Nepal – Day 6 – The Monastery & Volleyball

Today we woke up to an absolutely glorious day. When I woke, I tried to stay cuddled under the blankets to stay warm as breakfast was still a ways off. After a few minutes I went ahead and got up, looked out the window and wow what a view. Everest and Lhotse were there in full blume and the sun was really shining. I hustled to get dressed then went down stairs to go out and grab a few pictures. The views were amazing and even a professional photographer can’t do them justice (I am just a put the camera on autofocus and point there and hope what I see is what the camera sees, true amatuer). As I walked around the community, there were views behind us as well ahead. Even to one side that had a mountainside close had a high peak showing over the top. What a day to be alive in God’s world.

After a nice breakfast of porridge, egg and toast. It was time to relax for a bit. About mid-morning, the young adults, guides and porters started a volleyball game. It was quite a spectacle as everyone walking the trail stopped at the gate and watched and the construction workers slowed down their work to watch. The game was with an imaginary net, let’s just say the net and the rules were loose. The girl’s team won most of the games, so there will be a little trash talk in the coming days. These volleyball games were just a fun part of a very relaxing morning.

After lunch we hiked back up to Tengboche to view a prayer session at the Buddhist monastery located there. While I appreciate others religions and their cultures, honestly, I found the prayer service very depressing. The monks chanted prayers, not in sync, then they would blow different horns, just making noise. It seemed the service was for show, after a large group left, they just kind of got up and pointed to he door. The temple was ornate inside, very austere outside

By the way, that is Buddha’s footprint where he landed at this monastery as he was flying around and landed there.

As we get higher, the teahouses are simpler, it is only going to be the bedding that keep you warm from body heat, tomorrow night we break out the high rated sleeping bags to stay snug. Life is good, but testing.

John 14:6

continue to day 7