Charlotte goes to Nepal

[Originally posted Nov 18, 2014]

Namaste touring tandem fans.  This is Charlotte, Clayton's mother for those who don't know me.  I am sitting in my hotel room in Kathmandu, soon to fly home to Salt Lake City, Utah.  It has been my pleasure to be with Clayton, Katy, and daughter Elizabeth for the past 10 days here in Nepal.

I want to give a huge thank you to Katy, and particularly Clayton for doing a superb job in executing a once in a lifetime trek into the Lang Tang National Park in the Himalaya region of Nepal for us. Clayton is such a great travel host!  We wasted no time from the moment we arrived. Every day was so fun and enjoyable .  We trekked for 7 days, which meant sleeping 6 nights in very interesting "tea houses," a commonly used term by Trekkers, yet called guesthouses by the Nepalis.  Bedrooms invariably come free of charge as long as one is willing to purchase dinner and or breakfast from the host Nepali mom who showers her warmth and generosity upon you.  Clayton was our guide, and in my case for one of my particularly arduous days, my porter.  Thank you Clayton for being so strong, so capable, so fun, and helping me more fully appreciate the constantly evolving great soul you have!

While on our trek talking with the people, eating their food, sitting around their warm wood burning stoves in their "family room" and taking in their majestic mountain views has to be on the top of my list of most memorable travel experiences.  Meeting other Trekkers, like the German boys, the French women, the darling young girl from Latvia, and the dozens and dozens of Nepali porters (strong, young, handsome, friendly boys) all add to the richness of the trekking experience.  And I must also mention the suspension bridges that help us easily cross roaring rivers with the biggest boulders in the river bottom that I have ever seen in my life.  Also, the mule trains loaded up with bags of rice, lentils, curry, cocoa cola, you name it, that are driven up and down the trail daily by a little Nepali walking along in crocs!  Namaste is the greeting everyone on the trail shares!  It always brings eye contact and a smile to passerbys.

So much to take in!  Life can be so different for others, yet curiously we are all the same.  All children of a great Creator who has given us life, and the opportunity to experience, grow, learn how to love and appreciate all things, and give a little more of ourselves to others wherever life may take us.

I am deeply grateful for this rich and rewarding experience.  My life has been "elevated."  I only pray that I can justly give thanks and give back.  Namaste.   Charlotte

7 hour Jeep ride to Syabrubesi. Thanks to George and Charlotte for sponsoring this trip. Otherwise we would have been on the bus ride to hell.

Off to the Mountains.

Our Porter basking in the sun. Don't worry he didn't have to carry them the whole time.

We saw huge monkey sized monkeys.

Typical trekking store. If you ever get a chance, ask Charlotte how much she enjoyed her Orange Fanta on the trail.

The Mouse House. The last tea house we stayed at on the trek. A mouse ran across Katy's head in the night. Lovely dear.

Steep steps. Up up up then down down down.

Mooooooo

Crossed many suspension bridges with prayer flags. Imagine if this was your daily commute.

On our way. No time to waste with Clayton as our guide.

Oat-bag. Get your oat-bag. These mules weren't the only ones working up an appetite.

Dal Bhat. Traditional Nepali meal.

Tea house break in the town of Bamboo.

Chorten

Prayer wheel. Clockwise please.

Tsergo Ri - standing at 16,450 feet, where did the air go?

Mountains and Prayers - must be close to Tibet.

Jump for Joy.

Stupa.

Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum - the Tibetan Buddhism Mantra, best sung over and over and over.  And over.

About Tibetan prayer flags:

Om (White) - generosity, less pride and ego

Ma (Green) - ethics, less jealousy

Ni (yellow) - patience, less passion and desire

Pad (Blue) - diligence, less ignorance and prejudice

Me (Red) - renunciation, less greed and posessiveness

Hum (Black) - wisdom, less aggression and hatred

Best sung as a mantra: On Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, On Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, On Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, On Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, On Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, On Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, On Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, On Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, On Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, On Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum.

Nepal is one groovy place.