At first glance, the Tibetan dorje symbol appears to be a weapon. But the dorje symbol is not a weapon, it is a ritual object. In Tibetan Buddhism, the dorje symbol is inseparable with the bell. In Tantric Buddhism, the bell represents the feminine, and the dorje represents the masculine, or the dorje represents a thunderbolt, and the bell represents a diamond. The bell can also represent the body, while the dorje represents the mind. In Buddhist ceremonies in Tibet, the bell and the dorje are always used together. The dorje can be used to strike the bell. When holding the dorje and bell together, the dorje is held in the right hand, and the bell is in the left hand.

The Tibetan Buddhist deity, Vajrasattva, is commonly shown holding the dorje in the right hand and the bell in the left hand. Other Buddhas who are pictured with the dorje are Vajrapani, and Padmasambhava. In Tibetan, dorje translates to ‘noble stone.’

The dorje symbol came to Tibetan Buddhism from Hinduism. In Sanskrit, dorje is called ‘vajra.’ Vajra means, ‘thunderbolt’ or ‘diamond,’ and the vajra is indestructible. The vajra is like a diamond, because it can destroy, but it cannot be destroyed. The vajra represents spiritual power. In Hinduism, the vajra is the weapon of Indra (the god of rain, lightning, and the sky). The vajra symbol also destroys ignorance. The vajra is the symbol of Vajrayana Buddhism, one of the three major branches of Buddhism. Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as the ‘Thunderbolt Way’ or the ‘Diamond Way.’

The vajra is often used as a tool in meditation. Practitioners can meditate on the vajra to achieve the ‘thunderbolt experience.’ The thunderbolt experience is a symbol of union of the relative and absolute truths. Relative truth is what we experience in everyday life, conversely, absolute truth is the timeless state of being unified with nature and everything around us. The bell and dorje symbol can also be meditated on, because we must balance both the masculine and feminine elements within us in order to reach enlightenment.

Each part of the dorje symbol has a certain meaning. The two spheres of the dorje joined together in the middle represent the two sides of the brain. This dual nature in the dorje itself can also represent the body, mind, or masculine, feminine, etc. Just as in other types of eastern philosophy and religion such as the yin yang symbol, this duality is represented in the dorje.

The spheres represents sunyata, the primordial nature of the universe. There are two sides of the dorje, and these represent two lotus flowers joined together, one side is for the phenomenal world (samsara), the other is for the noumenal world (nirvana). The three rings in the center of the dorje represent the spontaneous bliss of Buddha nature as emptiness, effortlessness, and signlessness. The eight upper petals represent the eight bodhisattvas, and the eight lower petals represent their consorts. Above the lotuses, there are three rings. These rings represent the six perfections, patience, generosity, discipline, effort, meditation, and wisdom.

The double dorje symbol is known as the vishvavajra. It is also known as the double cross. This symbol is made when two dorjes are mounted together. The double dorje symbol is often used as a stamp or a seal, and placed on the bottom of statues and pendants. When the dorje or the double dorje sign are worn as pendants, they remind the wearer of the indestructibility of knowledge.

In Hinduism, Indra’s thunderbolt has open prongs. There is a legend that Shakyamuni took the vajra weapon from Indra and pressed the prongs together to make the dorje into a peaceful instrument rather than a weapon.

We’ve all heard about Tibetan rugs, but are Tibetan rugs popular in our North American culture? The popularity of Tibetan rugs waxes and wanes from month to month. One minute there is interest in the North American market, the next there is none.

Tibetan rugs are a tribal tradition and their designs are pictorial and generally focus on the Buddhist element. There rugs will also include geometric patterns. Collectors can’t seem to decide if these unique rugs are worth their investment dollars or not.

Older Tibetan rugs in good condition are hard to find. Most never left Tibet and thus the only ones available in the North American market are the more current rugs. Few rug dealers provide an opportunity to purchase beautiful old Tibetan rugs. More often than not the rugs that have found their way to the western world are the checkerboard rugs which are a variety of the tsuktruk weavings. They are generally a single color pile weave made from narrow strips that are sewn together. These rugs do not have designs.

The Wangen rugs come from a village called Wangden in the village of Tsang. Wangden was always one of the traditional weaving centers were the warped face rugs originated from.

Variations in color and structure have emerged but from where no one is certain. Most have been assigned the Bokhara name which is given to all Tekke Turkmen rugs but there is suspicion that these rugs actually originated from the Wangden area which has emerged as a modern weaving center.

Tiger rugs wear also quite trendy for a period which has now waned. The interesting thing about Tibetan rugs is that there popularity is not dictated by availably. The tiger rugs have many of the expected Tibetan characteristics and they are sold as meditation rugs or mats. The older ones where a solid color of brown, black, or deep blue, while the modern ones have developed a wider color palette.

Any mat that is made in the shape of a square is considered a mediation mat in Tibet. But realistically if that was the case every Tibetan would be committed to dharma and meditation and no one would be doing anything else.

The checkerboard rugs appear to be the most popular rug from Tibet. It’s apparent that when it comes to Tibetan rugs an understanding of the pictographs is not appreciated in their rugs, unlike with other cultures. There appeal as a home decor piece is very understandable as they are distinct and unique but as a collectors rug it’s hard to comprehend what drives the market.

The market for Tibetan rugs is more of a decor market and less of a collectors market and even still the Tibetan rugs seem to have a difficult time penetrating the market with any strength. When it comes to interest in Tibetan rugs it appears to be tied to an understanding of dharma and Buddhism.

You are probably well aware that the Tibetan culture is seldom discussed and few people understand Buddhism or the Tibetan people including those in the Pamir Mountains which are located in north Pakistan. Perhaps the lacks of understanding of the Tibetan people is the reason that the Tibetan rugs can’t seem to grab a continuously comfortable market share.

The Tibetan rugs are unique, intriguing, and an excellent conversational piece. If you are looking for a rug you should certainly consider Tibetan rugs.

The 5 Tibetan Rites are once-secret, ancient yoga-like poses developed by Tibetan monks thousands of years ago to slow aging, increase energy, calm the mind and strengthen the body. You can increase your energy and longevity by performing these five easy exercises that take only 10 minutes each day to do.

The secret to the 5 Tibetan Rites became unveiled in the 1930’s when a retired British army officer discovered a remote Tibetan monastery where the monks were rumored to have discovered the legendary Fountain of Youth. The remarkably old, yet amazingly healthy monks, claimed that the secret to reversing aging lay in the five special movements they performed daily. The officer learned these exercises from the monks and taught them to Peter Kelder, who documented them in the book “The Ancient Secrets of the Fountain of Youth.”

Practitioners reported improvements in strength, endurance, and energy, relief from joint pain and headaches, better memory and vision, weight loss and even a more youthful appearance.

The second edition of the book included a new chapter on the power of the mind, explaining how the 5 Rites were meant to stimulate the energy centers of the body, the chakras, by speeding up and coordinating their spin. You can put your focus on each chakra during repetition of the exercises for increased benefits.

By activating and stimulating the chakras, which in turn stimulate all the glands of the endocrine system, the 5 Rites benefit the body’s overall functioning and aging process. The man who brought these 5 Rites out of Tibet stated that, “performing the Five Rites stimulates the circulation of essential life energy throughout the body.”

Many practitioners say it takes just 10 minutes each day to achieve all the benefits that the 5 Rites offer. While the 5 Rites can be done aerobically, practicing them slowly creates more strength and focus.

Prior to performing the 5 Rites, you can increase their benefit by doing a Chakra Meditation.

Few beads are surrounded by as much myth and mystery as the Dzi bead (say zee). The etched agates are found in Tibet, Bhutan, Ladakh, and Nepal, and are believed to be about two thousand years old. Many legends accompany the beads-

· That they were not made by man but created by the gods, that they bring luck and ward off evil

· That they protect the wearer from physical harm by taking the abuse upon themselves

· That the bead itself will choose its owner and will not stay with an unlucky person.

Tibetan Dzi Beads and AgateDzi (pronounced “zee”) originated from Tibet and the Himalayan mountains. In Tibetan this word can simply be translated to bring good meanings of ‘splendour’, brightness and shine”.

Dzi is a supernatural gemstone talisman that treasures magical powers. It comes in different shapes and sizes and are dark colored agate beads etched with a number of eyes, heavenly patterns and auspicious symbols. The Dzi is originated from the land of mythical Buddhist lamas Tibet and is endorsed by all to possess protective, enhancing, curative and healing powers. It often brings fantastic good fortune, prosperity, wealth and good health to the owner as well.

Wearing the powerful talismanic Dzi is believed to dissipate such negativities depending on their patterns and usage. New Dzi beads is said to be those that were etched recently. Since the material used for both the old and the new beads are agate, the difference between them lies in the timing the etchings were done.

Formed under the earth a long time ago, agate is one of nature’s precious gifts to mankind and has been well accepted as a stone that radiate good energy. The price of Dzi beads is based mainly on its quality.

The size, the skin texture, the clarity of the etched lines and its overall appeal are among some factors to consider when buying a Dzi bead, be it an old or a new piece.

Dzi bead (pronounced zee) is a bead stone of mysterious origin worn as a necklace or sometimes bracelet. Collectively in almost all Asian cultures the bead is expected to provide positive spiritual benefit. They are generally prized as protective amulets.

Dzi stones may have decorated symbols composed of circles, ovals, square, waves (zig zags), stripes, lines, and diamonds, and Various other natural archetypal symbolic patterns. Colours will mainly range from brown to black with the pattern usually being in ivory white. The number of eyes on the stone usually signify different meanings. (Dzi have only circular designs).

Dzi stones may have made their first appearance between 2000 BC to 1000 BC, in ancient India. Fear of the “evil eye” was taken very seriously by these people, so they created talismans with eyes on them as a fight fire with fire form of protection.

While the origin surrounding Dzi beads is quite uncertain, it is socially accepted today that they are called Tibetan beads. They are found primarily in Tibet, but also in neighbouring Bhutan, Ladakh and Sikkim. Shepherds and farmers pick them up in the grasslands or while cultivating fields. Because Dzi are found in the earth, Tibetans cannot conceive of them as being man-made. Since knowledge of the bead is derived from oral traditions, few beads have provoked more controversy concerning their source, method of manufacture and even precise definition. In Tibetan culture they are believed to attract protector deities.

Due to the unknown origin and high demand of the beads, there has been unquestionable counterfeiting in Asia. Some are replicas having been created for decorative purposes, and are accepted by the general public. In Chinese culture, a necklace is believed to be genuine if it was obtained without monetary exchange, for example from a Temple. The other cultural requirement is that one should not request or bribe the bead.

Oversized jewelry is often worn by women from Tibet and Nepal. This jewelry, while beautiful, is often rustic, with uneven edges. A closer look will reveal that this jewelry is made, not by a machine, but by hand.

To appreciate the workmanship of Nepalese jewelry, it is important to understand the history of the craft. Many of the jewelry craftsmen in Nepal are actually from Tibet. They fled from Tibet to Nepal when the Chinese took over Tibet in the 1950s. Descendants of these craftsmen continue the Tibetan jewelry-making tradition in Nepal today. Furthermore, many who make this traditional jewelry are women, not men. In both Tibet and Nepal, jewelry is important in dress, spirituality, and life. Tibetan and Nepalese jewelry also protects the wearer like an amulet, and most of the metals and stones are believed to have unique properties.

Nepalese jewelry is commonly made from copper or silver, but it can also be made from gold. Most pieces of Nepal jewelry are quite heavy, due to the quantities of metal used to make each piece. This jewelry is often sold by the gram.

Turquoise and coral are the most common stones used in Nepalese jewelry. Turquoise stands for the sky and the sea. Other stones common in Nepal jewelry include lapis lazuli, tiger eye, garnet, and agate. Many bracelets and necklaces are also made from yak bone.

Many piece of Nepalese jewelry are actually representations of Sanskrit words. These words carry particular meaning for the wearer of the jewelry. The symbol for Om is often incorporated into jewelry. Om is the sound the universe makes as the planets travel through space. This sound has relaxing and healing properties. Wearing this symbol reminds the wearer of the peace that can be found by keeping harmony with Om.

The most common mantra on Tibetan and Nepalese jewelry is the mantra, om mani padme hum. This mantra literally means, hail to the jewel in the lotus. The eight auspicious symbols are also popular symbols in Buddhist jewelry from Nepal. The ten-fold powerful mantra symbol (the Kalachakra mantra symbol) is also popular. Bracelets carved from three metals are said to have healing properties.

Dzi beads, or God beads are a very important part of Buddhist jewelry. Use of these beads can be traced back to 1000 B.C. These beads come in different shapes and sizes, each one capable of serving a different spiritual function. Dzi beads have the power of amulet, which means they carry sacred powers. Some are used to protect the wearer from evil spirits. Others protect against natural disaster, or increase energy levels. Some will bring good reputation and some promote decency.

This culture of jewelry making has been around for centuries, and has a long an rich history among the people of Nepal and Tibet. In both Nepal and Tibet, jewelry stops being something ‘fashionable’ and is also spiritual.

All that is known is that these stone beads are covered with mystical patterns (eyes, strips) and are an important part of the Tibetan culture. To this day, Tibet and its culture are shrouded by mystique.

The meaning of the word Dzi corresponds to the meaning of the words “shine, brightness, and sharpness.” People in this part of China have always attached great importance to jewelry – jewelry is used as a way to show the status of a person, as well as it has great religious significance. Even the poorest families keep some beads as amulets.

The present religion in Tibet is Buddhism; however, it is believed that the beads came at a time when there was another religion in Tibet – Bon. This follows from the strange drawings on the beads, which point to shamanism and witchcraft. It is difficult to say anything for sure about Dzi beads, as Tibetan culture prohibits any archaeological expedition on its soil. Scientists have been talking about these beads for years due to a lack of documented evidence. We only know that they were used as amulets to boost power.

Tibetans believe that Dzi are of supernatural origin. There are many different stories and legends surrounding them. Their appearance is linked to ancient times, when demigods wore them as jewelry. Whenever Dzi got damaged, it was discarded, as it would lose its powers once damaged.

There are several stories about Dzi beads being insects. These stories tell that these beads were insects that lived in the earth, but they would turn to stone when they came in contact with a human hand. One story tells about a man who saw this insect in the mountains, and threw his hat to catch it. When he took off his hat, the insect turned into stone. These “insects” were sometimes found in the excrement of cattle or in the horns of dead animals. The insect theory is often used to explain why they are often found together – forming a kind of a “nest”. One legend states that even after the beads are dug out of the ground, they continue to move for some time.

Another legend states that they came out of a mountain. They flowed down this mountain’s slopes in streams. One angry woman threw a glance at the mountain, and their flow froze.

There’s also one modern story, which became a kind of “urban legend”. It states that all of the passengers on a bus would have perished in a road accident, if one of them was not carrying a bead.

All these stories confirm the belief that Dzi are magical and can protect their owners from trouble and disease. Traditional Tibet medicine uses powder from the intact (not broken) beads in a mixture with other magical substances, for the treatment of epilepsy.

The beautiful mystical Dzi beads seem to carry a very strong energy. It is believed that they protect against all types of failures, and bring prosperity, wealth and health to their holders. They vary depending on the type of luck that you want to attract.

These beads are often used by feng shui practitioners in combination with other amulets.

Most recent research conducted by National Geographic society in USA mentioned the fact that the earliest Tibetan sterling silver jewelry relic is in fact more than 30,000 years in age. When it comes to ancient Tibetans, 925 silver ornaments were possibly not just for ornamentation, they happen to be the reflection of ethnic identity and additionally rank marker. Subsequently, the very beginning of handmade sterling silver jewelry can certainly be ascribed to Tibet.

Early Egyptians identified silver in the bronze era; also it appeared to be interrelated with the moon. Usually the pliability along with radiant traits of silver considered it very much respected during early cultures of the nearby east. The actual native Americans as well found sterling silver inside the Andes mountains of South America exactly where the people inherited majestic’ reputation. Later Spanish conquistadors benefited widely from the 925 silver trades. From 5000 BC, silver mining had extended throughout Europe, along with Greece and Spain leading the path. Because of the high existence of lead component in silver ore (which unfortunately is harmful to human being), silver miners endured from uncountable deaths. It was probably most apparent in the twentieth century when safer silver extraction technique was found. Silver metal has at the same time been pointed out as divine along with gold in the Christian Book of Genesis. On the contrary, in those earlier era silver was spotted as a commodity only. It seemed to be only during 1st century AD while in the Roman period that silver ornaments sprang out in west civilization. In the passage of time, 925 silver jewelry in the west became trademark of appreciation and charm. Silver love tokens as well as lockets happened to be highly famous amongst earlier American settlers. In quite a few situations silver beads were also utilized as currency.

Whereas in the eastern Buddhist lifestyle of the Himalayas, 925 sterling silver evolved as an essence of spiritualism that remains till at present. Holy Scriptures and also divine emblematic engravings upon them are embodiment of similar appreciation in between Tibetan Buddhism and handmade sterling silver jewelry.

Old evidences exhibits that during the medieval years, Nepal used to export sterling silver coins to Tibet. Nepalese sterling silver coins continued to be within formal movement in Tibetan market till the mid 19th century. It is secure to presume the fact that the culture of Tibetan silver jewelry workmanship had been started by Nepali artisans also.

Contemporary handmade Tibetan silver jewelry industry at present is generally totally outclassed by Nepal’s silversmiths, who are descended from some sort of lengthy as well as unbroken ancestry of Buddhist artists who moved away from India just after the Muslim intrusion. Their unparalleled visualization plus poise is demonstrated even by respected Tibetan monasteries. Furthermore there is actually hardly any query that Tibetan handmade sterling silver jewelry artwork seems to have accessed a golden era, and Nepal is taking the way.

Growing demand from the west for original Tibetan sterling silver accessories seems to have generated a difficulty too; counterfeit Tibetan ornaments are being sold by some devious merchants to unsuspecting people. A metallurgical assessment done during the year 2007 revealed that the majority of the fraudulent Tibetan 925 sterling silver jewellery never comprise silver. Even worse, these kinds of products contained unhealthy lead compound which usually could provoke cancer. And also, the spiritual inscriptions and even designs on the ornaments weren’t pursuing spiritual motifs. It’s understandable that these types of fake silver jewellery does not provide healing optimistic energy, rather might result in illnesses. Plus the fact the preconception of money spent on an artificial products.

Be very informed of the following issues whilst shopping for Tibetan 925 silver jewelry:

• Authentic Tibetan silver jewellery is comprised of genuine silver. This means metallurgical test result should indicate 92.5 % silver detail. Generally if the silver content is found to be less than this proportion, it should not be considered as genuine Tibetan 925 silver jewellery. Oddly, a few dubious suppliers even promote their valuable silverwares to be 100 percent silver that is tough because real sterling silver cannot maintain solid form.
• Inspect the country with regards to source at the same time. Silver jewellery produced in Thailand, India along with Latin America is often labeled as Tibetan in order to excite fascination amid western consumers. Authentic Tibetan sterling silver seems to be almost especially a product of Nepal. Artisans of Nepal are hugely well-known ever since 6 hundred years as first-rate silver craftsmen. The monasteries in Tibet and even China constantly desired Nepal crafted 925 sterling silver jewelry, as well as the boastful heritage thrives on still today.
• Fake Tibetan silver jewellery is almost always seen to have high amounts of health harmful aspects like arsenic as well as lead. If ever those things are mistakenly inhaled or licked, it will cause illnesses such as neural disorders, high blood pressure, fertility complications, psychological retardation, muscle and joint problems, hearing difficulties, kidney failures, and so on. Subsequently, we encourage you to get Tibetan jewelry only from certified Nepali handicraft makers.
• Sterling silver can vary in hardihood with regards to the other alloy used for molding, but the color and sparkle has to remain the same original silvery white. Please don’t purchase silver jewelry if you see blemishes in shade as well as radiance.
• Genuine Tibetan silver jewellery consists of solid 925 silver metals. On the other hand, phony products happen to be plated or coated with silver on the surface. So, if you notice that surface is peeling away, that is not at all pure.
• Unlike gold (whose price is calculated by carats), 925 silver metal doesn’t have a standard technique regarding testing purity. Buy 925 sterling silver ornaments in accordance with their particular weight, figure, dimensions, finishing and pattern.
• Look for a seal of approval which declares 925 beneath the base of the jewellery. It is just a mark concerning the usage of 92.5 % silver.
• Some silversmiths coat the jewelry surface using Nickel to prevent muck showing up over the sterling silver. Like some folks, if you’re allergic towards Nickel, you should stay away from this sort of covered silver jewellery. Rather you can possibly opt those, which are covered using rhodium or even Lacquer.
• As mentioned previously well before, real Tibetan Sterling silver jewelry originated in Nepal during 6th century. Even today, Newar silversmiths in Nepal are saving the age-old skill claimed through their ideal reputation amidst Tibetan monasteries. That’s the reason; we recommend that you pick out ‘Made in Nepal’.

Tibet, also known as the roof of the world is located at the south-west part of China. In south it is bordered by India, Burma, Nepal and Bhutan, on the north by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region and Qinghai province while on the east Tibet is bordered by the province of Sichuan and Yunnan.

Situated in the north of Himalayas at an average altitude of 4,900 m Tibet is the highest region on the earth. Lhasa is its capital city and dominant religion found in Tibet is “Tibetan Buddhism”, though Muslims and Christians are found there in minority.

Tibet Tourism:

Nestled in the snow kissed peaks of Himalaya, Tibet is enriched with several tourist destinations. Besides snow-capped Himalayas it is blessed with a number of beautiful holy lakes, lush prairies, many important religious places, palaces and monasteries etc.

Top Tibet Tourist Attractions: The top tourist attractions of Tibet tourism can be listed as:

The Potala Palace: The world renowned Potala Palace is located in the west of old Lhasa on Moburi (Red) mountain. With 170 meter of majestic height it is the greatest monumental structure in Tibet. The palace is primarily known for its wonderful structure, magnificent mural painting, rich carvings, Buddha figures and precious jewelry and antiques.

Mount Everest: Mount Everest is one of the world’s renowned attractions, which is also the highest peak on the earth as well with 8848 meter of height. Its snow-capped peak creates a magical site that steals the heart of every visitor. It also provides an ideal location for trekking and mountaineering.

Jokhang Monastery (Temple): Your Tibet tour remains incomplete without visiting the Jokhang Monastery. Located in the center of old Lhasa the monastery was built in 647 AD. The architecture and the murals of the monastery are excellent. The frescoes of Jokhang monastery is spread over an area of 4,400 sq m.

Nam-tso Lake: Namtso lake also called Namco lake is located around 260 km from Lhasa in Nagqu Prefecture. Namtso is a Tibetan word which means ‘holy’. It is the second largest salt lake of China that covers the total area of 1,900 sq km. Situated at an altitude of 4,718 m it is also the highest altitude salt lake in the world.

Mt Kailash Mansarovar: Mt Kailash is one of the most visited pilgrimages and peaks in the Himalayan mountains. It is located in the western Tibetan hills of Himalaya with charismatic height of 6,714 m. It is considered as an abode of Hindu Lord Shiva and his consort goddess Parvati.

At 20 km south-west of Mt Kailash Lake Mansarovar is the highest fresh water lake in the world, located at an altitude of 4,588 m. With its divine beauty of crystal blue water it creates the breathtaking surroundings in the foothills of Mt Kailash.

DAY FOUR: FINDING THE LAMA HOTEL

Our night visitor was back the next day and once again imploring me to take a walk with him and help in some manner. I couldn’t refuse his pleas and besides I was stone out of my mind and paranoid. Whew. What a relief.

It seem that the whole village had gathered in the room of the farm house where I was lead to see the poor woman who indeed had a nasty gash in her head.

I asked how it had happened and they told me they throw stones at a barking dog. Seemed reasonable enough, but what a tragic result.

No soon had I look at the wound (what the hell was I doing here?) and turned to give my same advise,…. that it happened. Almost on cue, as is orchestrated and choreographed by a great directed,….. the man who had taken me to the poor women looked me in the eye and said: “We need money to go to hospital in Kathmandu. Can you help?” Simultaneously every doe eyed, tearful, and desperate looking villager looked at me in concert. I was alone in this small room as everyone waited for my reply.

Was I on the spot??? This seemed a little too well timed, so I used a time honored excuse,…”Let me ask my wife.” Although Kirsten and I were not married, for simplicity we pretended to be when traveling in traditional cultures. It saved a lot of explaining and made them feel better.

The entire village followed me back to the tea house. Rob & Julie had already come down to join Kirsten and I for breakfast. I must have looked like quite a site arriving with the entire village at my elbow.

We made a little conference. Rob rationalized that even if it was a scam you could in good conscience not help out. It was possible that that woman really need emergency care and we were her only hope. As an experienced Asian traveler, I took a harder line, but in the end relented. Everything seemed a bit suspicious.

In the end we decided to help. I asked what they needed and they told me 400 Rupees. This amount was about $8. at the time. I was shocked. I was expecting a very high figure and realized that the economic disparity between us and villagers was vast. It was a humbling experience. I only hoped that this small amount would really be used for the injured lady.

A heavy breakfast was enjoyed of Tibetan bread which is like as very dense pancake. Ordinarily that dense of food would give me wicked indigestion, but with 6 hours of hiking ahead it would all be burned up for fuel.

We saddled up with our back packs and bid farewell to our hosts and the dramatic events of that village. The ridge was a great choice as the views were outstanding.

As I stuffed my things into the backpack a young village boy stuck his head in to watch. I was compelled to take a picture looking at his silhouette in the doorway. He invibbed the village watching silently, an aura of innocence and curiosity with his hat and smock on. I didn’t have much in the way of gifts, but gave him a stick of Nag Champa incense to reward him for the photo.

Standing behind in the road his father jumped up for a gift also. In these telling moments you begin to grasp the poverty of such a village. It’s not that they are suffering from it. It’s just the stark realization that they have nothing extra, not even a stick of incense. In times like this your realize what you have and what you don’t need.

We were going to try to make it down through Chongong Village to pick up the main trail and then up the mountain valley to a guest house called Lama Hotel to spend the night.

Lama Hotel was a famous stopping point and naturally the name held some fascination. It was a long walk, but we could make it by dark if we moved steadily. Also, on these treks you don’t stop for lunch. There’s no time really. The big breakfast is meant to last you until dinner.

One of the facts of life in these villages is that meals are all made on a one burner propane stove. They are simple and they take about two hours to make. There is no one cooking in the midday. It is not their tradition. The most you can get is tea and some bland biscuits when you take a break at a tea house.

Also, you can only hike about six hours a day so you have to make the most of it. As it is, at that high elevation it is bitter cold in the mornings and evenings. On the ridge, we had plenty of light, but the rest of the journey would be along the Langtang Khole (river) and in the valley you can only hike between 10 AM and 4 PM. After that the sun is behind the mountain.

The Himalayan Villages are connected by paths that are the equivalent to roads in the Kathmandu valley. Everything is traveling on those roads. Goods and supplies are hauled by men and women who hold enormous woven reed baskets on their back with a strap to their forehead. It looks uncomfortable and yet they have smiling eyes and greet you cheerfully with “Namaste” when you pass.

Namaste is the traditional greeting of Nepal and translates to mean: “I salute the God within you.” It is all said with hands in prayer position and a slight bow. What a wonderful tradition. I enjoyed greeting people like this very much. It was a great cultural traditions.

Another feature of these Himalayan highways were the unbelievable quantity and variety of animal excretions (a nice way of saying shit). Oh well, I tried. My God, it was a challenge to walk on the paths between the Yaks, Cows, Dzo (half yak & cow), horses, sheep, goats, and unknown do-do makers littering the path. Sorry to ruin the romance, but really this is what a Himalayan trek is like! Better that I tell you now before you find out at the beginning of a month long trek in the Himalayan mountains!

Small obstacles aside, the trek was unfolding into a wonderland of delight. The were rows of Mani stones with carved mantras on them marking different holy sites. These stones were carved as gesture to the Gods to gain merit for a future rebirth.

I don’t know if the God’s were impressed, but for me the added a magic that was immeasurable. Imagine, every trail adorned with ancient art to bring you to higher consciousness. It kinda made up for all the do-do. Also, it was a perfect illustration of the balance of all things. Such beauty along side of it’s opposite.

The trail was by no means tame. Sometimes the path narrowed with sharp inclines and other times narrow rope & plank bridges crossed deep valleys. It took some steady nerves at times. Rule number one: Don’t look down! The vegetation was lush with unusual flora and fauna.

Various small no name villages were scattered along the way. Many of these were primitive tea house for travelers to take a break. At midday we stopped at one of these to have some Chia (milk-spice-tea) and simple sweet biscuits. The ridge trail we had chosen was so rarely traveled that a foreigner was too much temptation.

We weren’t so sure about the whole rock episode the night before. Was it for real or a scam? Now comes the tea episode.

It typically takes about 10 minutes to make Chai. In a sad rude gesture the man at the tea house decided to delay the tea and send his son out to beg for one rupee during the entire time we waited.

It’s frustrating sometimes. You have sympathy for the poverty in Nepal and disdain for the manipulation and tricks that are often used just to milk alittle more money out of you. The problem is you have to go through alittle soul searching with each event to try and figure out if it’s a real need or a scam and you know,….. it’s impossible to know.

Onward and upward. We left the teahouse with a bad taste in out mouths. Teahouses are generally sanctuaries of peace and shelter. This one was just an emotional drain. Ah, more fodder for practice of Buddhist non-attachment. Not all of the Himalayas is a Tibetan fantasy. Sometimes reality intrudes.

At one point, we were crossing an entire mountain of marijuana plants. I was stunned. There was a billion dollar crop growing wild without inspiring any harvest. Things were different up here.

Another big surprise as we hiked out of the Sherpa tribal area and into the Tamang Tribe were the difference in dress. The Tamang shepherds wore a red turban like head dress and a thick wool lungi (wrap for pants) with a red sash and long machete.

The first time we came across one of these sheep herders rounding a a switch back tail I was shocked. One look at that long machete in his belt and I thought: “Oh no! We’re Dead!” With almost perfect delivery of comic relief the Tamang man asks: “You want hashish?”

Oh my God, what a relief I felt. I thanked him and said no. My last foray into getting high had unexpected results and I didn’t feel a need to liven up my evenings any more.

He moved on down the trail with a dozen or so sheep. As we encountered more people here and there it became evident that selling hashish was lively cottage industries for the locals. A lot of trekkers like to mellow out this way on a long hike.

It was also legal in Kathmandu until 1975 and there were many hashish and ganja (marijuana) shops in an area of town called “Freak Street”. (You can guess how it got it’s name.)

Eventually, we got to the main trail in a place called Chongong. One lone Guest House was at the junction with quite noble Tibetan family. The friendly host offered us lodging, but we had been eager to stay in the Lama Hotel not far ahead. He shrugged his shoulders and pointed the direction. He had a simple resolve of mountain nobility or Buddhist acceptance. I’m not sure which.

We arrived in a narrow valley by a stream to discover a dozen small rock and log shacks with various homemade signs saying: “Lama Hotel”. Apparently word had gotten out and in typical Asian style everybody had cooped the same name.

With alittle scouting we settled for the Lama Hotel that had a pot bellied stove. As we had gained altitude the nights had decreased in temperature. What was bitter cold before was now decidedly frigid!

Everything seemed to be going well. We made it to a decent lodge with a warm fire. Our nourishing meal of Dhal Bhat was heartily consumed and we were now surrounded with interesting fellow travelers from all over the world.

While listening to stories and adventures around the wood plank table near the warm hearth it hit me with a great suddenness. A sharp cramp gripped my abdomen. It was like getting punched in the stomach.

I gingerly started to stand weak from the wrenching in my gut. Oh my God, I needed to get to a toilet and in a hurry!

Unfortunately, the Himalayan adventure does not end with the daily hike. There is always the challenge of the toilet. It is a concept that Western travelers have taken for granted and that many Himalayan villages have never heard of.

For example, we were passing through one village and asked for a toilet. The man we ask kept pointing over there,…. the only problem is that there was nothing “over there”. Eventually we figured it out. People just went in the field. More or less in plain view. This prompted an immediate lifestyle change for my traveling companion Kirsten. She adopted a long skirt for attire and privacy from then on.

All of the Tibetan women wore long skirts and thus afforded a certain amount of privacy when doing their duty. Naturally building a separate little smelly structure had never been necessary for toilet.

On the other extreme some industrious villagers had built a toilet just for westerners to us at the price of 5 Rupees. The price wasn’t the problem. It was the view. The toilet was built overhanging a thousand foot drop on the side of a cliff, in order not to have to clean up the mess. This might sound exciting if you are imagining something built in the west, but in the Himalayas carpenters did not have to build to code. Hence these little hanging out houses felt as if could at any moment become airborne.

Now back to my predicament. First I was in an extreme hurry without a moment to spare to get my bearings. Second it was pitch black and snowing outside and my flashlight had no batteries. Third the was only one outhouse for the whole village around Lama Hotel and it was some distance away. If that were not enough, there was the fact that no one maintained this little shit shack and it has long since deteriorated into something that I won’t describe here.

In a moment of luck Rob was coming in as I was exiting the guesthouse and I tensely asked to borrow his flashlight. He also pointed me in the direction of the outhouse with and odd grimace on his face of dark resolve. I expected the worst and was not disappointed.

To my utter horror, I did not make it to the out house at all. My GI track fired away mercilessly and left my long underwear coated with warm mud. This was a moment of desperation and my survivor mind just had to deal with it.

I went to the stream slightly downhill from the outhouse and took off my clothes in the frigid icy wind. There in the dark with the flashlight in my mouth I pealed away the disgusting mess while shivering violently.

To complicate my problem I had to perch on a rock out in the stream as I still having a bad case of the runs. It was here while trying to wash my long underwear in the dark naked in the cold Himalayan night that on a rock that the fun escalated even further.

Everything I had, my money, my passport and my clothes were hastily strew around a disgusting outhouse in the dark as I had run for the stream in desperation. Now as fait would have it a group of people with flashlights were headed my way.

God what could be worse. Being discovered naked on a rock in a stream during a snowstorm at night or losing all my worldly possession on a turdy bank near an outhouse. I was time for action. I leaped off the rock and hastily tried to reassemble my belongings.

My mind goes blank at this point. I remember only later sitting by the fire and drying off my stream washed long underwear. It was a blazing fire, but still inadequate to keep out the nights frigid winds.

The guess house owner filled our canteens with hot water that we used for bed warmers in the night. I slept the deep exhausted sleep of a survivor and put the night events behind me. It’s all just a dream within a dream as the philosophers say. A dream. Just a dream,……

Look for day five, coming soon!