included many laughs with the local people at Deepak Taal . A special moment .
We ’ d take on the Shinku La , the highest pass of this ride . At over 5,000 metres we ’ d entered the snowline , thankful that another Buddhist shrine offered protection , prayer flags fluttered in the mountain breeze as a fog rolled in and light snow drifted about the road .
It had become apparent that religious belief played a huge part in the day-to-day life of the people of the Himalaya . As we ’ d moved further north Hindu temples sat side by side with those of the Buddhist faith , the higher altitudes bearing witness to more of the latter , and as we ’ d drifted east the prevalence of the Muslim faith had become apparent .
Seemingly all understood a need to work together , it felt like there was little religious conflict however , I ’ m sure there had been and will continue to do so .
Listening to the monk recite scripture , the occasional thud of a heavy drum punctuated the mantra , leading to a need to understand and obey . For a non-spiritual person , it was an odd experience , one that reinforced an appreciation of the previous days riding that all four of us on bikes had considered to have been the toughest , the most challenging and tiring . Following the Tsarap river , this had been a locals road , not one often travelled by the tourist groups . Another thud of a drum and something about the hardest journeys provide the greatest destinations came to mind .
“ Will you attend the Gustor festival ?”, a friendly invite by a local of Padum as we explained our days adventure to the Bardan Gompa . “ You surely must .”
Another Buddhist Gompa , located around 20 kilometres north of Padum , Stongdey is host to the
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