A New Trail

From our small airplane window we spotted Everest in the distance. It is amazing what airplanes can do. In only half and hour we were landing in the city life of Kathmandu where as it had taken a solid 12 hours of bumping over treacherous mountain roads to get to Jiri about a week before. The trek was beyond words. Not just for the mountain sights that rewarded us after intense elevation climbs, but for the nourishment it gave us physically, mentally, and spiritually.
The highlight came on the third day. We had reached the small village of Junbesi the night before and set off early in the morning to hike to the back of the valley where we reached the monastery, Thupten Choling. This closed monastery not only houses 500 nuns and monks, but many Tibetan refugees as well. We were honored to enter this sanctuary - greeted by a third generation doctor of the Dalai Lama. As we sipped tea and listed to a quick explanation of traditional Tibetan medicine snow began to fall. As we headed up to the main monastery for more tea, lunch, and a small blessing thunder echoed through the Himals. By the time we left, in utter awe, the previously sunny trail had been transformed into a peaceful and still wonderland that much reflected my inner state of being.