New Friends and new places by Jenna

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Asmita Poudel (7) her 2 1/2 year old brother Anup, and her parents Divya and Laxman. I was on a mission to deliver a gift from Jenna Repass, the daughter of the art teacher at my school. When I first saw Asmita, a slight girl with bare feet and a gentle smile I knew she was the right person for the clay, markers, paper, glitter, glue sticks and water colors. I sat with her in front of her fathers "shop" a makeshift wood fraimed closet full of trekking goods-- poles, hats, tents, sleeping bags, shoes and North Fake packs and jackets. I thought I might need a translator when I started explaining Jenna's picture and reading the letter her mom had written, but before i finished, Asmita asked "Which contry she from?" and "This picture for me??" as Asmita started opening the gifts a crowd of children quickly gathered. Asmita promptly gave each child a marker from her new set. We had a wonderful conversation, took a few photos, and Asmita wrote the names of her family members in my travel log. Now, everytime I pass the shop Asmita comes running out and her mother claps her hands in "Namaste"

Today is our last day in a "big city" we leave at 6 am for our 40 min flight over the mountains and into the Kali-gandiki Gorge. The village of Jomsom,will not have emall, but an hour and a half walk to the south west and we might be able to find working email (with the help of generators.) We plan on staying in Jomsom for just 2 or three days, to present the Gift to the Village, then we will begin our trek. Our plan is to take a less touristed route from Jomsom, to Manang where we begin the ascent to the Thorung La (the 18,000 foot pass Jane and I crossed in the snow last time.) We will spend several days getting to Throung Pheda-- the foot of the Thorung La. we will cross the pass in one day--- about 6 hours to the top. There will be a tea house and we will hang prayer flags,(I will hang one in honor of Garland Richardson, one in honor of Eddie Belcher, and one in honor of Cindy Goad and Tyler Goad) and then we will make the steep ascent to the bottom. The village at the bottom of that mountain is called Muktinathit, it is a very holy pilgrimage site because it is one place where ALL the elements can be found---- A natural spring from the earth, right beside a natural gas flame, and of course air, earth, and the final Tibetal element, mind. There are 108 spouts on the shape of differnt animals also pouring water from the spring and there will be thousands of prayer flags and prayer wheels to turn. I will add more prayer flags to this holy site in honor of Garland and Eddie who were important to me in my childhood, and Cindy and Tyler who have deeply touched my adult life.

At this point, our group of 7 may break in two. Tom, Diane and Reba heading back to Jomsom to catch their flight and Jason Jane Sherrie and I saying in Muktinath for a few more days. We hope to visit and flim Tsampa's nunnery. After that we will begin a slow descent to the village of Kagbeni where we will pass thru the gates to the forbidden region, Lo Manthang, in the Mustang Region. We have each paid $2000, completed the required paperwork and permit forms, we have met with our guide Narayan who will be with us for the 12 day journey. We will travel back in time 1000 years, the last most restricted, unspoiled region in Nepal. 30,000 people per year pass thru Jomsom a year and only 200 people get into this region per year. I might be wrong, but I don't think we will have any chance of finding email, phomes, or Ben and Jerry (Kim, I keep looking for them here....)

gotta go it is hot here and I want to find a cool place by the lake to sit and have a fresh lime drink. jenna