Finding Purpose in the Himalayan Heights

The scent of incense fills the dark chamber of the Buddhist monastery as wisps of smoke drift up and dissipate in front of faded frescoes. A monk sits in front of me, chanting to the beat of a drum and the ring of a prayer bell, eyes rolling back in his head. He’s praying for good fortune and health on our upcoming expedition — tomorrow we’re venturing on foot into the heart of Ladakh, the gateway to the Tibetan Plateau. <img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:630/1*gK77RES0qSdSkL5aJNukaA.jpeg" style="height:468px; width:700px" />Thikse Monastery, Ladakh | Photo by  <a href="https://medium.com/u/4ed290280d83?source=post_page-----67eec7e7a913--------------------------------" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Matthew David</a> We had touched down three days ago, flying in from Delhi to land at the small dusty airport just outside of Leh. The surrounding peaks of the Indus Valley are crowned with icy spires, while nearer to hand, foreboding military compounds line the motorways — a reminder of the geopolitical border tensions between China and India. <a href="https://medium.com/in-living-color/finding-purpose-in-the-himalayan-heights-67eec7e7a913">Visit Now</a>