It is the ‘female gaze’ that sets this book apart, since it also narrates how women cope with ‘being woman’ in an unfamiliar land. The two women have had an eye for the aesthetic and the curious, a heart for the exotic, and an ear for the local lore, or even a recipe.
Zanskar to Ziro: No Stilettos in the Himalayas emerges thus as an infusion of luxuriant landscapes and rich history, a successful evocation of a sense of place. The book is further enriched by echoes and allusions from all that the women have read, and high-quality visuals.
The acceptance that comes from having lived half of one’s life has allowed the travellers to wade across difficulties with a sense of humour—often self-deprecating—that twinkles through the book.