Khumjung to Namche Bazaar

Monday, June 4th
Departed Khumjung 0815.

Visited the Khumjung high school.  350 students come from the surrounding villages to attend the best secondary school in the Khumbu area. Support comes from Many international donors

Worked our way up, yes, always up, to the Samten Choling Monastery where the main attraction is a yeti scalp. This monastery is the second oldest in the Khumbu region and has 54 volumes of sacred texts, statues of religious figures and other artifacts.

I've been seeing the small azelia bushes for a couple days.  Finally found one beginning to bloom.

I've posted photos of prayer walls but this is a good example of one containing old carved tablets. The trail is built on both sides so travelers can  keep the "mani wall" on their right no matter which way they are traveling.

Every day we pass workers building new trail, walls or houses out of granite rocks. It's hard work and all by hand. For short periods of time, I've used a three pound hammer similar to what they use. My arm got tired after s few minutes. These guys chip, chip, chip away all day long.

Back at Namche Bazaar at 1215 and 11,286 feet, we checked in, had lunch and took a short nap.

Later Mike and I went shopping. On the way to the bazaar streets we saw the prayer wheels that were being repainted when we were here ten days ago. Now they are turning full speed, sending prayers to the all knowing universe.

Had my first hot shower in ten days. Feels good to get the salt and the stink washed off.

After dinner we sat in the common room. They have no stove but it was pleasant enough with temps in the high fifties or low sixties. It has been enjoyable to have no artificial sounds for the past few weeks. No TV or radio, no vehicle noise or horns. Once in awhile, on the trail, one of the passing porters might have a small radio playimg but that's it. People converse or play cards. Reminds me of my youth.

Speaking of the trail, Gibi, our tall porter, has a good voice and sometimes sings us folk songs of the Nepali Himalayas. It's especially refreshing to be serenaded by Gibi during a rest break. I don't understand the words but it's easy to follow the melody, soaring to match the surrounding mountains.