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Porters Pass an Island of Mani Stones on
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The carrying baskets are made out of bamboo strips that
are cut, dried, and then woven in a triangular cone. Although there are no shoulder straps, there is a strap
that goes around the back and lower part of the doku and
across the forehead of the porter. My scrawny neck would
probably snap from the weight. The baskets can be quite
large and capable of carrying an adult in an emergency.
The Tea House that I am staying in tonight is clean and
tidy.
Today, a porter put my pack on and said it was heavy and I
was a "strong American". He was being kind. The loads they
carry seem to average about thirty or forty kilos* and
sometimes much more. They are paid two or three dollars a
day for each standard load. Some of the stronger porters
will carry three standard loads - much more than their own
body weight. The porters are quite small with most of
their strength in their legs and lower back.
I was under the impression that one always kept Mani
stones on the right. Mani stones can either be flat slabs
of stone with prayers to Buddha chiseled on their surface
or large boulders. Often times these slabs are leaned
against one another forming a long island wall in the
middle of the trail. They are kept on one’s right out of
respect and good fortune. That is until following some porters today, Dawa
went to |
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| the left for good luck, and the porters went
to the right because it was a shorter distance and easier. The Sherpa people are not only good Buddhists but also
pragmatists.
I am still having a little gut ache. Not really bad at
all, but just a little annoying. I still think its all the
coffee I am drinking. The Sherpa mostly drink tea but
there are so many Westerners that coffee is offered at most
of the Tea Houses.
So far my favorite food is the spicy noodles, that is
available everywhere. It is simply packaged noodles that
they bring in from Kathmandu and then add a little hot
spice.
* 66 to 88 pounds |
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Ubiquitous Prayers to Buddha |
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Page 20 |
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