Nepal 2011, Day 10 - Muktinath to Jomsom (1/1)

31-Oct-2011
Muktinath(3646m) ~ Jomsom(2800)
Total Time: 6 hours
Trekking Time: 5 hours
Distance:  More than 11km

Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung





I could observe the sky last night as I was sleeping beside the window, there was no star last night, and it's misty in the dawn. 5 of us begin our trek at 8am, those who taking Jeep will depart later. We came to Lubra village that located right below of Muktinath, the buildings are very old here, including an very old monastery.






8:55am, the Jeep of our members ride through the slope, and we are like idiots that catching dust behind of them.



Now we see the Autumn of Jharkot village, few houses scattered, and cables are flying around.



The autumn color on the tiny pond, I would regret if I didn't walk into Jhakot.



A following his brother chasing sheep to the mountain.



Jeep speeding on the slope, dust flying....



This is a Cashmere goat, Nepal is one of the country that produce Cashmere scarf. Wondering how the goats survive here, are there any grass for them?




Viewing the village from the driving route, we can see the village at the other side.


Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung



Viewing Lubra from Jhakot, the red building at the top is a monastery.



9:55am, Kagbeni is at the end of this long journey, but we are not heading to Kagbeni.



There are many caves here, and even more in Upper Mustang. It's believe that the caves were left by the Tibetan that travel across the mountain hundreds years ago. The slope is loose and unstable, it's too risy to explore the caves. And there is an abandoned field on the other side of the river.



10:40am, looking back on our trail, we can see Kagbeni and Kali Gandaki river.



Jeep will take the zic zac route, trekkers will walk slowly following the upper route until we reach Eklibathi at the bottom of the slope. Wind blowing strong here, descending slowly and imagine Bob Dylan's Blowing In The Wind playing in mind.



Goats eating on the slope, they kept a distance with trekkers and get scared easily.



Flat and narrow?


11am, arrive Eklibhatti and have our lunch in the same place. I keep my camera in my bag along the way to Jomsom, as cold wind blowing strong and bring dust that my get inside the camera.



We have nothing to do in Jomsom at the afternoon, but there are WiFi in the tea house that allow me to post a picture of Jhakot on my Facebook, tempting those who always said "I want to go, but....". Due to the changed on our itinerary, porters are going home next morning as they had done their job. So, we have a farewell dinner tonight, which is the only meal that we all sitting around. We tried the local apple brandy, and we sang Resham Phiriri.



Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung

Nepal 2011, Day 9 - Kagbeni to Muktinath (2/2)

30-Oct-2011
Kagbeni(2,871m) ~ Muktinath(3646m)
Total Time: 42 minute (on wheels)
Distance: 11km

Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung




11:25am, exploring around Muktinath. It's sort of commercialized as most of the shops are selling souvenir. 



 There are a numbers of store selling scarfs along the street, I've been told that there are made of Yak's fur. But what were displayed doesn't seem like a product of this tools.




A Tibetan woman that selling scarfs and  souvenirs in Muktinath. "You, but these sourvenir", she speaks simple English, and we have fun time while bargaining with her. She tried she best to show us almost every scarf, our members have picked quite a few scarf from here.




7-11 on 3600m elevation? Really?




Boiling water with solar boiler, I could feel the heat when I reach my hand to it.




2:20pm, the entrance of Muktinath Temple, from here we hike up to 3800m.




 Bare slope, only bushes growing on rocky land.




Lot of Indian Hindu believers came to Muktinath temple.




Stare cage to Muktinath Temple, all the trees have fall without leave. 




There are believers around the temple




Some will ask money from you



Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung



Here we are in Muktinath Temple



There are 108 cow head water spouts around the temple, cold water from the mountain keep flowing the mouth of the cow. Pilgrims will 1st walk beneath theses spouts, then soak in the 2 ponds right in front of the temple. They believe this can clean one's sins on earth. I didn't walk my body beneath the spouts, but I touch the water flowing out from them, after than my fingers were cold and pain.






Same source of water came from the mountain to the temple's spouts.




Tourist are allowed to enter the temple, so we walk in and saw this man sitting there. One can make donation in any amount, then the man will say some sort of prayer and place a Tika on your forehead.



Paragliding on Muktinath



Doesn't that person feel cold for gliding in this elevation for that long?



Bare slope on the opposite of the temple.



A Hindu believer sitting out side of a Tibetan temple, I had made a donation to him though not sure what he can do with the money. We are not allowed to take picture of the Tibetan temple, there are few beautiful statues in the temple. Beneath on of the statue, there is a hole where one allow to peek inside to seek the mysterious light. I can hear there are water flowing in that hole, and I saw a fire in blue color that shined very dim.



We head back to tea house after visiting the temples.



It's around 4:00pm, a woman take her time to make more scarf while there is no costumer.


A kid playing alone on the street, he doesn't afraid of stranger and laughed happily while interacting with tourist.



Couldn't resist to have a portrait of the kid.



He is mimicking the way I hold the camera by hiding half of my face, what an adorable kid.



5:20pm, Sun is getting low and the temperature drop quickly.



A crescent rose in the purple twilight, member insist want to go down by tomorrow even though our leader said she is getting a lot better. I am selfish, my thought is "Let her go down and wait us in Jomsom, we can stay one more day in Muktinath, then we will meet her the day after tomorrow.", but I didn't say it.... It's the eldest member who suggest and insist want to go down my Jeep again, at the end, we have decide only 4 will going down by Jeep. 5 including me will trekking down to Jomsom, because that's the reason we came here, trekking.


Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung

Nepal 2011, Day 9 - Kagbeni to Muktinath (1/2)

30-Oct-2011
Kagbeni(2,871m) ~ Muktinath(3646m)
Total Time: 42 minute (on wheels)
Distance: 11km

Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung




We booked a Jeep last night as one of the member suggested that we taking Jeep instead of trekking to Muktinath, in fact, he has been asking use to take bus or jeep since the day we left Tatopani.... Though we don't have to be early to depart today, but how can i missed this awesome place called Kagbeni? So I get up around 5:30am, the sky is getting bright, I missed the stars. The owner know we like photography, so he suggest that we must get on the the roof top so that we can have the best view, he also remind us to be careful not to fall off from the roof. It's 6:05am now, morning has broken, there we can see Nilgiri North from this good view point of the hotel.


Towards east, the sun is still hiding



It's a quiet morning, I can hear the river flow. The peaks at north has been covered with snow over the nigh, gazing towards Upper Mustang.



Nilgiri North 7061m shine in the morning ray.



7:21am, viewing from my room. The slope at the north lit up by the sun, shepherd herding sheep up to the hill.


Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung



9:10am, after breakfast, loading up Jeep with our backpacks, we are going to Muktinath. Weather is good today, it's such a waste if we are not trekking.



It's a bad idea to take Jeep.... This is the 1st time in my life feeling that sitting in a vehicle is much painful than walking.... There are blue skies, red mountains, but I can't do anything in the Jeep, not even can I enjoy the view. The driver is on my right, and a trekking partner on my left kept snapping photos.... I felt like I really want to kick this person off the Jeep.



It's quite bumpy in the Jeep,I snapped kept press my camera shutter while we passing through there caves, hoping that there is one acceptable shot. The lines on the slope were so distinctive in the morning sun, this is the best moment for the mountain view.



Passing Jhorkot village, the colors of autumn were so bright. Trees were in yellow, bushes were red, there are Yaks, Sheeps, and houses around the village. We arrived Muktinath at 9:55am, viewing the Jharkot that we have missed with a broken heart. Our leader feeling pain at the back of her head, puked once she get off from the Jeep.



We are going to stay a night in this bright red tea house which located at the end of the road. We were supposed to spend 2 nights here so that we might can choose to go up to Thorong La or visit Jhong Valley. But, our leader is suffer with mountain sickness and asthma, thus one of the member suggest we all going down immediately. We have discussed for awhile, then the leader said just let her rest here and see how she feel later. And at the same time we can walk around Muktinath then only we decide what to do later.


These older houses also owned by the same owner of the tea house we stay. It's such a good day, it must be easy for those who are crossing Thorong La today.


Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung