Asia Adventure 2012: Monjo

Oh boy, it is cold in our unheated hotel and that makes getting out of heated mattress beds so challenging. I find it is best to sleep with my clothes under the covers so they are nice and warm first thing in the morning. Our breakfast was steaming hot coffee, omelettes and bacon, porridge and muesli. I was so stuffed I really wondered how I would do any trekking today.

Our goal was to visit a local monastery, then acclimatize for tomorrow’s trip to Namche Bazar by hiking up the Thakcho Hill behind our hotel. At the Utch Chhoeling Monastery, they were preparing for a visit by a high ranking Monk at 3pm that day. We got to take some pictures inside this tiny monastery which was planned and built from 1987 to 1993. The purpose is to maintain the Buddhist religion and culture, produce Monks and Nuns, and services for life passages such as birth, death, marriages, etc. I enjoyed a drink of yak butter tea which was very delicious although a bit sweet for my taste.

After crossing through town and running into the school children excitedly dashing off to the local school, we set out for our acclimatization hike to reach an altitude of 3,330 meters (approx. 500m). It did prove to be an interesting and steep hike where recent weather had downed trees and obscured the path. So we made our own little trail to an amazing vantage point for viewing the Kongde and Thamserku peaks in the split seconds intervals due to the clouds. I really enjoyed walking through a little farm up there because we managed to get a view of all 3 valleys; the one in Monjo below, the one leading to Namche Bazar, and one on the east side.

We had a very filling lunch at the Summit Home restaurant. I tried the Sherpa Stew and Greg had the garlic soup, both were very nutritious and delicious and followed by the main courses veggie momos and veggie noodles, both served in lumberjack portions. They actually prepared our entire lunch from scratch… as I mentioned, this is the off season.

Greg enjoyed a little siesta in the sun and in the room before Kagi knocked on the door at 6:30pm to remind us it was dinner time.

We learned that people in this village are members of the Sherpa Caste and that’s why everyone has the same last name.