This week, it is my pleasure to say that we have an image supplied Shar. This means it is finally in the magazine, which means we’ve finally gotten it. We got last issue’s submission correct: Daniel was at Mr Tuck Kee’s Curry Puff stand, in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.
First thoughts: Well, fuck me. This is going to be hard. I have no idea where to start, other than the guess that we’re probably in the ‘stans somewhere. No text, no flags, so this is going to take a loooong time. Side note: the night after I first saw this, I had a dream that I solved it, and it was in Pakistan, so we’re gonna keep that in mind.
I guess I’m gonna start by googling “hilltop desert villages” and see what happens? Hopes are low. Okay, this is either giving me places that are way too green, or are literally in Minecraft. So that’s a no. I’ve plugged in “Pakistan” to the search, and the buildings coming up look correct, but that’s about it. This is already gruelling. Now I’m googling for “village on a hill desert middle east” and it’s giving me similar things, some in Jordan, some in the surrounding area, so I think we’re sort of close. I reckon that this is somewhat near a major landmark, because I’m betting on the fact that our photographer was touring at the time, and not visiting home or something. I’m just praying that there’s a reason they were in this area.
A couple hours passed. For the first time, I went to bed unsuccessful. Then a week went by. Then two weeks. Still nothing. I’ve gotten absolutely nowhere in the Middle East. I can tell you that at this point I know a lot more about Middle Eastern building techniques and Syrian airstrikes, but I still know nothing about this area. Two weeks in, I think I have to move on. This is a total slog. My morale is low, and my mind is ransacked. We’re going to pivot, though.
Looking at the background, there’s clearly a huge mountain range. That’s why I initially thought Pakistan, but I’m going to hop a bit over to the east and start looking in India. There’s some new-looking concrete in the photo, so this area is clearly well-used, and the fact that someone took a picture of it means that it’s probably of some importance. I’m going to guess it's religious, because that top building has a very regal-looking roof, like a sort of temple. I’m going to search for “hilltop temples desert India”.
Damn, no luck. The architecture is totally different. Fuck me. Time to go through synonyms. Temple, church, shrine, I tried all of these, absolutely nothing. I’m going to cry. Another sleepless night. And then: maybe a “monastery”? I’m literally just going through synonyms at this point and I’m on my last wits. This is - by far - the hardest one I’ve seen.
OH OH OH! FUCK yes, I got you, I got you! Monastery did the trick. “hilltop desert India monastery” was the search, which led me to “the 10 most spectacular mountain monasteries” on traveller.com, and in 6th place is Ki Monastery, India. Holy shit. Finding this place felt like an orgasm, I’m not even joking. By far and away, this is the hardest submission we’ve gotten, but we GOT you! It gives me great, great pleasure to close this image off of my desktop. Now I can sleep at night.
Final answer: Ki Monastery, Lahaul and Spiti district, India, at this specific bend in the road. I bet you pulled over here to take a photo. Took me three perfectly good weeks of my life and about ½ a litre of tears. But Shar, I got you. I got you.
Want to send in your own picture? Send an email to maps@critic.co.nz and we’ll give it a shot. Correct answers will be published next week.