Jullay!!I am Thinlas Chorol from Takmachik in the Sham region of Ladakh. I love being out in the mountains, trekking and climbing. I can guide you on anything from a simple easy village-to-village trek where you can stay and eat in village homes, to an attempt on one of Ladakh’s Himalayan mountain peaks.
I am the only Ladakhi woman who is trained to work in this field. Although Ladakhi society strongly discourages women from independent work like this, I prefer this to any other kind of work. I have been doing this kind of work in Ladakh for the past four years.
I have completed the Mountaineering Course at NIM (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering) in Uttaranchal, India, and the Advanced Mountaineering course at NIM in May 2008, and a Mountaineering course with NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School, of USA) in April 2008.
VILLAGE TO VILLAGE HOME STAY TREK
If you prefer a trek that lets you see into the real life of Ladakhi farmers in villages at 3500 m altitude, let’s do a home-stay trek.
You will stay in guest rooms of houses in remote villages that you reach by walking -- you can plan with me whether you want short walking days or longer days. You will eat food prepared by the farmer’s families.
Homestay in Takmachik:
Our guide, translator and ambassador, Thinlas Chorol, is a graduate of SECMOL and Ladakh’s only female trekking guide. She is a pioneer and extremely knowledgeable. She arranged for our extended home-stay in her village, Takmachik. This was the first time that Takmachik had overnight visitors.
We worked in the fields, picking apricots and hauling barley. Many of us slept on rooftops, just like the Ladakhi do in the summertime. We visited a local school where we taught English and exchanged songs. One afternoon we went to a spring-fed pool, which led to the inevitable water fight. Another afternoon we hiked up a narrow, twisting canyon to the summer pastures.
With much sadness, we left our home-stays after four nights. However, everyone was excited to be back with the gang at SECMOL. It kinda feels like home. We stopped at Alchi Gompa on the way – it is one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, as well as one of the few containing Kashmiri-influenced, as opposed to Tibetan Buddhist, art.
I can plan any lengthy or difficulty of treks for you, such as:
- SHAM TREK (Likir monastery and village to Tingmosgang, 4 days, or shorter or longer)
- HEMIS NATIONAL PARK / STOK-LA PASS (Spituk or Zhingchen to Stok via Rumbak, with a nature walk day in the middle if you like, 2-3 days)
- MARKHA VALLEY TREK (one week in Hemis National Park)
- MOUNTAINEERING AND MORE STRENUOUS TREKS
I can plan any tougher trek's or mountaineering expedition's with you individually.
Things to get with you
1. Essentials
The list below contains items that the past volunteers have found useful. Again, depending on
your tastes and comforts, you will need to choose what to bring with you. An important thing to
remember is that while in Kolkata, a major metropolis, you will have access to almost everything
that you can purchase at home (however, the brand names and quality may not be what you are
used to). It is recommended to travel with just essentials and buy what you need there as it will be
drastically cheaper and you will not have to carry it around.
• Travel pack or hiking backpack: It may be wise to pack for Kolkata as if you were going on
an extended camping trip. Suitcases are not recommended. You must be light and portable.
• Fanny pack or Day bag: Good for carrying everyday items. Purses and bags can be bought in
Calcutta at New Market. (The Indians won’t know how dorky fanny packs really are!)
• Money Belt: Meant to go around your waist or neck, this discrete pouch is a safe place for
passports and cash. This will become like a second skin.
• Disposable Syringes: It is good to have a sterile syringe for possible injections (only a
precaution). If you don’t use them, you can donate them to the Sisters.
• Disposable gloves: Good for messy situations while working at the centers, especially if you are
exposed to blood. Again, you can donate them if you don’t use them
• Flashlight: Good to have when unexpected power outages occur, or when in remote areas.
• Vitamins: A multivitamin may help you maintain your strength.
• Powdered Drink Mix: EmergenC, Gatorade, Exceed, Gerbers etc., anything with electrolytes
to help you to re-hydrate after physical work or sickness.
• Matches/Lighter can be purchased in Calcutta.
• Iodine Tablets: Good to have if you without access to purified water. Iodine PLUS or drink mix
with Vitamin C will neutralize the iodine taste.
• Bug/Mosquito Repellent: Ultra Thon is recommended because the skin does not absorb it.
Bring enough to get you through the trip. Cutter is another good brand and a cream called
Odomos can be purchased in Calcutta. Permanone can be sprayed on bedding, clothing, and in
room. You might also want to pack a tube of anti-itch cortizone cream.
• Mosquito Net: Helpful to have while off-guard and sleeping. These can be bought at any
outdoor supplier, especially ARMY/NAVY surplus. Recomend getting a color other than white.
• Sheet: One full-sized sheet sewn like a sleeping bag can be a blanket, or a bed sheet you know is
clean. You can also purchase a sleep sack at a outdoor supply store, silk dries fast. Again, choose
a color other than white (things get dirty fast!).
• Towel/wash cloth: large bath towels can be bought in Kolkata. Try to buy a light weight towel
becasue heavier materials will mildew. This can provide a first time for you to try out your
haggling skills with the Indian merchants!
• Sarong: great to use as towel, skirt, bed sheet, window coverings.
• Ear Plugs: these are hard to find in Kolkata, so if you need them, bring them.
• Sunscreen Lotion: Non-scented won’t attract as many bugs. Remember that Calcutta is very
polluted and so you probably won’t need too much sunscreen if you plan to be in a city most of
the time.
• Deodorant: This one is debatable (whether its worth it or not), but know that it is VERY
difficult to find deoderant at New Market in Calcutta.
• Anti-Bacterial Soap (liquid bottle or 1-2 bars): Can also buy bottles or bars of Detol in
Calcutta if you run out. The rinse-free kind is nice to have before meals.
• Travel Wipes: These are precioius and rationed while in India!
• First-Aid Kit: Recommended basics: bandages, iodine or alcohol prep pads for wounds,
antibacterial ointment, Tylenol, medical tape, gauze pads, and thermometer (digital or sticky
strip). Also have portable kit to carry in day pack. Your travel physician may write prescriptions
for you for other ointments such as Bactroban.
• Tampons: These are also available in Kolkata but they only have o.b. (and they are hard to
find!!!)
• Tooth brush/paste: available in Kolkata.
• Toilet paper: Can be bought on Sudder St. but you might want to bring one roll for the first
night.
• Cord/Clothesline
• Scrub brush: brilliant for cleaning clothes, feet, or hotel rooms.
• Bandana (at least 2): Nice to keep hair back, protect from lice, and a sweat catcher. Good for
men and women. You may want to bring some cloths that are bigger than the average bandana
so that you can wrap your whole head to protect against lice at work.
• Combination Lock and luggage locks: To secure room and belongings Bring your own
padlock!
• Batteries
• Camera and Film: If you have a digital camera, internet shops on Sudder Street can download
your pictures using just your memory card.
• Knife: Swiss Army or Leatherman are good for fixing, tinkering, and opening containers.
• Sewing Kit
• Water Bottle: can fill it up at Salvation Army
• Playing Cards
• Music system: a CD player or iPod can help you through sickness or down time. Don’t forget to
bring a charge converter to recharge your mp3 players!
• Sun Glasses
• Duct Tape suggestion: wrap around a nalgene to save space in your bag! Good for blisters and
warts.
• Resealable bags: you can never have too many
• Stationary/Pens: Keep paper products in sealed bags to protect against the humidity
• Journal
2. Non-Prescription Medication
The following list is items that volunteers have brought in the past. Again, what you bring with you
is your choice. The chemists in Kolkata are usually helpful if you need anything. It helps if you have the
desired medication name (generic name, not the brand name...for example acetaminophen instead of
Tylenol) written down to avoid confusion with pronunciation. Drug quality may be different than in
America.
• Pepto-Bismol: To help stomach aches. Comes in pills or liquid.
• Laxative and Immodium AD: To help regulate bowels. Pills are favorable.
• Rolaids or Tums: This is a real nice solution to everyday stomach problems.
• Cough Medicine
• Yeast Infection Medication: For the women, yeast infections are likely to occur after taking
antibiotics ie: malaria pills.
• Sleeping Pills
• Lice Medication: Although available in India, it is not as strong. Nix works well and is easy to
use.
• Permethran Cream: for intense bug bite itching and to cure scabees (must be applied over
EVERY Inch from the neck down, then rinse yourself and wash sheets and clothes in boiling
water in the morning).
• Zofran- anti-nausea pills great for after throwing up when you have dry heaves. This is a
prescription med used for chemo patients and other people with chronic nausea. Your health
care provider may not feel comfortable prescribing it, but if he or she will, it’s a GREAT med to
have around. You can get it from the chemists in India under its generic name, ondansetron.
Another good anti nausea med you can find in India is called Zofer.
3. Food
For traveling and treats, anything that packs easily will do: Granola Bars, Power Bars, dried fruit,nuts, trail mix, beef jerky, candy, chocolate, and peanut butter.
4.Clothing
Light cotton clothing is durable and easy to clean; dark colors will hide dirt. Both men and women can buy clothes (relatively inexpensive) in India by going to market stores or tailor shops. Women should be careful not to wear revealing clothing (no tank tops, shorts) in public; long cotton skirts or dresses are conservative and comfortable. The following list is the recommended amount of clothes to bring.
• 3-4 t-shirts: Do not bring heavy t-shirts because they will mildrew; a very light cotton fabric is
most comfortable and desirable
• 1 long sleeve cotton shirt
• 2 pair shorts (for men)
• 2 pair light weight pants (sold in India/Nepal) 2 long skirts (for women—may bring more to
substitute for pants)
• Cotton spandex may be helpful to wear under skirts to prevent chaffing
• 1 sweatshirt/polarfleece: Can be bought for $4 on Chowringhee- again stay away from a heavy
sweatshirt...it will mildew.
• 1 light rain jacket with hood: We recommend buying one in Kolkata for much cheaper.
• 2 pair of socks: You’ll likely be wearing sandals without socks most of the time.
• Underwear: nylon dries fast, cotton breathes nicely. One volunteer mentioned, “it doesn’t
matter how often you do your wash, it matters how sick you get!”-- the number to bring is your
choice.
• Sandals: Teva type shoes are popular for during the rainy seasons (floods are common) and
while working in the homes (doing laundry). Keanes are also good.
• Shower shoes: can be bought in India
• Sturdy Shoes: Hiking boots are good to have if you trek or walk a lot. Remember to break them
in before you travel.
• Sleepware: something light and comfortable, like a long t-shirt, does nicely.
Try and avoid bringing white clothes...sometimes it is just nice not knowing how dirty you are.
Comments from some recent ALS tour participants
SECMOL and ALS organized transportation and activities for 16 students during our 3 week stay in Ladakh. We met with NGO's in Leh... Our guide and translator, Thinlas Chorol, was extremely knowledgeable and is Ladakh's only female trekking guide. We trekked in the Sham region west of Leh, and stayed in Ladakhi homes where students helped prepare traditional dishes. The students had an amazing time during our extended homestay in Takmachik village. For three days we helped families with harvesting and threshing barley, collecting and pitting apricots, and making delicious jam. We were warmly welcomed into the villagers' homes and the families were all smiles as they gave the students khatak scarves upon our departure.
At SECMOL Campus, our student group was integrated into SECMOL's daily schedule including meal preparation and work responsibilities like maintaining solar panels, milking cows, managing waste and recycling, maintaining the dry composting toilets and general upkeep of the campus. We had English conversation classes with the Ladakhi students, made friends, and most of all enjoyed singing and dancing together in the evenings!
Francesca Nicosia (Group Leader, Putney Student Travel)
Staying at the SECMOL campus has opened my eyes to the sustainable lifestyle that Ladakhis have been working hard to maintain. Spending time with the SECMOL students during the conversation classes allowed me to better understand the way the Ladakhis live and how they are planning to develop. This whole experience at the SECMOL campus has been extremely fulfilling and life changing.
Arielle Schneck, New Jersey, USA (student)
The trek pushed us out of our comfort zones, but in the best possible way. Thinlas, our guide, made our trek great, and kept our spirits up over 3 high mountain passes. The views were amazing, and it was surreal to be hiking and staying in the Himalayas. It's an experience we'll never forget.
Sabrina Arora and Sloane Winters, USA (students)
My four-day homestay was an experience that I will forever treasure and fondly remember. After the four days, my hosts had really become my “Ladakhi family”. Living with them in their home and working with them in the fields, I had the opportunity to experience Ladakhi life in all of its beauty and simplicity. Furthermore, I experienced the unspoken bond that unites human beings all over the world. Thank you SECMOL!
Emily Gogolak, Arizona, USA (student)
Contact me Thinlas Chorol via email phinlas [at] rediffmail.com or contact me on +91 0946915037
Jullay
Thinlas
