Photo: Ki Monastery

The 800 year old monastery in Ki Village is located far from civilization in the highlands of Indian Himalayas. Above 10,000 feet, the air is thin, strong sun burns the skin in summers and winters are bitter cold. Life is tough, but the monks are cheerful and smiling all the time. I asked a monk what makes them station at such far away locations. "To escape from the rigor of every day world," came the response.