September 13, 2010

Debuche to Namche Bazaar. Mmmm....Beer.

Wake up at Rivendell. Lisa is still feeling ill. At this point we think it may be the Cipro she took for her digestive bug. Not fun.

After breakfast, we head back up to the Tengboche Monastery. It is now empty and silent. The crowds of people are gone, and we’ll see helicopters all morning shuttling the lama and his entourage back to Namche Bazaar.

They let us into the temple this morning, though they apologize that it hasn’t been cleaned up from the ceremony from the day before. And we’re allowed to take pictures inside of this temple. Although I’m still uncomfortable doing so.

It is silent inside. Rice is scattered along the floor and the robes that were so perfectly set in the Thame monastery are carelessly flung in their places. Monks wander in and out performing various tasks. They are a strange mix of the traditional and modern in their red and saffron robes with shaved head—crocs on their feet and chattering on cell phones.

After the temple we get to meet Ngawa, Tsering’s eldest son. He speaks little English, a sharp contrast to Dawa, but the two of them are peas in a pod, friendly and open. After a quick stop at the monastery shop, buying monk crafted goods and books on Buddhist tenets; we head on the 4-hour trek back to Namche. Along the way we pass large groups of Nepalese families heading home from the previous days ceremonies.

We have a fabulous lunch and then buy the crew (and us of course) a round of Everest beer. And then Anita, Lisa and I decimate the shopping center, picking up gifts for people back home. We also pick up a deck of cards for each of our guys to put their tips in at the end of the trek.

We end the night around a fire, playing President (a card game also known as asshole) and another Nepali game that involves absolutely no skill, only luck. But we have a good time and laugh a lot.

Tomorrow we’re headed to Tsering’s home and then only one more day until Kathmandu.

Pictures:

Buddha in Temple

Robes in Temple

Lama's Chair

Dawa and Ngawa

Namche Bazaar

Beer!