward the edge of the nest – a well-behaved pigeon baby! Speaking of babies – all the free range donkey’s running around town have had their babies – they are more than cute. I also have a dog friend who I call Jewel who is adorable – think she is a mix of Tibetan Terrier and something a little larger. She loves to nozzle me and growls at all the young Isrealis wandering around.
You can really see the effects of global warming here which is too bad seeing as the peoples here did not contribute to it. They build their house with dung on the outside and then whitewashed. Usually there are no clouds or rain in Ladakh but the past three years have increasingly had rain which melts the dung, goes through the thatching etc. So as time goes on the traditional Ladakhi &Tibetan houses will have to change with the environment. Water is becoming more scarce due to less snow on the mountains. It’s a very interesting place to learn about how outside influences and changing natural phenomena affect a once self sustainable culture compatible with nature.
Outside my bathroom window is a pigeon who had been sitting on her egg since I moved into this room. The other morning she was sitting on her baby who was trying to get out from under her. It’s adorable – I had never seen a pigeon nest, egg and then baby. I sure hope she is able to keep it in the nest as it is a long way down. It’s going to be fun to watch the baby grow. Now after almost a week the mother pigeon leave the baby in the nest for short periods of time – it fluffs itself up when it’s alone and doesn’t move toward the edge of the nest – a well-behaved pigeon baby! Speaking of babies – all the free range donkey’s running around town have had their babies – they are more than cute. I also have a dog friend who I call Jewel who is adorable – think she is a mix of Tibetan Terrier and something a little larger. She loves to nozzle me and growls at all the young Isrealis wandering around.
Pigeon & Baby
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