Day 2: Ngadi to Chamje

The second day of the trek saw us wander through several villages and gave a sense for the traditional lifestyles of the people in the lower part of the valley. The villages are primarily Hindu at the lower elevations, shifting to Buddhist as the trek gains height. However, signs of both exist all along in a peaceful intermingling. The tea houses each display their own bright personalities, attempting to draw trekkers to stay for the night. Whether in complementary pastels, or bright vibrant colors, they offer a contrast to the natural tones of the villagers' homes, and a sweet night's sleep to weary travelers. Because this route is so well developed, the trekker can get away with carrying relatively little. The weather was gorgeous throughout the trek, staying sunny and clear during the days, with lower temperatures developing after the sun dipped behind the mountains. Though it could drop below freezing at night, snow isn't generally an issue until January and February.

Layer upon layer of rice field on the way down from Bahundanda

These women are carrying some of the harvest by strapping the bags over their foreheads. In an area where motorized vehicles are both expensive and impractical, this is the preferred method of transportation.

A brightly dressed woman descends into the fields.

This woman is sorting seeds with her granddaughter.

This man carves a bamboo pole, which the girl enjoys sucking on. They offered me some, but I politely declined.

A rather large cactus tree and haystack, the top of which is accessed by the ladder, watch over passing hikers.

My guide Pasang stops to admire a mani (prayer stone) wall. He is Buddhist, from a village in the Everest region.

These mani are adorned by some of our first sightings of prayer flags, more typical in the higher elevations.

This is the tea house in Chamje where we stopped for the night. It was also the home of a few playful children, who always seemed able to create a game from the most minimal resources.

The tea house in Chamje was named "Rainbow View" -- across the gorge was this spectacular waterfall, which lulled us to a peaceful sleep that night.