Everest Base Camp Trek Dispatch

May 3, 2009 – Team Visits Unique Thame Monastery

On Sunday morning we visited the Thame Monastery; one of the most unique, remote and historic monasteries in all of the Himalayas. There is a Rinpoche (a reincarnate Lama), at the Thame Monastery. He was born in the 1950s and I have known him for more than 20 years. Ang Temba’s father was one of the Sherpas who travelled over to the Rowling Valley when this Lama was born to confirm that he was indeed a reincarnate, or the born Lama. We went to see him in the monastery and it was casual and relaxing but we all felt very privileged and blessed to have spent some time with him and to receive a silk Katta before we left.

The next part of our day on Sunday was really fascinating and historic in its own way. We visited the original Hilary School. The school was founded in 1961. Our visit to the school was especially interesting because Ang Temba attended the school for 10 years and Nuru attended it for 9 years. We went into the office and looked at all of the class photos on the wall and both Ang Temba and Nuru were able to show us their pictures when they were young boys attending the school. We also went and saw the new Magic Yeti Library. We all really enjoyed hanging out at the school. Our lodge in the village ‘Khumjung’ is actually right across the path from the school.