Aventyrsresor- Helambu Trek – Daily Dispatches

    Trekking    

Friday  26 of march

The day started with tea in the tent and breakfast outdoors. We ascented through the rhododendron forest, with flowers in pink, white and red.  Our trail passed a small Buddhist stupa. Tendi told us that all sherpas from the villages come here in February each year to celebrate Lhosar(new year). They decorate the stupas with colorful prayer flags, bringing gifts of gold and wheat to put inside the stupa. We continued up until we reached a tea house in Pangu. We bought some handicraft from the nice family living there . Shortly after we arrived at our lunch camp in Magen Goth. Here we stopped for one and a half hour to enjoy lunch and to rest in the sun.

Climbing anew, we felt that the air was getting thinner as we passed the altitude 3000 m. Or maybe it was just us getting more tiredJ Tendi and Nigma carved a mixer made of Juniper, for making the special Tibetan tea, made of milk butter and salt. We passed some yaks and some horses on the way to the top. Finally we reached Tharepati at 3600 m. Our night camp was situated on a ridge and we had breathtaking views in both directions with snow capped mountains in the distance. Before going to bed, Rinji made us a really nice “fredagsmys”(cozy Friday) with pizza, popcorn and a cake. The stars were shining at us in the cold night as we entered our tents to have our beauty sleep.

(We have had problems with electricity and mobile coverage so we have not been able to send any messages home)

26 March, 2010- Rhododendron forest

Aventyrsresor- Helambu Trek – Daily Dispatches

    Trekking    

Thursday 25 march

Ngima woke us up at 6.30 with a cup of tea. After packing we had a delicious breakfast consisting of Nepalese pancakes, porridge and eggs. We were a little disappointed to see that the light fog was still disturbing the view. On a clear day,it is usually possible to see all the way to Annapurna south from here. We started the trek in a descent, passing the terraces where the farmers grow wheat,  corn and potatoes.    At the bottom of the valley, we walked through a village called Pati Banjang, meaning house between hills. Just above the village, there was a village development committee meeting taking place. Tendi overheard that they were discussing where to build a new road to Katmandu. Kristina and Trygve got some yellow flowers from children we met on the way. Now the trail took us steep upwards passing terraces and small houses. We passed by the primary school of Chipling and soon after we took a break to drink water. Tendi and Kristina played with a black puppy, that tried to eat up their shoes. At the lunch stop, at 2450 m, Rinji prepared us a tasty lunch consisting of Tibetan bread, cauliflower and fried potatoes with herbs. Back on the trail again, tendi told us about the local tradition of marriages in this village. It is still common with arranged marriages. Tendi said it is only in the city that they know about love…. We walked down the hill to Gol Banjang and turned up again on the opposite hill side. On the grassy slope, we herad children calling at the sherpas who were climbing up the hill ahead of us. Suddenly we saw a girl sitting in a tree cutting down leaves for the cows. Tendi talked to herand she told him she is ten years old and now is on a twenty day leave from school. During her time off, she has to help her family. Her name is Ropimaya, meaning “beautiful face of love”. Shy at first, the children agreed to us taking some pictures of them. They were happy to watch the pictures on the display of the camera, laughing and joking with each other. We climbed up to trhe top of the hill and from here we had some really nice views overlooking, the valley and the terraces in the afternoon sun. Now we are in Kutumsang, relaxing after a long day.

25 March, 2010- Beautiful face of love