I visited Ladakh recently for the 5th time. The first time, far back in 2005, my husband and I undertook a road trip by public transportation. After that, I always took a flight. Since my first flight in 2016, I knew the magnificent views of the Ladakh range were on the A-side window seats as I went and on the F-side as I returned.
This time when I booked my flights, I saw one with 5:30 departure from Delhi. I thought I would see the sunrise over the mountains, so I took my chance and discussed it. And magic happened! I’m not sorry I left home at 3am, nor am I sorry I paid 200 rupees to block A29 seat in advance so I could sleep in peace knowing my seat is assured.
I flew on October 13th, after a year and nine months! The check-in was pretty slow, but I wanted to travel and I was in a mood to forgive everything! The flight took off in time. I was so sleepy to begin with and for 45 minutes or so we flew over the plains. Then the mountains come into view! I held my breath to see if the peaks would start to glow. I was not disappointed at all!
I was enchanted by the sunrise. I got lost in the world unfolding outside my window. I will use my DSLR and then just use my phone to go back to the DSLR, make videos and click photos! I was completely nailed in front of the window and my cameras!
The problem with the photos is that they never look as good as the actual scene, but I’m still happy with what I saw and what I captured. I need to remind myself to see a little more through my eyes, I finally see a lot through the lens!
After clicking lots of photos from the kit lens of my DSLR, I turned on the zoom lens! I’m glad I could think of this. All this while I just knew the guy in front of my seat was also constantly at his camera. And that the people sitting next to me changed their seat to a place where they could get a view too!
I know from my previous experience that the flight time over this picturesque stretch of mountains passes far too quickly. Before long, the runway at Leh came into view. I have photos of the Delhi Leh Winter Flight also from 2016. I hope to catch the sunrise over these majestic mountains once a winter too!
Before long, the show was over and it was time for landing at Leh airport. I knew it would be cold outside, I knew the altitude would hit me at some point.
But the heart was glad, to be able to fly again and to fly over such majestic mountains at sunrise!
