Nepal is known for its mountainous Himalayas.
• May 18, 2006, Nepal was declared a secular state
• Dec 28, 2007, the parliament passed a bill declaring Nepal to be a federal democratic republic
• King Gyanendra was the last King
In April of this year, elections were held and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) won.
The new President of Nepal is Ram Baran Yadav
Eight of the ten highest mountains in the world, including Mt. Everest, lies in Nepal.
Geology and Languages spoken in Nepal
28 million people live in Nepal
81% practice Hinduism
Neolithic tools found indicate thatPeople have been living in the mtsFor at least 9000 years
Their flag is not quadrilateral in shape, it is five sided.
This tourist area is known as Thamel, in the capital of Kathmandu
Pre-arranged a visit with Devendra Man and Wife Drinyka Shakya, deaf owners of Hotel Metropolitan Kantipur
After letting us in, we were greeted inside an open garden-style Courtyard.
Devendra greeted us warmly with open arms ! This front entrance is built entirely of wood. Beautiful !!
The best rooms in his hotelare upstairs with an open largebalcony with a view of Kathmandu Valley.
Vicki, Drinyka, Devendra, and deaf waiter enjoyed an evening meal at the Bakery Café.
A social dinner gathering at their home with a deaf Italian whowas also staying in the area.
Impressive Buddhism Monastery
A large spinning prayer wheel !
Bodhnath Stupa
Stupas are built to houseHoly relics or to commemorateAn event or place, with aStructure that symbolizesBuddhist beliefs
It is believed that there is aPiece of bone inside that onceBelonged to Gautama Buddha
The structure takes on symbolism of:The earth, the air, fire, water, and ether.
Source: travel books
The watchful eyes glaze out in four directions.There is a third eye above the pair of eyes.It is not a ‘nose’, but a symbol representing “oneness”.
Bhaktapur, a medieval city
A five tiered pagoda
Cattles are sacred in Nepal.
• Our two-night visit at Kathmandu was a short one, but well worth it !
• Royal Mountain Travel ITS Driver and Guide picked us up around 7 a.m. and drove to the border town of Kodari, where a very complicated process of paperwork was involved to get into China
• Friendship Highway is mostly a gravel/dirt winding road. (until you get to Tingri)
• We saw pieces of heavy tree trunks, barrels, and even boards filled with nails lying on the road to make it harder for the vehicles to maneuver.
Guide Jigme Driver Pembo
14-day Tibet Overlandwith Everest Base Camp
• Tailor-made to our particular interests and time constraints
• Arranged by Royal Mountain ITS Agency
• With the assistance of Catherine Spence of the Tibetan Expeditions/Shigatse Travels
• Website: www.tibetanexpeditions.com
Growing crops in the mountainsCan be challenging !
Taking the road less traveled .
Farewell Nepal !!
Tibet
Tibet is
Homeland
to approx
3 million
Tibetans
and Chinese.
All visitors must have travel permits.
Best option is toarrange a tour with an agencyIn Lhasa.
Zhangmu, first town after crossing the border
The Friendship Highwaybetween Kathmanduand Lhasa
Road Construction Ahead !
Nyalam Guest House
Rooms were in the backof the courtyard.
A little daze and dizzy !Due to 11,000 ft altitude!It is also cold, no heat !!I am ready for some hot tea !
No caption is necessary,you know what this is ??
Pony Cart
Acclimatization Day – a hike to Tara Lake, but some four hourslater, the clouds came and we had to turn back !
Is this high altitude getting to you ?
A refuge for Barry till Vicki and Guide Jigme get back. The Sun was bright and shining, not for long.
This is as far as we could go ! High Altitude and Approaching Clouds forced us to return back.
Nyalam, Tibet
Everest Snowleopard HotelAt Lao Tingri
Buddhism Monks at the Tashilumpo Monastery in Shigatse
Tashilumpo Monasteryis the seat of thePanchen Lama Sect, which is the second leading religious group.
Potala Palace, awesome palace with over 1000 rooms,dates from the 17th century; formerly the chief residence of the
Dalai Lama, Now a Museum
14th Dalai Lama, Spiritual Leader of the Tibetans,
Now exile inDharamsala, India
One of the
Statues
In the
Buddhism
Temple
PermissionWith a smallFee is oftenRequestedWhen takingA picture.Photo Credit: Ron Hirano
The Jokhang is
Tibet’s most
reverenced site.
pilgrims bow and
pray on the
flagstones just
outside the
temple doors.Photo Credit: Ron Hirano
Photo Credit: Ron Hirano
The Jokhang Temple in Lhasa
The Drak Yerpa CavesBuilt on a hillside with more than 80 meditation caves
Vicki’s new friend !
Ganden Monastery located at the top of Wangbur Mountain
• Little fuel is available for heat or lighting, so flat roofs are built to conserve heat, and multiple windows are constructed to let in sunlight.
Monks debating under trees, common sight at Sera Monastery
Tibet at a Glance:• Historically remained in isolation till
Chinese occupation in 1950-1951
• Age of air and train travel has only recently opened to foreign visitors
• Average elevation is around 13,000 feet (4,000 m)
• Wettest month is July – average of 25 mm
• Economy predominantly in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
The outskirts of Lhasa
Flags on bridges, the hills, and homes to infuse the wind with prayers and peace.
Photo Credit: Ron Hirano
Photo Credit: Ron Hirano
Stalls selling things alongthe pilgrimage route.
The School for the Deaf is just down the road !!!!
Tibetan Folk Music and Show
Photo Credit: Ron Hirano
Here is Fred trying out the Tibetan Dance !!!
Tibetan Deaf Association Sewing Workshop on the Fourth Floor
Photo Credit: Ron Hirano
Our room at the Yak Hotel, Lhasa, Tibet
Colorful ceiling in our hotel room
• The most important crop in Tibet is barley, and dough made from barley flour called tsampa,
• It is rolled into noodles or made into steamed dumplings called momos.
• Meat dishes are likely to be yak, goat, or mutton, often dried, or cooked into a spicy stew with potatoes.
• Yak yoghurt, butter and cheese are frequently eaten.
• Butter tea is a very popular drink and many Tibetans drink up to 100 cups a day
What do you think this is ?
The new Qingzang-Tibet Railway Station, opened in July 2006
48 hours Train Tripfrom Lhasa to Beijing
• Four sleeping berths, of which we shared with two others
• Two nights• Dining Car was next to our car• Climbed to 5,072 meters above sea level,
world’s highest rail track; breathtaking scenery in Tibet
• Cross 675 bridges, more than half is laid on permafrost
• Approx $ 150 per person for a soft sleeper