Lama Blessing for Safe Journey
April 6 – Time to move again! Goodbye to our warm hosts in Doboche, and onward to Pheriche! Our journey took us up and over a 14K+ ridge, taking time to capture pictures around every corner. This being my 3rd time through this route, you would think I had enough pictures. You would think, but you would be wrong! It is new each time and I would come back a million times. Casey, and Climbing The Seven Summits, has taken us off the beaten path to experience less known monasteries, remarkable lodges (close friends of Casey, Narin, Pem Churri and Sumon), and other special gems I have not seen before.
We were lucky to see a family of Himalayan Thar (mountain goat) so close. I like to think they were welcoming us along our journey and giving us their blessing to pass (at least that is what daddy Thar told me). Soon after, we wound our way through a small villages accompanied by 3 adorable and fluffy town dogs. Narin motioned for us to come up to a house, after speaking with the owners. Small doorways, we ducked under the doorframes and through thick blanket doors into a large sitting room. The walls were covered, I mean COVERED, with pictures of climbers. We were sitting in the home of the new Lama for the valley, Ghapyang Malani. What an honor to be a part of a Pouja, just for us, granting a safe journey. Malani chanted for quite some time and went through a ritual with a drum, bell, water and rice. We were silent, taking in the ritual and accepting all the good karma given. We then went up one at a time, where Malani placed a pinch of some seed blend, motioned for us to eat it (tasted of twigs and sticks to the teeth. Still no clue what that was), then placed a sash around our necks.
Yes, I once again put another unknown strange substance into my mouth and ate it. If it means BLESSINGS FOR A SAFE JOURNEY, I will eat it! After this extraordinary experience, we were ready to get to our next home for the next 2 nights.
We had another couple hour traverse and decent into Pheriche. We arrived at The Edelweiss Lodge, name after the high alpine flower that grows through the region. We ate AGAIN, and I went to bed earlier than normal. I had a scratchy throat and felt sinus pressure building. Is it from 2 days of hiking in dust, or am I getting a cold? Either way, no Khumbu Valley Social Club for me tonight. Looking forward to my -20 F sleeping bag and some decongestant.
*Please be patient if misspellings occur. I AM dyslexic and have little time to edit. dhanyabaad
About the author : Kim
