In August/September 1999, I stayed in the Himalayan village of Phyang (Ladakh) to help a family harvest. Harvesting time is very short at these altitudes because it starts freezing in October. Many Ladakhi youngsters quit their home village to seek fortune elsewhere and there are not enough people left to harvest crops in time.
During this stay within a Buddhist family, I really began to appreciate their calm, amiable and humble lifestyle and culture.