Top of the World

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Tibet has been spectacular. After meeting with Pati in Katmandu, we booked a 4 day overland trip by jeep through the Himalaya Mountains. We saw crystal clear views of Mt. Everest and some fantastically beautiful Tibetan towns before coming into Lhasa. The landscapes are breathtaking, and we had luck to get snow on the last day of the drive, which made everything so bright!

It is quite cold here in Tibet, but sunny in the days. For the first time on our trip it actually feels and smells like autumn. The Tibetans, however, know nothing of the concept of heat, and everything feels like it is outside, even the rooms we sleep in. The views are spectacular, and I can keep warm with my camp gear, but I think I'll be happy to hit the warm beaches of Thailand next month. :-)

We made a 2-day trip out to Samye monestary in the heart of Tibet. (Without permit, he he.) We hiked 4 hours up the mountain side and stayed in the small stone rooms of a nunnery tucked into the hillsides. We had planned to sleep in caves with the hermits, but were too tired and cold. Anyway, we heard that the hermits sometimes chase you out if you just barge in on them...

To get there, we took the local bus, then a boat cross the river, packed with about 60 Buddhist pilgrims and their bags, and finally a jeep stacked with 16 of us spilling over the edges. The hike was gorgeous--through the newest mountains in the world, pushing their way up into the sky and commanding a voice of recognition, which I certainly gave them. An utter sense of peace and calm washes over me whenever I come face to face with 'Mother Nature' in this way. I recognize how small and insignificant so many things are (including my little blip of existence) and yet, I am so pleased and thankful for my chance to be here and experience it.

(These are just a few impressions. If any of it sounded familiar to some of you, sorry! I cut and pasted from various e-mails. Hope you don't mind :-) Ann