Woke a few times in the night but woke up at 6:20 feeling pretty good.   Had a nice warm shower – apparently the hot water can be sporadic, like the wifi here.   Went down for breakfast and had some fried eggs,  toast,  porridge and herbed potatoes.  After breakfast we got in our jeeps to head out to Shey Palace, which was where the royal family of Ladakh lived a few hundred years ago.   The palace was perched on a hill so we climbed up,  taking the rocky back way as it is apparently right to go clockwise up.   Our local guide was the group leader from last year’s trip to India,  Chosphel.  We walked around the palace, which does not have much left now but the views from the top were impressive and the clouds were beginning to clear, leaving extremely blue skies. We then headed down and walked across a field to Tiktse Monastery,  which was also situated on a hill.  The walk was pleasant and easy,  apart from the fact I had to take a leak.   Glad I wore my sandals as we had to cross a large puddle.  I had no problem and just walked straight through.  We finally came to the Monastery, where I was able to use the bathroom.   The Monastery is very impressive looking with the buildings cascading down the hill,  similar to the one in Tibet.  Since the monastery normally closes at lunch,  we took the jeeps up and went through the various buildings,  including the kitchen and dining hall where the monks were eating lunch.  After,  we headed down to the bottom,  where there was a restaurant where we had lunch.   Most of us opted for skuye, which is a thick vegetable soup with gnocchi looking dumplings in it.   It was very tasty and much needed. We then headed back to the hotel.   A few of us went to get water and go for a drink for my birthday since the monastery restaurant didn’t serve alcohol.   We went to a nice place overlooking the main bazaar, which didn’t appear to be able to legally serve alcohol or maybe just not before dinner.   Therefore we were served our clandestine beers in tourist looking Ladakh mugs and were required to keep the bottles on the floor.   Was quite humorous how the beers we served in coffee mugs and the hot teas and coffees were served in her glasses.  After our beer we got some water and headed back to the hotel.  Had a quick briefing shortly after getting back and then headed for dinner in town.  While it was warm during the day, once the sun went down,  it really cooled off.   I had some mutton momos and egg fried rice for dinner,  which was way too much.   Then the restaurant staff brought out a birthday cake for me,  with candles.   It was a chocolate cake and was good.   After a good dinner and day, headed to bed as was exhausted. 

Despite having went to bed at 2 am I managed to get up around 8 or so.   Got ready and went down for breakfast – some toast, fried eggs, potatoes, grilled fish and a donut.   While I was eating I think I spotted a few potential people from the group. Lounged around the breakfast room and then confirmed the group briefing time and went to the pool for a quick swim.   The pool was nice and definitely made the heat very pleasant.  As I was leaving the pool I met Julia from the UK, who was also in the group.   After a brief introduction I went up to change and told her I’d be down in a bit.  Got changed and went down to the bar for a beer.   Met Julia in the restaurant and chatted and then met Cheryl, who is sharing her room.   We then met some of the others in the group for the briefing.   The 3 that were on the organized flight had had their briefing earlier and there was apparently one more coming in later.   The other 2 were Kevin (from Scotland) and Danny (from London).  The guide Ranjeev mentioned that a couple had canceled last minute.  After the briefing the 5 of us went to have lunch and chat in the restaurant.   Then Julia and I went to the pool and the other 3 went sightseeing.   The pool was nice and we ran into Steve, who was on the group flight and who’d been posting on the group Internet board before the trip.   After the swim had a quick shower and then met Julia in the bar.   Danny joined us after they returned and then we met the other members of the group – Chris (from Australia), William (from the UK), and Jouni (Finnish from the UK).  Chris was apparently the one who was to arrive later but she had actually arrived the previous day.  We went for dinner to the same place I had gone last year.   I had some lamb kebabs and paneer parantha.   After dinner we went back to the hotel and Julia,  Danny and I went for a nightcap (water for Julia and I as we already had a few beer).  Since our flight over the Himilayas to Leh leaves at 5:15 am and we are leaving the hotel at 2:30, we called it a night at 9.  Typing this up now and heading to bed for a brief sleep before the 2am wake up call. Hoping that the wifi will be working in Leh so I will aim to post more tomorrow, including more photos. 

Managed to wake up around 8:30 after getting to bed so late.   Had some breakfast in the hotel restaurant,  Eggspectations, which is apparently Canadian,  according to the menu.   After breakfast I went to the spa for a massage to relax after the long day of travel yesterday. Good massage and steam room.  Then went to check out the pool.   No people there but lots of horns from the traffic around the hotel.   Went back to the room for a bit of a rest and to get the wifi running.   Ended up taking a lengthy nap.  Went for dinner in the hotel’s Indian restaurant.    Had some mutton kebabs which were not on a skewer but wrapped around a green onion instead.   Also had some rice,  garlic naan and some black lentil dal.  Was a lot of food and the server kept dishing up more.    After dinner headed back to the room.  Still tired so will try to get to bed at a reasonable time.   The rest of the group will be arriving tomorrow morning so there will be a group meeting sometime tomorrow.