Shambhala Mountain Resort Sikkim

... večer v jeho přijímacím pokoji pod střechou staré dvoupatrové budovy. Bylo tam několik lavic, oltář s dary a jeho místečko. Pan Yongda seděl několik metrů před námi, stále něco přerovnával, désť bubnoval do plechové střechy a tak jsme při světle svíčky (vypla elektřina) a za zvuku bouřky poslouchali jeho povídání a odpovědi na otázky. To, co bylo řečeno, bylo víc nez zajímav ...

... e bassa che pareva per un bambino, e da alcuni sgabelli alla rinfusa per gli ospiti. La stanza subito a destra, invece, era un vero e proprio templio con un altare carico di statue sacre, immagini, oggetti di culto misteriosi. Come nei templi buddisti tibetani, le due file di panche basse e larghe, con sopra un materasso per stare comodi a gambe incrociate, ed i tavolinetti, erano disposte perpendicolarmente sui due lati dell'altare, l'una dirimpetto all ...

... stop. Given that it was a 5-6 hour hike she could have been in trouble. Starting out on a very slippery path we descended for over two and a half hours which was tough on the toes and knees. Reaching a river we started on an upward hike of over 2 hours. A mix of up and down would be much better for the energy and will but all you can do is follow the trail. At this stage Maria was flagging a little after her illness but having gone this far there was no turning ...

... up" view of Mt Kanchengdzonga.(3rd highest peak in the world, Check it out on Googel Earth). Joining us on the trek is a guide, the finest yak in Sikkim and our very own chef. After the Trek is the inaugural International Flora Show back in the capital, Gangtok. (450 species of Orchids!) and maybe a smaller trek on a glacier in the north closer to Tibet. okay, be back in 9 days. ciaociao.

... coming back down. That paragraph was basically for Dad and other data lovers. I have no doubt that many of you, Mom included, will probably breeze through that without really caring about the exact numbers, and good on you. That was a feeling I had, too, in these mountains, especially when we would be at viewpoints and people would be arguing about which peak is named what. The mountains don't care what we call them or in what scale we measure them. They just exist, and they ...

... us for having reached this place successfully. It was time for dinner soon. The porters had prepared some delicious khichdi (rice cooked with dal and spices). It was time to sleep now. Here comes an interesting piece of history of Bakhim. We were told by a tour operator in Gangtok few days later that we should not have stayed at Bakhim. The place was haunted he said. It seems few years back all members of a german expedition including the porters were killed in an avalanche when they ...

... hand, so I was fine on corners either way. And I again was the local entertainment - they'd never seen a foreigner on top of a jeep before. Literally, everyone we passed stopped what they were doing and stared drop jawed. The road wasn't bad. It was about like the farm road, but paved, which was good as the few bumps were a bit scary. But by this time, I'd realized that whether I thought they were going to make ...

... as I strip down to my t-shirt on this relentless ascent. The terrain morphs the further we climb. The cedars become forests of rhododendrons which with each passing step become more emaciated and dwarfed by the thinning air. As the vegetation dwindles the terrain becomes the domain of stone and snow. Only scrubs brush and hardy grasses can survive the harsh altitudes here. Clouds stir below restlessly as the sun beats down on me. Ever higher it feels as though I am climbing into a ...

... cool as we were out of the sun. We had photos by the start line and presentation of white good luck scarf's. It was a quick start down through the village and then the steep up hill began and we all started to walk. Some overtook me and I overtook others but knew that I needed to take it easy, as it was a long climb to the top. People were really friendly wishing each other luck and chatting. I walked with Steve from Ireland. We had chatted the day before about why we ran and what got ...

... walk we reached the bottom and pulled off our shoes and socks. Between us we had dozens of the little blighters sucking at our blood, between toes and around ankles - gross!! They cause no harm as such - just a bloody mess and look disgusting. More were found in the jeep and we had several stops to get out and check our feet once more. All in all, an excellent trip, despite the poor weather and leaches. Our group got on really well and managed to cover all sorts of ...