Armed with my newly bought camera I landed first time at the surreal Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport of Leh at a height of 3,256 meter, the capital city of the Union Territory of Ladakh, a cold arid desert in India. Soon I was welcomed by the chilly winds blowing from the fortress like Himalayan mountains encircling the idyllic airport. Speechless, I managed to get out and hop in a taxi that took me to the already booked guesthouse. En route I instantly fell in love with city as the rustic mountains displaying sand hued colors played peekaboo through the white washed buildings. Welcomed by the amiable guesthouse owner I felt at home at once. View from my room was spectacular as the towering mountains engulfed the panorama. The sight was raw, balanced with local green agricultural fields fenced with stone walls. Dinner served was vegetarian as majority people were of Buddhists faith. Post a sumptuous meal I retired under the thick covers of my comfortable bed. I woke up with the chirping sound of magpies,sparrows and some unknown bliss. After a lip smacking breakfast my day begun with local sightseeing. From Leh to village Karu the roadway felt like airport runaway with river Indus accompanied me all the way till my first stop at the mighty Hemis Monastery. It was established by a Ladakhi king Singge Namgyal in 1672. There was a museum inside the premise displaying images, scriptures, old artifacts, statues. The open courtyard and an assembly hall were decorated with exquisite murals and prayer flags. Next was Thiksey Monastery another gem holding a close resemblance with Potala Palace of Lhasa in Tibet. It looked like a pristine citadel with bright borders. Highlight of this beauty was 15 meter high Maitreya Buddha statue in a sitting posture covering two stories of the building. On my way back I saw Leh Palace dated back 16th century which was in a dilapidated condition with very little of it's interiors thriving. But the roof offered a majestic view of the entire Leh city. Next day early morning drive to Hunder sand dunes through Nubra valley was a sight to behold. Post crossing South Pullu check post I was struck by bone chilling winds of Khardungla pass , the highest motorable path at 5,359 meter, where air was thin to breath. Sudden glimpse of snow white pass reminded me of ice cream from deep freezer! The natural beauty had me in it's spell for few moments. I could hear my labored breathing amidst overwhelming sound of silence. Territorial fights of wild marmots on the way, grazing mules, sight of pashmina highland goats glued me outside the car. River Shyok escorted me that glistened and glinted in the sun channeling it's aquamarine path in a ribboned pattern shoving the white dried up bed on a hot summer day. Having reached Hunder, I couldn't wait to begin my desert safari on the back of central asian double humped camel. Sunset casted hues of pink and orange reflecting on the dunes, as my pride of camel trudged along skirting the whooshing wind. In that moment I felt like a desert empress! Day rolled over, I proceeded to highest brackish water Pangong lake at 4,250 meter. Dare I compare it with heavenly wonder as it was mesmerizing delight. Deep azure sky flirted with multi colored mountains around the vast expanse of deep blue lake. Countless photo shots or words can hardly do justice explaining the hypnotic vistas.No travel story is complete without tales of local delicacies. Mine won't be either. From momo dumpling, thupka, paba to butter tea, farm made apricot jam I tasted everything gleefully. Five days in Ladakh flew away in a moment and there was so much I still had not seen. On my way back, the colorful sight of flying prayer flags, chanting of monks, call of mountains got imprinted on my soul. I took a leap of faith into an unknown world that flooded me with an immense lifetime joy. Ladakh is surely a place where I would definitely come back again and again.