Back up to the monastery on the way to the high meadows or somewhere. But at the monastery (Goma) the monks are in prayer so we tiptoe to the door only to be asked in good English - please come in. We are still respectful of the monks and stand in the background as they are led in prayer - by amplified voice. At the top of the raised platform on the right side sits the young lama incarnate.
It’s cold in the prayer room and I only have on the merino and and shirt. The monks in prayer sit cocooned in a well insulated wrap. A young monk (30-40yrs old) moves in and out with hot tea for the ‘monks in prayer’ and then offers us a mat to sit on.
Prayers flow one to another and two monks prepare horns. The next phase sees horns, symbols, bells and a large drum used but now I’m cold and motion to Brandi that I have to go out into the sun to warm up, and to take a pee.
Our hostess has said go horizontal from the Goma and take the split upwards - mmmm. We find a cattle track that divides and go up and follow this. I have seen from below a promontory / prow that would be a good vantage point, but the track leads us below it and this we follow.
One pack only - we are light on clothing - for me shorts, merino, orange Macpac and wind/rain jacket. Brandi much the same
We pass a couple yaks being watched over by an old Sherpani. In the distance the valley flattens out and some paddocks can be seen - low stone walls form perhaps a dozen paddocks and we discover two stone houses - one with the fresh smell of woodsmoke.
Where to have lunch? - well it’s a bar and drink at least (lunch will come later on return to the lodge) We move on with a cold wind at our back seeking shelter - ahead a bunch of large rocks - got to be a spot there somewhere and yes we do find a spot.
All clothes on. Just a couple hundred meters ahead more paddocks and 10 or so summer ‘cottages’ for the year herders - unoccupied at this time.
This summer feeding ground is surrounded by peaks over 6,000meters (19,600ft) but today they are obscured by clouds and lightly falling snow.
Our visit is short and we turn back into the wind. “Lets descend to the river for a alternative way home - there is bound to be a yak trek or two”. Indeed there is but soon we are pinched out by the rivers as it tightens against a bluff - a simple hop, skip and jump and we are across - knowing that we will need to re-cross somewhere.
It’s easy riverbed going but eventually we are forced out of the river and up, and then we climb back down again (steeply) for the last kms to home.
It’s been a bird day - 3 big birds on the wing soaring around us riding the wind - vultures - sorry no meal here.
Large colourful pheasants are spooked from their feeding grounds and fly / soar really to escape. No riding the wind for these ground dwellers. Probably spook a dozen or so during he day.
Back at the Valley View Lodge we spend a pleasant hour playing with Chanidka Rai - a 7 yr old Nepalise girl in the household - skipping rope and drawing.
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