The mountains

Yesterday we got back from our hike to Triune. It's a baby (still almost 2 miles) in the Himalayas and it's probably the most beautiful place I've ever been. The climb was about four hours up. At the top are two chai shops and two lodges- plus a whole lot of pasture land with water buffalo, cattle, sheep, and donkeys, huge boulders, crows, eagles, and most importantly- clouds. The coulds are everywehre- above you- below you- then they swallow the moutain.


One family in particular are friends with Neil- they run one of the chai shops. Sunil is the main guy; his mother is weathered and strong. This beautiful indian woman with few teeth- bindis- bright but tattered clothes- hikes all over this mountain touting loads of grass on her back that are probably 100 pounds- size wise a small person. She also makes the most amazing noises to call all the animals. Then there is Tickaloo- a 15 year old who puts american teens to shame. We would order dinner- a big group meal of dahl- and he cooks for everyone on one stove for hours. They can all run over these mountains so quickly. Tickaloo also make a dijerido (sp??/) out of PVC piping and it sounds awesome.

So yes- the mountain was a spectacular break from city life and people. It makes me want to trek through the Himalayas (more).

thats all for noww :)


Note on pictures: The first is a little shrine to Shiva. They are everywhere on the mountain paths. I find it interesting, also, the split iconography of cultures. ex- The trident is a symbol of Shiva, and many of his followers use red and orange. As a result, these little shrines may simply be stone structures with red paint altars and tridents-- sound a little different to a westerner? yeah, but they were beautiful. This last one is just mountain goats. They were all over, and Sunil's mom can heard them quickly using some of the strangest noises I've ever heard.