I stayed almost one month in Ladakh in 1998.

It was a wonderful region and extremelly peaceful.

I did not dare take pictures of Ladakhi women but only this very old lady which I asked for permission.

This is a typical Ladakhi adornment. Women carry these very heavy head ornament called Parak covered in Turquoise. Unfortunately Ladakh is also prone to Cultural Looting.

It is forbidden to buy these adornments from population but some foreigners offer a lot of money to buy one directly from a woman in the mountains.

Here is the lady again. She was very small. And seemed quite aged.