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The Chicken Truck

Chickens Riding to Market – Satay on the Way

“Wayan. Look at that chicken truck.  Those guys are probably really ready to have their lives end.  If they knew where they are going and that this is the last day of this life, they would probably be happy.  Look at them. Stuffed into cages 8” high, one cage per level, 100 chickens per level, 12 levels high on the back of a pick up truck.  Chicken soup by morning.  What will they be next life?  What could they have learned this life that could kick them up a level in karmic evolution?  Hatched, left in cages, fed hormones for 28 days and voila!  Ready for the pot…  Eat, grow, get eaten.  Will they be dogs next time?  Not likely.  If they could talk to each other they’d be saying,’Whew, thank god this one is over.  Better luck next time, sister.’“ Continue reading The Chicken Truck

Nature Takes Time, Poon Hill

Sunrise Poon Hill

It takes time to sink into nature, rather let nature sink into me, I have found the fourth day is usually a turning point from letting go of normal life and allowing nature to do its magic.  On this Poon Hill Nepal Trek, day three I found myself stopping along the trail to just gaze at the forest and rocky streams. I felt an easy smile of pleasure spread across my face more and more often from the joyful pleasure of simply being in the Himalayas again. Continue reading Nature Takes Time, Poon Hill

The Accomplishment

Monastery & Prayer Flags

I’ve written about the challenge, the discomfort, and the fear. I think you feel the pain and the dirt but you aren’t fully with me in Mustang yet.  There is a space of exultation to which I want to take you.  Pain, dirt, and gale force winds are a simple counter-balance to the often overwhelming feeling of joy and freedom I knew each day, all day. Continue reading The Accomplishment

The Hardest Day

Highest Pass at Almost 14,000 Ft.

Everyday we were hammered by the unrelenting afternoon winds that tore through the valleys and up through the passes, gaining strength the higher we climbed.  The ragged 40 mph winds pushed us roughly from behind the first few days with blasts up to 70 mph.  They pushed, but with an uneven hand, throwing us off the narrow trails every dozen yards. Picked up by the wicked winds, the sand and dust were joined by small stones as we neared the tops of many passes. More than once we had to hold onto each other to keep moving up the scree covered trail to the pass. Continue reading The Hardest Day

The Trek, Kathmandu Arrival

Kathmandu. Pilgrims, tourists and hawkers at grand stupa

Arriving in Kathmandu, Nepal seems a good starting point to write about The Trek.  It’s where almost Himalayan treks begin.  It’s a transition point of realities.  The reality of the “West” to the reality of a developing Asian capital city, and onto the Himalayan mountain reality. Truth and illusion blur when realities are stacked so close together. From the orderliness of the West, to Nepal’s deep poverty and a booming economy living side by side with its pollution, crowds, chaos, dirt, traffic, noise, poverty, and misplaced people, to the beauty, serenity and mysticism of the mountains. Continue reading The Trek, Kathmandu Arrival

The Trek Vision

Last Pass with Farewell Scarves

Long before I left home for this trek I gave considerable thought to what I wanted to create as far as the atmosphere of the trek. I wanted the trek to be an extraordinary experience for everyone from porters to clients.  My vision was for peace, equanimity, and inclusion, as well as bringing about a deep sense of brotherhood for all.  I’ve spent enough years traveling (and living) in the East to know how difficult it is to achieve a sense of equality and brotherhood in traditional, hierarchical societies.  There are complex boundaries that nearly forbid such relationships.  I told Hem and John of my vision and held it deeply in my thoughts throughout the trek. It is nothing that can be made to happen, but intention has power.

Celebration Dinner - Last Night of Trek w/Guides, Cooks & Mule Guys

David

 

 

The Kingdom of Mustang: Authenticity Reigns

Mustang Village

My first and lasting joy of the trek is experiencing the utter authenticity of life in Mustang. Each of the hundreds of miles of stone walls was built by hand over the centuries. Some Mani Walls are a thousand year old, each stone making up the wall was hand carved with inscriptions and prayers to be sent to the heavens by the winds through time. Every home and monastery is hand built with rock, adobe, and wood. They are being built today the same way. I never saw or heard a television or radio. Electricity came from solar panels in a few houses and guest houses. It was used sparingly, usually with no lights allowed until 6:45 or 7:00 pm, and then only one ten watt light per room. People mostly cooked with dried dung or very limited local firewood. We were above 12,500 ft where few trees grow. Continue reading The Kingdom of Mustang: Authenticity Reigns

The Return, Bangkok Restaurant

“The Return” to the real world is a masala, a mix of exotic spices.  It’s the here and now of Bangkok with dreams and memories of Mustang with its clean air, no electronics, blue sky, star filled nights right down to the horizon, being challenged every day to the depths of my soul and the limits of my body, the endless beauty, and a surprisingly long lasting state of joy: this was my Mustang world. I found more of who I am while trekking through these mountains with those sweet people and their beautiful culture. Continue reading The Return, Bangkok Restaurant

Travel and You Will Grow?

Kathmandu, Nepal. Meditating yogi in front of temple

I used to say, “Just travel, you will grow. It will change you.  It’s the best education on Earth.” I wonder now.  There is  definitely something to be said for simply getting out of your routine, but accomplishing that can be as simple as putting your left leg in your pants first instead of your right. Continue reading Travel and You Will Grow?