27 Dec 2006
Mukinath --> Kagbeni --> Jomsom
Walking this section of the trail is another worldly experience. The landscape is barren, the sun is very hot and powerful wind blows from the South. They were so strong that they almost knocked me over. Sometimes it turns and blows in the other direction. The Kali Gandaki river bed is about a km wide but the water flows in several separate streams.
We had tea in the Shangrila, a rather cosy place, with egg noodle soup and pudding. Visited the local Gompa (local monastry, for entry fee Rps500), and had an interesting glimpse of the 500 year old monastry, which houses a police post and nuns. This ancient building houses old Tibetian/Buddhist tapestries that were badly decomposed by the sun. Nevertheless, the godly and scary figures up on the walls and pedestals were spectacular, by virtue of their history, significance, and age.
I thought Jomson was an extrememly clean and well-organized town! Can't remember which hotel we stayed in, but it had a very nice setup where the rooms are set around a sunny courtyard & dining area, protected from the strong winds. Had our first taste of chicken (bryani) for dinner, apple brandy for dessert, and a Swede Lebanese couple for company.
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