Namaste Friends, Family & Loved Ones,

We walked to Thame today on a beautiful trail with clear views of the surrounding peaks. We stopped en route in the small village of Thamo, where we visited two friends of ours for tea. Nice to catch up with them.

Continuing on the trail towards Thame, we crossed the Bhote Kosi River and stopped to admire some paintings made by a local artist on a rock face near the bridge crossing.

After lunch, we climbed up to Thame Monastery, which is about 600 years old and ornately decorated. We were really lucky to see the new Rinpoche (high Buddhist priest) of the Monastery and some of us opted to be blessed by him. The Rinpoche is only 4 or 5 years old and is believed to be the reincarnate of the former Rinpoche, who died several years ago. Really fascinating.

On the way up to the Monastery, we bumped into an artist friend of ours on the trail– total coincidence– and so on our way back down, we were able to go to his house in a neighboring village, have some tea and look at his paintings. Several of us will be bringing some of those paintings home!

To sum up: another great day in the Khumbu. The team is healthy and everyone is doing well. Tomorrow we’re heading to Khumjung and will report in from there. Thanks for following.

Carole & Vern Tejas