The extra ordinary things about an ordinary life

I've written and rewritten this so many times. It feels hard and inadequate to find words that can truly express what I feel. 

I have been humbled by the days I’ve spent with these nomads. Here  a community of Changpa nomads have lived for longer than a millennium rearing their livestock—goat, sheep and yak, and living with the minimal resources.

Over the last couple of days of living with them, I saw and experienced that life is ruthless, painful and yet enriching with many surprises and shocks. But for the Changpa’s it’s the only life they know—a beautiful one.



As I write this, we are in the remote corners of Ladakh at altitudes above fourteen thousand feet, in places where the roads are nothing more than tyre marks on the rugged Himalayan terrain.

Here telephonic rings are unheard of detaching you from the rest of the world. Food supply scarce, electricity limited and powered by solar panels. Torch is your best friend at night, but if you do dare to walk out without a companion—you would experience the most stoic yet breathtaking skies—or do I say Milky Way?


 It was in that stillness, I realised how different life is in the city. The constant need to tick off a to do list. Ironically I’m here for a task- my adamant need to see first hand how pashmina comes into existence and to document the land and life that supports it. 

I’ve not only witnessed but also pushed myself over the boundaries to experience a spectrum of emotions I knew I was capable of feeling.



Changtang—known for its unforgiving terrain. Here, nature has the final say.