Hunting out cafes is probably the last thing one would expect to do on a trip to the magical land of Ladakh, where one expects to find restaurants serving fresh dim sums, steaming tingmos and cubes of yak cheese. But on a recent trip to Leh, I ended up on an interesting adventure hopping across quaint little cafes and brought back some wonderful memories.
Arriving in Ladakh, I was advised to take some rest to acclimatise myself to the cold weather and sparse oxygen. But after a short nap, I realised I was feeling just fine, and headed out to explore the local market to prepare myself for more arduous adventures the following day.
In a bid to try something local and refrain from indulging in the usual fare of cappuccinos and macchiatos that I generally love experimenting with at cafes, I hunted out a lovely little café right in the heart of Leh’s bustling market. Seeing my inquisitive eyes, the owner, who seemed to know exactly what each customer needed, told me she would get me a hot cup of the local kahwah, which I accepted without a second thought. I clearly needed something warm and nourishing to get me ready for the evening.
