Instagramming Kashmir and Ladakh, India

Our trek begins. Storms build for more white caps. Markha Valley trek trail head, Zingchen. #Ladakh

Day 1: Our trek begins. Storms build for more white caps. Markha Valley trek trail head, Zingchen. Ladakh

Kashmir to Ladakh roadtrip. Mind-spanning landscapes from Sonamarg to Drass, the world's second-coldest inhabited village.

Kashmir to Ladakh roadtrip. Mind-spanning landscapes from Sonamarg to Drass, the world's second-coldest inhabited village.

Why subject yourself to a 2-day ride through Kashmir on a crumbling bus? Simple: views like this one.

Why subject yourself to a 2-day ride through Kashmir on a crumbling bus? Simple: views like this one.

Kashmir to Ladakh roadtrip teaser. Bus got stuck in a traffic jam overlooking this jaw-dropper.

Kashmir to Ladakh roadtrip teaser. Bus got stuck in a traffic jam overlooking this jaw-dropper.

Buddhist prayer flags, weather brews around the monastery atop Tsemo Hill, Leh. #Ladakh

Buddhist prayer flags, weather brews around the monastery atop Tsemo Hill, Leh. #Ladakh

Markha Valley Day 2: Morning wake-up call = snowfall. Approach = tea + layers to cross the first 4950 meter mountain pass. This is summertime for the family we stayed with that lives here year-round.

Markha Valley Day 2: Morning wake-up call = snowfall. Approach = tea + layers to cross the first 4950 meter mountain pass. This is summertime for the family we stayed with that lives here year-round.

Road trips are about arc: where you've been, where you are, where you're going. Approaching Lamayuru, Ladakh

Late afternoon sky and Buddhist chortens in the village of Skiu -- a starting place for a visual spread of the Markha Valley trek, Ladakh

Engulfed in canyons. No camera can duplicate the beauty perceived by the human eye. The late afternoon close of a long Day 2, Markha Valley trek.

Engulfed in canyons. No camera can duplicate the beauty perceived by the human eye. The late afternoon close of a long Day 2, Markha Valley trek.

Monster descent (1700m / 5500 ft) = walking sticks essential. #skyporn of the Markha Valley trek

Day 2: Monster descent (1700m / 5500 ft) = walking sticks essential. #skyporn of the Markha Valley trek

After the snowblinds, Buddhist prayer flags at Ganda La pass (4950m / 16,240 ft). Markha Valley trek, Day 2, nearing midday #harsh

After the snowblinds, Buddhist prayer flags at Ganda La pass (4950m / 16,240 ft). Markha Valley trek, Day 2, nearing midday #harsh

Chorten, mountains, mani. Late PM after the Buddhist teach-in. At the edge of Lamayuru monastery. #Ladakh

Chorten, mountains, mani. Late PM after the Buddhist teach-in. At the edge of Lamayuru monastery. #Ladakh

Layers and walls, and Buddhist calls. Skies begin to clear, afternoon Day 2 Markha Valley trek #Ladakh

Layers and walls, and Buddhist calls. Skies begin to clear, afternoon Day 2 Markha Valley trek #Ladakh

A room with a view. Hangkar, our village for one night. Day 4, Markha Valley trek #Ladakh

A room with a view. Hangkar, our village for one night. Day 4, Markha Valley trek #Ladakh

Favorite ancient doorway candidate #22. Hemis Gompa, Tibetan Buddhist monastery #Ladakh

Favorite ancient doorway candidate #22. Hemis Gompa, Tibetan Buddhist monastery #Ladakh

Unbeatable lunch spot. Kang Yatze peak mirrored in Golden Eagle Lake. Day 5, Markha Valley trek #Ladakh

Unbeatable lunch spot. Kang Yatze peak mirrored in Golden Eagle Lake. Day 5, Markha Valley trek. Ladakh

Perfect weather yields the perfect lunch spot. Opposite Kang Yaze at Tsokar Lake. Day 5, Markha Valley trek #Ladakh

Perfect weather yields the perfect lunch spot. Opposite Kang Yaze at Tsokar Lake. Day 5, Markha Valley trek. Ladakh, India.

Day 3 Markha Valley: Chortens (Buddhist reliquaries) in the shadows of the hills. Signs of Buddhism everywhere on the trail. #Ladakh

Day 3 Markha Valley: Chortens (Buddhist reliquaries) in the shadows of the hills. Signs of Buddhism everywhere on the trail. #Ladakh

Favorite ancient doorway candidate #21. Old Ladakhi Buddhist home in Yurutse. Day 1, Markha Valley trek

Favorite ancient doorway candidate #21. Old Ladakhi Buddhist home in Yurutse. Day 1, Markha Valley trek

Late afternoon sky and Buddhist chortens in the village of Skiu -- a starting place for a visual spread of the Markha Valley trek, Ladakh

Late afternoon sky and Buddhist chortens in the village of Skiu -- a starting place for a visual spread of the Markha Valley trek, Ladakh

The lassi man of old town Leh. His secret sits in the blue bowl: freshly made yogurt every AM. #phenomenalassi #Ladakh

The lassi man of old town Leh. His secret sits in the blue bowl: freshly made yogurt every AM. #phenomenalassi #Ladakh

Masala dosa. One of our (South) Indian food favorites. Difficult to photograph, unless of course it sits atop a perfectly red table on the outskirts of Srinagar, Kashmir. #foodart

Masala dosa. One of our (South) Indian food favorites. Difficult to photograph, unless of course it sits atop a perfectly red table on the outskirts of Srinagar, Kashmir. #foodart

The afternoon bread man of old town Leh serves up Kashmiri-style rounds. #Ladakh

The afternoon bread man of old town Leh serves up Kashmiri-style rounds. Ladakh

Favorite ancient doorway candidate #24. Locks and tassels: Hemis Buddhist Monastery #Ladakh

Favorite ancient doorway candidate #24. Locks and tassels: Hemis Buddhist Monastery #Ladakh

Chili peppers and hardware. Would like to know the sales secret to this strangest of combinations. Found in the town of Leh, Ladakh

Chili peppers and hardware. Would like to know the sales secret to this strangest of combinations. Found in the town of Leh, Ladakh

The mani, a Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel set amidst the millenium-aged monastery in Alchi, Ladakh. A clockwise spin is said to be equivalent to a recitation of the prayer 'om mani padme hum'

The mani, a Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel set amidst the millenium-aged monastery in Alchi, Ladakh. A clockwise spin is said to be equivalent to a recitation of the prayer 'om mani padme hum'