American Autumn Shishapangma Expedition 2005: Solar cookers in Lhasa

Sunset on Shishapangma from Base Camp

So much happens in one day. A life. There was Mandy from Beijing who took me on the bus into downtown in search of a bicycle to rent. There was learning how to say thank you in Tibetan. The wonderful new taste of strong honey ginger tea. The sound of the unaligned bicycle tire hitting the rear brake again, and again, and...

There was the tiny home of two Buddhist nuns built from a cave: 3 rooms only, one for sleeping and praying, one for storing pots, one for storing food, their solar cooker busy boiling water using natural solar power set outside next to the planted flowers, a chair for the kitty to curl up and sleep in.

There was bargaining for a necklace or earrings or prayer beads. Getting lost in the Drepung Monastery, wandering up and around stairs and through temples, sometimes just staring at the rugged surrounding mountains and rocks, sometimes walking quickly by the smell of urine, sometimes climbing a ladder into a world of red and yellow and butter lamps and buddhas.

It is real that this monastery once held over 10,000 monks, but since the Chinese invasion of Tibet now has only 500.

The rest of the team finally arrived in Lhasa. We have met our Tibetan porter Pemba, who has the summits of both Shishapangma and Chomolungma under his belt, and looks to be a good guy. I've finished our first set of individual video interviews of the team. I upgraded my internet option to the nice glass enclosed dining building of the Tibetan Mountaineering Guide School. I even washed all of my socks.

-Val

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