Everest region, Part 2

[spindrift]

I continue my walks on the trail towards Everest. I am now well above 12,000ft and the highest I will go on this trek is 14,000ft. The air is thin and only having two weeks I haven't spent long enough acclimatising. I have stayed 'down' at Phakding and Monjo for 2 nights then climbed up 3,000ft to Namche Bazaar where I immediately feel nausea acompanied by a throbbing head. This is something I must put up with and just get on with enjoying the scenery which is the prime reason I am here.

Here I am on the path to Thame (far in the distance). The mountains that you see are on the borders of Nepal and Tibet.



I have left Namche Bazaar behind. This is a picture looking down at the village where there is a market every Saturday with Tibetans bringing their yaks over the Nangpa La (pass) which is at 19,000ft.



There are rivers in the area coming down from the immense glaciers up higher. Look at the prayer flags fluttering their mantras to help every sentient being.



Occasionally I pass sacred images painted onto huge rock faces



I like this picture of yaks and the gate we must pass through to gain blessings (sacred pictures painted on the walls and roof inside)



Here I am at a gompa. It's already dark and freezing cold - in fact it's snowing.

[spindrift]

Early in the morning I climb up to the monastery, for I can't tear myself away - and I find a nun milking a female yak (dri)



Then I set out again on the path to Thame (Thami) the village where Sherpa Tenzin was born..



On the way I look down at a Stupa on the path to the Nangpa La and Tibet. We are forbidden to go that way.



High on the mountain is Thame gompa.



On the way down I pass a humble dwelling. I don't know how the inhabitants scratch a living out of the rocky earth.



Then on to another monastery (where the bedding is being aired).



Passing yet another chorten (chortens feature on every mountain pass and also when the path turns a corner on a mountain)



And I stumble back to a 'lucury' hotel for the night instead of the simple teahouse. But although it's very comfortable it is still freezing cold inside.

[bazfaz]

I can almost smell the clean air and hear the tinkling of bells.

[Deleted]

Ha ha, I was going to say that I could almost smell the yaks.

[Deleted]

These are stunning! I see where you took the tibetan window shots. Breathtaking ,than you for sharing them.

[bixaorellana]

Your pictures are so perfect -- you really get us to see what you saw. I can almost hear the wind blowing and the flapping of the prayer flags. Even a person who hates cold as much as I can see why people feel compelled to cling there on the roof of the world -- it does feel closer to "something".

[spindrift]

It's strange, Bixa, because I hate being cold yet, somehow, the magnificent mountain scenery compensates for the primitive living conditions I have to endure. I ensure that I have a warm down sleeping bag and my one luxury is a hot-water bottle. Nights tend to be long and uncomfortable but the mornings bring another day of glorious scenery.

[Deleted]

It was such a pleasure to see these photos full sized and now they are all squashed down to medium by the change of the board.

[spindrift]

Oh well, that's life - invariably disappointing.

[Deleted]

Oooffff....problem solved.