the lama we will never forget

Here he is in the morning sun performing a puja with his dorje and bell

High on a ridge was this very colourful market.

We passed this colourful lama a few times,

and each time he stuck out his tongue and smiled.

We learned to show your tongue means "hi"

He invited us to his place and walked for quite a while

in the fading light up a steep hill to his

wooden house, build a bit like a Swiss Chalet.

He made some delicious simple food,

rice and curried vegetable.

He had a beautiful lady living with him and a young boy,

who helped him

He chanted us to sleep, and tucked us in.

We felt warm, relaxed and safe.

In the morning we tried a few of his magnificent

robes on and took photos.

We thought often about this evening,

and the kindness of this stranger,

with no language in common

Om Mani Padme Hum, jewel in the lotus

What better place to rest, but in the sun, leaning on a massive mani stone.

Along the path, there were many mani walls, piles of pebbles 

with the mantra om mani padme hum engraved.

 The walls were sometimes quite long and 

had a different level, so the porters carrying heavy loads, 

could lean back and rest their baskets against the stones.

 Perfect for our rucksacks as well

Cold and high

The air was thin and every step made our heart beat very strong

and we were breathing very deep to get enough oxygen to get us moving

after a week we got used to the altitude and were running .

It was fantastic to be up there with the gods

Namche Bazaar, Tiang Poche and around Kumbu

We walked for about 2 weeks to get to Namche Bazaar 

We stayed At Namche Bazaar for a few days and than to Tiang Poche Monestary

and than just walked around the foot hills of Mt Everesest

On the way we met Sir Edmund Hillary with his family and one lone Swiss tracker.

That was the foreigners on the way.

Werner loved the walking, and he knew the name of the high peaks

The Base camp area was a bit disapointing a rubbish tip of cans and bottles

The ceiling of a small temple, shaped like a gate, where we had to pass through

the villagers are always welcoming and very hospitable

Some villages, when we climbed higher and higher have mainly

a Sherpa population

An ancient fresco in a temple with a shy Sherpa girl

In the lower down slopes and valleys the Nepali were busy growing food

We always attracted quite a gathering of people

We met lots of friendly travelers

There on the mountain paths we met many Sherpas, Nepali from Tibetan origin.

All were very friendly and often offered us food or the salty tea.

The villages had many steps and we could buy some vegetables and eggs, etc

We would have collapsed under the loads, the travelers were carrying

Sme Tibetans were just coming from Tibet, and were selling tankas, jewelry or 

rituel instruments like bells cymbals dorjes

It was a lucky day, when we came to a village, on the steep slopes and a market day was on.

The mandarins and vegetables were delicious.

We appreciated everything we could buy

camping in the river bed

The days were glorious, warm and clear.

The nights were cold with many stars.

There was always plenty of firewood and water in the many streams.