Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB

Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/)

- Ride Tales (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/ride-tales/)

- - China ADV Riding (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/ride-tales/china-adv-riding-71234)

Next Amdo Tibet region stop, looking for the perfect challenging enduro trails = SONGPAN ~ a county of northwestern Sichuan province, China, and is one of the 13 counties administered by the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. It has an area of 8,608 square kilometres, and a population of approximately 68,000 composed of Tibetan, Qiang, Han and Hui populations. The ancient city of Songpan was built during Tang Dynasty and it was later rebuilt during Ming Dynasty. Songpan was an important military post. It was also an important economic and trading center for horse and tea exchange between Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet. At the time of the Tang Dynasty, it was the border between Tibetan Empire and Chinese Empire. Songtsän Gampo king of Tibet tried to military invade China by this gate. Chinese Emperor Emperor Taizong of Tang offered him the Princess Wencheng to calm down the Tibetan king at Songzhou (now Songpan) in 641. According to Tibetan and Chinese legends, Princess Wencheng then brings with her among other things the Jowo statue to the Tibetan Empire.
While Songpan can be a charming city in its own right, the countryside surrounding the city offers a variety of tourist attractions. The hills surrounding the city are visual delights of Tibetan cattle herders leading their livestock over rolling grasses, endless valleys, and generally beautiful landscape. All of this can be seen through affordable horseback riding outlets on the outskirts of the city.

The economy of Songpan is dominated by agriculture and livestock raising. In recent years, tourism has become an increasingly important sector, and is actively promoted by the authorities *very tacky charmless new old town comes to mind once again*... Additionally, Songpan is popular among foreign students and other Chinese language learners staying in China as the base for treks through the scenic mountains nearby. Apart from the scenic attraction of Huanglong which is located in the county, Songpan with its strategic location also acts as the gateway to world famous Jiuzhaigou Valley at the north. Unfortunately for the whole region in terms of needed tourisms, Jiuzhaigou Valley was hit hard by destruction (Earthquake 08/08/17) and the whole national park was closed right after the quake struck.

Songpan felt strangely weird, soulless and no real vibe while we stayed, the serious earthquake (7.0) a few days earlier definitely contributed quite surely to the situation as the national highway (G213) between Chengdu / Songpan was closed due to heavy land slides after the powerful earthquake. The earthquake struck Jiuzhaigou County in China's southwestern Sichuan Province late on Tuesday night 8th. August, we spent our time up in Labrang (Xiahe) at that time and did not feel anything....

Songpan (Amdo-Tibet) Sichuan - China = 32°39'00.0"N 103°36'00.0"E

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-WpXz2B9.jpg

Northern Sichuan lies in an area with high tectonic activity. In this region, the Tibetan Plateau abuts against the Yangtze Plate with immense pressure forming faults along the edges. Jiuzhaigou County is located in the Min Mountains, a range that was formed at the intersection of these faults. The devastating 1879 Gansu earthquake had its epicenter approximately 65 km (40 mi) to the east of where the 2017 Jiuzhaigou earthquake occurred. The mountainous areas to the south of Jiuzhaigou County were the epicenter of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake that resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities.

The 2017 Jiuzhaigou earthquake struck at 21:19:46 China Standard Time on 8 August 2017 in Zhangzha Town in Jiuzhaigou County (33.20°N 103.82°E) with magnitude 7.0. Cities as far away as Lanzhou, Chengdu and Xi'an felt the quake. The epicenter was 39 kilometres from the county seat of Jiuzhaigou County, 66 kilometres from Songpan County, 83 kilometres from Zhouqu County, 90 kilometres from Zoigê County, 105 kilometres from Longnan City, and 285 kilometres from Chengdu City.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-MxLzhF6.jpg

We had a look around Muni Valley (Mounigou Valley) and Zhaga Waterfall. it's like a very "miniature" Jiuzhaigou Valley in some ways... Mounigou, located to the west of Songpan Ancient Town, occupies an area of 160 square kilometers. It has an elevation between 2,800 meters to 4,070 meters with an annual average temperature of 7 degrees. Celsius. It belongs to the western part of Huanglong National Scenic Reserve. After ten years of development, this unknown valley has now been listed as the World Biosphere Reserve, World Natural Heritage as well as the Green Globe 21 of UN. Its spectacular mountain scenery, large waterfall and the surrounding culture combine to create an attractive landscape. There are two major scenic spots in Mounigou Valley: Zhaga Waterfall and Erdaohai Scenic Area.

Zhaga Waterfall ~ there are many colorful pools and round waterfalls in Zhaga Valley. The various sounds of waterfalls echo throughout the forest. Some fall down from the calcific steps while others pass through the woods creating an impressive spray and some misty fog.
Among the most beautiful waterfalls, Zhaga Waterfall feels like the most supernatural one. It is the largest travertine waterfall in China. It is 93.2 meters high and 35 meters wide with an elevation of 3,270 meters. In the upper reaches of the waterfall is a lake and in the lower reaches, is a multistep waterbed. When the waterfall rushes down from the travertine steps, it creates a large spray and an earsplitting sound. Visitors will be astonished by the amazing scene. The filemot rock cliff of the waterfall shows some flowery color under the sunshine.
When wandering along the path, you can not only see the countless flowers blooming in profusion in the primeval forest, but also some dense bamboo forest. It is the sphere of activity for the pandas-the national rare animal. If you are lucky enough, you can meet them on your way. Also along the 5 kilometer valley, you can find hundreds of colorful pools of different shapes and sizes, they are very attractive.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-wwWvRD8.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-v58MwBc.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-cW5GNwK.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-zZXmqqZ.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-X8cDpP5.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-hcvk3xx.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-sHtGxm6.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-8XFxZ6S.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-KMHGktz.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-M8qC6St.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-HXXsWfN.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-mmNhjL6.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-BNrTgMt.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-zF7xMXK.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-LCSzQZ5.jpg

Sidenote: Nearby the waterfall, Erdaohai Scenic Area (access was closed during our August 2017 visit due to earthquake damage) hides in a jungle with an area of 6800 square meters. Visitors can get here by horse or on foot from the Zhaga Waterfall. The upper part of Erdaohai Lake is so limpid and clear that people can see little fishes under the water. While the lower part of it is a deep pool, it is too deep to be fathomable. Erdaohai Lake is a typical fallen lake. The color of water changes gradually from light blue to black blue as the depth increases.

Walking around Songpan town, dried & spiced Yak meat cuts (Yak Jerky) of all sorts hanging on display up for sale to the tourists groups. In Qinghai and Sichuan provinces of China, beef jerky is mainly produced in the meat-processing plants. There are two kinds of beef jerky - spiced and curry. The fresh meat is boiled in water for one to four hours, depending on its tenderness. When cooled, it is cut into thick slices 1.5 cm long, 1 cm wide and 0.5 cm, which are put into a pot and sautéed for three hours to remove some water from the tissue. Spices are placed between the meat slices, which are then covered with water and left to simmer for about three hours. The slices are taken out and hung to drip-dry for four hours, then dried at 65 degr. celsius for six to eight hours. This product is known as "Spiced Yak Jerky". "Curry Jerky" is made by mixing the spiced jerky with curry powder. These products can be eaten directly or after additional cooking, frying or boiling.

Well ~ the most popular meat eaten by Tibetan is Yak meat of course. Contrary to popular belief, most Tibetans in Tibet are not vegetarian and Yak meat is very important to the Tibetans diet. Yak meat is usually eaten boiled or dried, but in some areas of Tibet it is sometimes eaten raw in the winter. Traditionally, prior to winter, the nomadic herdsmen living in the Tibet highlands cut yak meat into long narrow strips (approximately 4 - 5 cm wide and 30 cm long) and dry these suspended from woven-hair ropes. Drying takes only a few days. The air-dried meat will keep for one or two years either hung in a tent or stored in hide bags - this is a longer storage period than for the naturally frozen meat. The air-dried meat is very dry indeed and has a distinctive flavour. Some of this dried meat is eaten as it is, only cutting or tearing the strips into smaller pieces; and milk-tea is drunk as an accompaniment. When cooking the dried meat, there are two main methods. One is to roast it by burying the meat in the stove, fuelled by yak dung, until the meat smells fragrant. It is then taken out, cleaned and cut into pieces. The other method is to soak the dried meat for several hours and then boil it in water, salt and other condiments are not usually added.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-mVbnHXk.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-LDxvF9j.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-kQdv2CD.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-t2sqQkD.jpg

Labrang Monastery (Xiahe / Amdo-Tibet), we always get drawn to the area because of the relaxing vibes and people (friends) that live here. Tibetan monasteries, also known as lamaseries, have traditionally been centers of learning and quiet reflection as well as places where monks lived. Found as far north as Mongolia and Russia, they have also traditionally run temples, schools and other facilities and owned large chunks of land which they leased out to farmers. Monasteries usually sponsor ceremonies to bless villages. The ceremonies are day-long sessions of chanting and horn blowing.

There are currently about 1700 monasteries accounted for around the Tibet highlands they say (real numbers might never be known), up from approx. 978 in 1987. Many of the monasteries are huge. The College of Esoteric Teaching in Labrang serves up meals for its monks in a kitchen with two woks, each nine feet across. Huge assembly halls, sometimes are decorated with stuffed yaks, goats and bears with stretched smiling faces, glass eyes and prayer flags pinned to them. Many Tibetan monasteries have similar characteristics. Many are built in high locations above villages and resemble fortresses. Most had or still have walls that were used to protect the monastery and its treasures from bandits, invaders and even rival monk armies. Many have meditation areas, holy sites, walls of mani stones, and a kora, or pilgrimage route around the monastery.

Inside the walls is a central courtyard, where ceremonies are held and festivals are staged. It usually features a flag pole known as a "darchen" and is surrounded by a main assembly or prayer hall, known as a "dukhang," with side protector chapels, subsidiary chapels, monk quarters, a library, eating areas and a kitchen. Large monasteries have colleges, halls of residence, and an interior Kora. Well-off monasteries receive many donations giving the monks more time to study and pray. Some monasteries have become dependent on the generosity of tourists to survive ~ unfortunately.....

Labrang Monastery (Xiahe / Amdo-Tibet), we always get drawn to the area because of the relaxing vibes and people (friends) that live here. Tibetan monasteries, also known as lamaseries, have traditionally been centers of learning and quiet reflection as well as places where monks lived. Found as far north as Mongolia and Russia, they have also traditionally run temples, schools and other facilities and owned large chunks of land which they leased out to farmers. Monasteries usually sponsor ceremonies to bless villages. The ceremonies are day-long sessions of chanting and horn blowing.

There are currently about 1700 monasteries accounted for around the Tibet highlands they say (real numbers might never be known), up from approx. 978 in 1987. Many of the monasteries are huge. The College of Esoteric Teaching in Labrang serves up meals for its monks in a kitchen with two woks, each nine feet across. Huge assembly halls, sometimes are decorated with stuffed yaks, goats and bears with stretched smiling faces, glass eyes and prayer flags pinned to them. Many Tibetan monasteries have similar characteristics. Many are built in high locations above villages and resemble fortresses. Most had or still have walls that were used to protect the monastery and its treasures from bandits, invaders and even rival monk armies. Many have meditation areas, holy sites, walls of mani stones, and a kora, or pilgrimage route around the monastery.

Inside the walls is a central courtyard, where ceremonies are held and festivals are staged. It usually features a flag pole known as a "darchen" and is surrounded by a main assembly or prayer hall, known as a "dukhang," with side protector chapels, subsidiary chapels, monk quarters, a library, eating areas and a kitchen. Large monasteries have colleges, halls of residence, and an interior Kora. Well-off monasteries receive many donations giving the monks more time to study and pray. Some monasteries have become dependent on the generosity of tourists to survive ~ unfortunately.....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-rg3Lwx3.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-FL4LQdp.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-2W2XjLc.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-Wz7Kkb3.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-W9JPppk.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-QqHWxxW.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-FhkGWVP.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-h4SsmqX.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-gkjF6qM.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-B5QXTFz.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-DZkzv73.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-q5XQ9v5.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-qCvFsvP.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-BdpBhr6.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-XrgrmKZ.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-v3HgPcS.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-v797WjN.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-3ZxTkhd.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-ZKMbJmV.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-swMmF8g.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-VhWxk8Q.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-wr9xh4K.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-dZfCbhW.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-FdcphJG.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-NfWdWVF.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-KLVGCDV.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-p4MWTmt.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-9C43VR4.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-M9CHNnk.jpg

LABRANG MONASTARY 35°11'44.0"N 102°30'29.0"E

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-433ZwRJ.jpg

Yak Butter Sculptures ~ Tibetan New Year is the biggest holiday in Tibet. The New Year holidays lasts 15 days from the first day to the 15th of the first month in the Tibetan Calendar. On the 15th, which is also a full moon day, is the Butter Sculpture Display Day or the Festival of Miracles Day. This is the day of celebration of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni’s victory over six Gurus in a contest of Miracles. In this special day, all the monasteries and villages across the Tibetan Plateau carry out religious rituals to honor Lord Buddha. Families will light yak butter lamps and offer them in their home altars, while big major monasteries are displaying Yak Butter Sculptures to the pilgrims.

The Art of Yak Butter Sculptures is a unique art in Tibetan Buddhism and also a special ritual that began circa 1409. Traditionally, monasteries display butter sculptures on the 15th day of the Tibetan New Year in hope that the Buddha will bring them good fortune in the upcoming year. The colorful, delicate works are bas-reliefs mounted on hay, wooden board, sticks, etc. The topic of this form of art can be a story of the Buddha, deities, kings, legendary figures, animals and other folk or history heroes of Tibet. After displaying to the public on the 15th day, these sculptures will move into the sculpture hall and be on display usually till the 15th. day of the first month in the Tibetan Calendar of next year. No restrictions on photographing in the Yak Butter Sculpture Exhibition Hall and below pictures taken during our 2017 Summer visit to Labrang Monastery (Xiahe / Gansu / Amdo-Tibet)....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-zRsGB23.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-w3k7xPt.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-SPBrjP2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-3dJcpPs.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-5DNt9Cf.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-d5LVX6w.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-V8zZF3B.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-vGtTbvS.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-n7PpZvf.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-6QFJH5p.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-mTrXxD3.jpg

Its a fantastic relaxing mystical feeling in our opinion to watch the Tibetan pilgrims and walk the upper or lower Kora around the Labrang Monastery with them.

Kora (pilgrimage) is a transliteration of a Tibetan word that means "circumambulation" or "revolution". Kora is both a type of pilgrimage and a type of meditative practice in the Tibetan Buddhist or Bon traditions. A Kora is performed by the practitioner making a circumambulation a in a clockwise fashion round a sacred site or object, typically as a constituent part of a pilgrimage, ceremony, celebration or ritual. However, in broader terms, it is a term that is often used to refer to the entire pilgrimage experience in the Tibetan regions. For "pilgrimage", Tibetans generally use the term nékor "circling around an abode", referring to the general practice of circumambulation as a way of relating to such places. In the context of kora, the né or néchen is rendered as "empowered", "sacred" or "holy" place/object, and the né is credited with the ability to transform those that circumambulate it. Aspects of both the natural and the man-made world are also considered to be the né of a wide variety of nonhuman beings such as iṣṭadevatās or ḍākinīs.

The pilgrim is known as a né korwa "one who circles a né", thus defining them by the ritual circumambulation(s) they perform as part of their journey. Pilgrims seek to attain religious merit by performing koras, which are a major merit generator. The more potent the power place destination the greater the merit accumulated. A kora is performed by walking or repeatedly prostrating oneself. Prostration (e.g., versus walking), circumambulating repeatedly or an auspicious number of times all producing greater merit. Kora may be also be performed while spinning prayer wheels, chanting mantra, or counting rosary beads. Buddhist pilgrims most typically emulate the path of the sun and circumambulate in a clockwise direction. Bön pilgrims traditionally circumambulate counterclockwise.....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-CMFR6c5.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-GbxLTPw.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-XpKbCtq.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-gCS9JTv.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-9mVv7Ln.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-fPp4qch.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-M6ppFP6.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-6Wx7jJt.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-QQgJfbm.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-ct2W4dp.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-v4QHGLs.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-HTVbjKx.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-xvkb3KZ.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-f89Fprn.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-5KsbSC5.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-4Xmx6gB.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-VrHGkfM.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-dcRHhsw.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-n7gBsGd.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-DFFrkbb.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-KMPvcw7.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-pgRKnfq.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-Pg8mVF2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-XFkhfq7.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-QgHwnkV.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-LZ4mJdF.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-73HG3ds.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-p8wjtxN.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-wbfcDbP.jpg

Its a fantastic relaxing mystical feeling in our opinion to watch the Tibetan pilgrims and walk the upper or lower Kora around the Labrang Monastery with them....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-HCFcLB2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-czNHG9g.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-DsVzz5T.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-93pN2Zm.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-CJndhzG.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-fjZwqdW.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-gzfkWTk.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-ZZvtsXG.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-VXkF7fP.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-CfxmJJG.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-T3MLTDh.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-hTzBHpw.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-QdsRB8H.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-RWWjTNN.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-BFdWf3M.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-nnDZ4Fg.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-d9QShp5.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-dbDWjMW.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-cgjsM2G.jpg

Tibetan Buddhist Pilgrims ~ pilgrimages to religious sites are of great importance to Tibetan Buddhists. Approached with the same religious zeal as Muslims going to Mecca, they are seen as both a religious duty and a chance to earn merit, plus a time to enjoy oneself and maybe an opportunity to seek a cure to an illness for themselves or a loved one. Pilgrimage sites generally have pilgrimage paths (koras) lined with prayer wheels and mani stones. Thus pilgrimages involve getting to the pilgrimage site itself and performing a pilgrimages around the site once there.

The status of a pilgrims can be identified by their headgear, clothes, robes, earrings or the way their hair is braided. Pilgrims used to walk or make their way on horseback to the pilgrimage sites but now they arrive in buses and trucks. Some pilgrims travel thousands of miles in the backs of old trucks to get to pilgrimage sites. Often times much of the traffic you see on Tibetan roads is made up of trucks filled with pilgrims on their way to religious sites. They often bring their children, what little money they have and meat and vegetables to sell at a market to help pay for their trip.

Tibetans begin doing pilgrimages when they are children and do not stop doing them until they reach the end of their life. Ceasing to do pilgrimages is ceasing to engage the life on earth from the view of a Tibetan. Describing pilgrims at Potala Palace in Lhasa, Howard French wrote in the International Herald Tribune, “Tibetans arrive by the thousands just as they always have dressed in crimson robes, or more often, well-worn rags, leaning on walking sticks or clutching babies. Many of them have journeyed a week or more to make the pilgrimage, often traveling from villages so remote they are not served by roads, wearing looks of beatitude upon arrival at the palace.”

Pilgrims move in a clockwise direction around temples and shrines. In addition to prostrating themselves, they also drape white and yellow gauze strips around statues, spoon yak butter into lamps, turn prayer wheels, and leave small banknotes and barley grains as offerings. Many pilgrims wear an amulet called a gau that holds a picture of the Dalai Lama or the owner’s protector god. Pilgrims visiting a lamasery customarily leave a prayer scarf to honor the monasteries founding lamas. Swathes of sheep wool are sometimes hung to ensure a good harvest. The mangy dogs found around many temples survive off of hand-outs given by pilgrims....

Tibetan Buddhist Prostration is an important expression of Tibetan devotion. To earn merit Tibetan pilgrims prostrate themselves by lying face-down on the ground and stretching out their arms and legs. In many cases they repeatedly stretch themselves completely on the ground and touch their hands to the foreheads (representing the mind), mouths (speech) and chest (body) each time.

Prostration means to lie face down on the ground as an act adoration and devotion. They raise their hands together high above their heads, take one step forward, lower their hands to the height of their forehead, take another step forward, lower their hands before their chest and take a third step forward. Then they kneel down and stretch themselves out upon the ground. After arising, they repeat this process. While they are performing prostrations, they chant sacred words, usually: "Om Mani Padme Hum". Many pilgrims spend several years traveling from other provinces to Tibet performing prostrations each and every step of the way. Even though some people have died while on the road, it is never considered a pity as having traveled toward Tibet in this manner is a lifelong honor.

Prostrating is practicing one of Buddhism's three Jewels for Tibetan Buddhists. Tibetan pilgrims always perform prostrations before monasteries in Tibet and before sacred images displayed on altars or when they enter and withdraw from a room. Tibetan Buddhists also prostrate before their teachers.

Tibetans ideally are expected to prostrate themselves 100,000 times a year, which works out to almost 300 times a day, every day of the year. Not only do they prostrate themselves around temples they also do it on roads, streets and sidewalks. Some pilgrims cover the entire approx. 60km route around Mount Kailash or travel from their hometowns to Lhasa, repeatedly prostrating themselves.

Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims can spend several years making pilgrimages to Lhasa and other religious centers, covering the entire distance in a series of prostrations. “On the roads to Lhasa, from time to time, travelers can see Buddhists prostrating . They begin their journey from their home and keep on prostrating all the way to Lhasa. They wear hand pads, kneepads, and a protective leather upper outer garment. With dust on their faces and innumerable hardships in their lives, slowly they move forward by prostrating forward every 3 steps for months or for years, toward the holy city of Lhasa. Three or 4 acquaintances may go together under the same belief and for the same direction. Many years ago, Buddhists would go empty-handed, even without food or extra clothes. When they felt hungry or cold, they would beg and beg. Things are different now. A Buddhist may be designated for taking charge of food and clothes supplies, providing convenience for his companions, but never will he be allowed to replace a prostrator. The prostrating Buddhists are very scrupulous. They won't give up no matter their exhaustion. In case of heavy traffic or other situations, they will draw a line with some pebbles instead of prostrating. With determination and strong faith, they then continue to walk and prostrate forward.”

Pilgrims who repeatedly prostrate themselves while making the circuit of Mt. Kailash for example, take one step, make a Tibetan prayer gesture, raise their hands in prayer, and lay down on the ground, their arms extended in front of them. Then they stand up and place their feet where their fingertips had just touched and repeat the process again. Those that do this often wear knee pads, aprons and canvas shoes on their hands and take two or three weeks to complete the journey....

Tibetan Buddhist Prostration Steps for prostrating in stationary position: First, stand straight with your feet slightly spread and keep your toes pointing forward. Meanwhile, put the palms together, but leave a small open space in the center of the palms. Situate your hands at heart-level. And then raise your hands just above your head, touching the crown of your head. Then touch your hands to your brow, your throat and back to your heart.

Secondly, bend at the waist to the floor and make your arms parallel to the ground with the centers of your palms facing the earth. Place your hands at a place in front of you that will allow you to bend forward gracefully and allow you to raise up with ease. Thirdly, allow your knees to touch the floor just after your hands and lie down on the ground. Form a straight line from your waist to your fingertips and keep face down.

Thirdly and finally, touch the ground. The finishing moves, hands, knees and head must touch the ground in that order. Some pilgrims put the palms together and lift them above the head. As soon as your head touches the ground, raise up. Use your hands to push up from the floor quickly. Come to standing rest with hands returned to position before your breast.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-mQcVghG.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-pqZVD2L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-bLWnrTF.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-VVmQ8Bq.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-X9wbHCg.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-KJrgkNK.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-j7nT3Rb.jpg

Fuel and service stations ~ many people aware of our Tibet rides ask about fuel availability around the remote Tibet highlands. There are service stations located on the bigger national roads and around towns. Well ~ in the Tibetan “Outback”, as many Tibetan Nomads have replaced horses with 100-250cc motorbikes, we just try to ask or follow them around remote areas as many villages and communities (small roadside shops) sell fuel out of large soft drink bottles. Must herewith state, we only had good solid fuel and not diluted with water as very common down South on Hainan Island, no worries ~ no fuel dramas during the entire 2017 YAKATTACK ride.

Anyways, both our bikes have the larger Acerbis 3.2 gal. tanks installed with the fuel tank filter socks to eliminate any possible clogged fuel injectors to to contaminated fuel. Just as a precaution getting seriously off the beaten track sometimes, had a GiantLoop Fuel Bladder (2gal.) strapped to the rear rack of my bike but only used twice during the very extensive remote off the grid riding.....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-kFKQtfG.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-5p3kfSj.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-XMG2sbC.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-VdBKmxh.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-JtNHHmp.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-XRqvRwc.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-XKNHnmk.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-3h4VdhT.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-Vjt4hC7.jpg

White Rocks Cliff ~ as always, Tibet the mythical place full of surprises, we got dragged along by monks and pilgrims into a holy cave, heavily iron gated entrance hidden behind a wall of prayer flags (unable to spot to the unknown visitor). Pretty intense experience as totally ill equipped with just iPhone flashlights, wrong camera (drone) and no GoPro unfortunately. Totally off the charts on experience in "Indiana Jones" adventure style slipping and sliding around in the cave labyrinth for approx. 5 hours. The older generation Tibetan pilgrims and the three monks mumbling prayers while we basically crossed wobbly iron walkways faced with Yak butter candles / incense sticks, repelling ~ climbing ~ sliding through claustrophobic small slippery walkways hunched over or crawling on arms & legs... Hard to explain to someone not been there at the time and apologies for bad picture quality....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-xtjSWjx.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-DpMMDW7.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-S5vqJ7k.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-JjH69Kr.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-33b2dbT.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-M9TPb8N.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-KCzSnVJ.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-gvvLtK3.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-WgpZ6wK.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-4Lw55vk.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-hZ7tX4b.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-KKzMQNR.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-f6KDJLM.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-cRFxvcL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-gSKHW8J.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-Qbk9p74.jpg

Well ~ all good times come to an end and every single day out riding during the extensive Summer 2017 road trip has really been an all out fantastic exhausting and yet relaxing experience, friggin' awesome, there are so many lasting memories to take away from this trip....
Huge thanks to DN#199 for some inspiration leading some of the fast exhilarating grassland rides and all the awesome video footage and pictures we still have to sort through and archive in the near future. Epic life changing memories that will stay with us forever....

Before finally closing another TB-Racing adventure chapter, let's mention about two typical sights around the Tibet regions, one comes across the Prayer Flags and Mani Stones, let me try to explain....

PRAYER FLAGS
There are two kinds of prayer flags: horizontal ones, called Lung ta (Wylie: rlung-rta, meaning "Wind Horse") in Tibetan, and vertical ones, called Darchog (Wylie: dar-lcog, meaning "flagstaff").
Lung ta (horizontal) prayer flags are of square or rectangular shape, and are connected along their top edges to a long string or thread. They are commonly hung on a diagonal line from high to low between two objects (e.g., a rock and the top of a pole) in high places such as the tops of temples, monasteries, stupas, and mountain passes.
Darchog (vertical) prayer flags are usually large single rectangles attached to poles along their vertical edge. Darchog are commonly planted in the ground, mountains, cairns, and on rooftops, and are iconographically and symbolically related to the Dhvaja.
Traditionally, prayer flags come in sets of five: one in each of five colors. The five colors are arranged from left to right in a specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. The five colors represent the five elements and the Five Pure Lights. Different elements are associated with different colors for specific traditions, purposes and sadhana. Blue symbolizes the sky and space, white symbolizes the air and wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth. According to Traditional Tibetan medicine, health and harmony are produced through the balance of the five elements. The best time to put up new prayer flags is in the morning on sunny, windy days and thats what we did in several Amdo Tibet locations and doing the traditional flag hanging with my best riding mate - absolute priceless in my personal opinion....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-kpkcDg9.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-S9QTNgd.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-9MgjRtp.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-XmKcFBW.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-w38RhN8.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-mnmXCcW.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-KdLWLg9.jpg

MANI STONES
"Om Mani Padme Hum" ~ the most popular traditional prayer inscribed is Om Mani Padme Hum. If you inspect a few mani stones, you are more than likely to come across this. So what does it mean? It has long been believed that repeating this mantra is the key to being blessed by Chenrezig. Receiving blessings from this deity is so crucial for Tibetan Buddhists because he is looked on as the most important godly figure of all. His significance lies in his responsibility, as the Bodhisattva of Compassion, for relieving the pain and suffering of all of us on earth. As a side note— this heavy task is said to have broken him down at one point in history, which is why he is often depicted in art works as having many limbs and many heads; they are meant to represent the shattered fragments of his body.

Mani stones are stone plates, rocks and / or pebbles, inscribed with the six syllabled mantra of Avalokiteshvara (Om mani padme hum, hence the name "Mani stone"), as a form of prayer in Tibetan Buddhism. The term Mani stone may also be used in a loose sense to refer to stones on which any mantra or devotional designs (such as ashtamangala) are inscribed. Mani stones are intentionally placed along the roadsides and rivers or placed together to form mounds or cairns or sometimes long walls, as an offering to spirits of place or genius loci. Creating and carving mani stones as devotional or intentional process art is a traditional sadhana of piety to yidam. Mani stones are a form of devotional cintamani.....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-dQ6MP7Q.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-qXD5hZQ.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-C3vKxPR.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-WTqSgJS.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-wbg4Jw3.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-g7rgKM2.jpg

The "aftermath" of the YAKATTACK 2017 road trip back at our Shanghai home base, cleaning & servicing the two bikes (TBR#88 / DN#199), must clearly state, not a single problem during the multi week riding around the Amdo-Tibet region....

The KTM450EXC bikes are seriously awesome and the right bikes for our upcoming riding plans around the fascinating country called China. Building up the two bikes from scratch (bone stock KTM450EXC 2016), just how we want them to be is just magical and to have identical bikes at our disposal simplifies a few issues in terms of spares and service requirements. Absolutely and totally lost interest in any lengthy road riding around the China mainland region. Might be repeating myself, we are privileged to undertake riding in China as quite restrictive in various ways compared to the rest of world...

Sidenote: personally highly recommend the PC Racing airfilter skins and Profill Fueltank Socks as they have shown great results in keeping all sorts of dirt and contaminations out of the engine.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-SBgh2wr.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-RzVsVdH.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-8mKrzKb.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-VrQJ69p.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-CpKhMXV.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-npTnh6D.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-zMz7Wrs.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-PPMcsfS.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-NhGvnwq.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-GDTDQ7T.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-K7wX4ZR.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-JG2dWrV.jpg

Lets have the final YAKATTACK words ~ why should I go to any Tibet region one should not even ask. Tibet is more than religion and myth. Geographically it is part of the top of the world. And your body will make you feel this in some cases as most travellers coming from the lower altitude are just not used the the "thin air". Your high altitude destinations will most likely give you a headache, make you dizzy or short breathed during the first day arriving by plane and getting over active just after arrival, riding (driving) up to the plateu is easier on the body. Tibet ~ your eyes will be rewarded by the sight of an incredible clear, blue sky, and views over green valleys or high passes and barren land, guarded by the eternal beauty of the various mountain ranges. A land, where Yaks, pulling the plough through the fields of a mountain valley; where the endless sky is touching the horizon and colourful prayer flags protect the passes and mountains. Intense blue skies are challenging snow-capped mountains and stars have never been as close to you as here! Tibet touches everyone: physically and mentally! Highly recommend seeing the so called Top of the World! It's probably a once in a lifetime experience for most and it will leave you astounded, exhausted and aware of the preciousness of human being. But don't expect to understand the secrets behind the Tibetan myth. Tibet has to be felt! It does not allow more than a glimpse!

Future YAKATTACK road trips currently in the planning stages by the TB-Racing team ~ stay tuned....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-QMfV6tD.jpg

Labrang Monastery

Interested to find out that Labrang Monastery has been moved to Tibet.
Last time I was there it was located in the Xiahe country.
You learn new stuff everyday.

Thanks much for the very friendly encouraging notes via PM, spot on ~ trying to showcase a different side of China. Apologies, herewith replying to the questions raised via PM open to the public if you don’t mind as might answer a few questions coming my way in the future and no need to repeat myself over and over again....

NO ~ I do not arrange tours around China and not able to assist with any paperwork concerning crossing (entering) and riding around the lovely motherland. Straight forward, got no recommendations and have no affiliations or connections to any China travel / tour agency within PRC or outside. Got absolute no intentions to get involved in any form as doing my things simply my way (can’t stand group rides anyways for decades) and certain things work for us but might not work for the next person trying....

NO ~ I do not borrow or rent any of my motorcycles for a fee to visitors (strangers) coming to China....

YES ~ a new border crossing between China (Tibet) and Nepal has opened and foreigners got through recently....

YES ~ a Chinese driving license is still required to operated a motorised legally vehicle around Mainland China and doubt will change any time soon....

YES ~ the PRC rules and regulations still require a license plate on motorbikes. Crying game starts once accidents and incidents happen and documents (driving license / license plate) are not in order, seen it and quite a few stories around....

YES ~ all the motorbikes pictured in my thread are fully legal but trimming the China motorbike collection as happy with the two KTM for future rides planned around PRC and got different riding planned outside PRC. Quite a nice incentive selling bikes and Shanghai plates (A/C) as license plates are restricted within Shanghai municipality and went from being issued basically free (nobody was after bikes back in the days) a few decades ago up to 400000+ RMB (approx. 60000$US) for Shanghai “A” license plates. There is quite a demand for Shanghai license plates as no new ones being issued for quite some years.... Shanghai “A” license plates allowed downtown (CBD) and Shanghai “C” outside the inner ring road only (Shanghai “C” license plates go for approx. 85000RMB / 13000 $US currently).

NO ~ you can’t ride freely around all the Tibet regions, Amdo & Kham regions of Tibet are mostly free to ride around but TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region) requires special permits applied for in advance and a government approved guide during the entire TAR stay....

Our recent 2017 YAKATTACK riding concentrated around the greater Amdo Tibet region and we rode mostly around the Gansu / Qinghai provinces with a short side trip to Sichuan and the map below should explain in more details....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-FjbvcQs.jpg

YES ~ some China bike shop are listed in a HUBB thread but might be outdated as some dealerships close or move on to different locations = http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ops-gear-72688

Our JIALING JH600 Sidecar was sold (December 2017), another one of the very enjoyable and reliable TBR China bikes bites the dust, gone but not forgotten as we had solid fun with the trusty sidecar around various Mainland China regions....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-qQcsgG8.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-g2b8Jvr.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-hCXQ539.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-gssqQpB.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-9T862Sq.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-SDdvcC3.jpg

JIALING SIDECAR ~ GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN...

2017 February ~ Denver (Colorado / USA) and a side trip to famous Pikes Peak with two limited edition TLD Jeremy McGrath Bell MotoFlex-9 (2016/2017) helmets in the car... Awesome view and a stopover at the Pikes Peak Hillclimb starting line...

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-KGZ5pgz.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-KMjDhnw.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-g3jtRrb.jpg

Fast forward to 17th. September 2017, back in the USA and heading to Glen Helen Raceway (California) with mates, getting a green Jeremy McGrath spare helmet visor autographed for the collection by the man himself during the trophy truck race series: http://www.lucasoiloffroad.com ~ spot on, got a few more signatures that day for the ever growing collection...

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-b57tCpn.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-6SGwV5k.jpg

Further onwards to 2018, wearing the Bell helmets during the last few Moganshan bamboo rides (Nov.2017--Jan.2018), they are super comfortable and work great with our preferred Oakley Airbrake Goggles (Prizm Lenses) ~ highly recommend the helmets and googles but everyone has some personal preferences...

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-HR3jF96.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-Qsvx47B.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-x9j9BMM.jpg

2018 Chinese New Year of the Dog "Mighty Ride", our motor-vehicle of choice are the well known "hate or love 'em..." Chang Jiang 750cc sidecars, as its been 10 years since I gave my last CJ sidecar away to a good mate back in 2008 without the precious Shanghai "A" license plate (registration) of course....Chang Jiang ~ the transcribed brand name of motorcycles that were once manufactured by the China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company (China). It takes its name from the Chang Jiang River, also known as the Yangtze or, in English, the Long River. The CJ750 motorcycle is based on the original 1956 Soviet IMZ (Irbitski Mototsikletniy Zavod) M-72 which itself was derived from the earlier German 1938 BMW R71. Nearly all of them have sidecars. They are often erroneously referred to as BMW "replicas" when in fact, they are derivatives of the IMZ M-72.

Production began in the late 1950s or early 1960's (different sources cite different dates). They were originally produced for the Chinese military and are powered by an air-cooled, four-stroke, opposed flat-twin engine displacing 746cc and the rear wheel is shaft-driven. The most common models are:
M1 which has a sidevalve (flathead) engine and a 6V electrical system. This model is a clone of the M72 and closely resembles the 1938 BMW R71.
M1M is also a sidevalve, however it uses a 12V electrical system and is equipped with a reverse gear. It also has an electric starter where the M1 has only a kick-starter. These enhancements were designed with the help of German engineers.
M1S ("Super") uses an overhead-valve engine, 12V electrical system, electric starter and reverse gear. The OHV system is fundamentally of German BMW design.
All three models use the same frame and sheet metal. The M1 and M1M are nearly identical in appearance, but they can be distinguished by observing certain details.

CJ technological history includes racing bikes, experimental engines and futile attempts at modernising the appearance of a long obsolete machine. Beginning in the mid-1980s, over a decade after the normalisation of relations between China and the USA, China opened its markets to foreign motorcycle manufacturers which expedited the end of CJ750 mass production. Today, the marque is kept barely alive by interest from foreign hobbyists. Most of the Chang- Jiang motorbikes being outlawed around Shanghai by 2018 / 2019 as the legal registration and license plates will expire and the traffic management will not renew them in the future...

Quite a few once mighty Chang Jiang sidecars are rotting away in back alleys and vehicle scrapyards nowadays....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...rjfw34R-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Mr9rGLX-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Cx4Xsd4-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...kJrM35J-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...JvNqjBN-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...VzztwtX-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...MTxMgdF-X2.jpg

Chinese New Year of the Dog (2018), also known as the Spring Festival, or simply the Lunar New Year, in modern China, is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Celebrations traditionally run from the evening preceding the first day, to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first calendar month.

The Chinese New Year festival is centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and customs. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honor deities as well as ancestors. Lunar New Year is celebrated in numerous Asian countries and territories, including Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mauritius, Australia, and the Philippines. Lunar New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had strong influence on the lunar new year celebrations of its geographic neighbours. Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Lunar New Year vary widely. Often, the evening preceding Lunar New Year's Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck. Windows and doors are decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of "good fortune" or "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity". Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red paper envelopes.

Chinese love to eat during the annual festivals as everyone is fully aware and we truly enjoy different tastes and flavours all the time as variations are the spice of life but generally food plays a very important roll during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year).

Here are some top Chinese New Year lucky foods and their symbolism but they are not all pictured in traditional style and presentations below:
Noodles – happiness and longevity.
Dumplings and spring rolls – wealth.
Tangyuan (sweet rice balls) – family togetherness.
Niangao (glutinous rice cake) – higher income or status.
Tangerines and oranges – fullness and wealth.
Fish – an increase in prosperity.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...gWS4zKC-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Tbcx556-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...5hX7TtS-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...v2qwMMD-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Mqj4SQv-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...D6W5TFw-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...6MJ5VwJ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...2Cbk6Td-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...tmWzjPT-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...2rQB34H-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...9MNW6Z2-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...nJXdLbv-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...TfzfcbK-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...gR9j9PG-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...JDrmRq5-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...vbftLpk-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...CrdBZXR-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Mv3X5Rd-X2.jpg

Shanghai ~ few cities in the world evoke so much history, excess, glamour, mystique and exotic promise in one name alone.

Architecture ~ Shanghai is home to the world's second-tallest tower and a host of other neck-craning colossal building. But it's not all sky-scraping razzmatazz. Beyond the crisply cool veneer of the modern city typified by Pudong, you can lift the lid to a treasure chest of architectural styles. The city's period of greatest cosmopolitan excess – the 1920s and 1930s – left the city with pristine examples of art deco buildings, most of which survived the 20th-century vicissitudes assailing Shanghai. And there's more: from Jesuit cathedrals, Jewish synagogues and Buddhist temples to home-grown laneways and stone gate housing, Shanghai architectural heritage is like none other.

Cuisine ~ thirty years ago Shanghai's dour restaurant scene was all tin trays and scowling waiting staff, with international food confined to the dining rooms of 'exclusive' hotels. Today the mouth-watering restaurant scene is varied, exciting and up to the minute – and Shanghai has its own Michelin dining guide kicking off during 2017, proving just how far the city has come. Food is the hub of Chinese social life. It’s over a meal that people catch up with friends, celebrate and clinch business deals, and spend hard-earned cash. Some of your best memories of the city could be culinary, so do as the Shanghainese do and make a meal of it.

Shopping ~ bearing in mind that Chinese shoppers constitute up to 47% of the global luxury-goods market, shopping is rarely done in half-measures in Shanghai. Retail therapy is one way of spending new money and the Shanghainese aren't called ('little capitalists') by the rest of China for nothing, especially at the luxury end of things. But it's not all Prada, Gucci and Burberry. There are pop-up boutiques, bustling markets, cool vintage shops and young designer outlets. Beyond clothing you're also spoiled for choice, whether you're in the market for antiques, ceramics, art, Tibetan jewellery…whatever is on your shopping list.

Entertainment & Arts ~ Capital City China (Beijing) often hogs the limelight as China’s cultural nexus but, for what is essentially a town of wheelers and dealers, Shanghai is surprisingly creative. Many art galleries are exciting, offering a window onto contemporary Chinese concerns, while nightlife options have exploded. Acrobatics shows are always a favourite and you might grab the chance to catch some Chinese opera. Shanghai's music and club scene is vibrant: from unpretentious jazz and indie venues to all-night hip-hop and electro dance parties, the city swings with the best of them.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...8Prscn2-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...ntZgQvm-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...94GnF7s-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...MS2Ct4M-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...qpgDTBj-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...97jpBZz-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...kXBq32D-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...zcmfZDw-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...TKsRvBJ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...nJ8R3k3-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...TqZ4mTH-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...tKNLgkB-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...vmCnFDZ-X2.jpg

Once a year, let's go someplace we’ve never been before.... Run over the border as the YAKATTACK team was somehow established on the Tibet "Himalaya" highlands. Let the good times roll and continue the adventures and exploring kicking off with YAKATTACK 2018 (Chinese New Year) as personally stood on the China (Tibet) ~ Nepal border a few times over the last three decades but never was able to cross and this all happen before the complicated Tibet (China) travel restrictions for foreigners. The challenges were never on the Nepal side, always getting exit approval through the Chinese border authorities with a China registered bike was the challenge... For two years we had a running joke “Let’s ride a KTM in KTM” as our favourite bikes are the KTM450EXC and KTM is as well the airport code for Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu... The YAKATTACK team tackles Nepal for the first time with a few twist as expected to check out a few exciting options for future YAKATTACK adventures (motorbikes / mountain bikes) around Nepal....

Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia located in the Himalaya. With an estimated population of 26.4 million, it is 48th largest country by population and 93rd largest country by area. It borders China in the north and India in the south, east, and west while Bangladesh is located within only 27 km of its southeastern tip and Bhutan is separated from it by Indian state of Sikkim. A Himalayan state, Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and largest city. Nepal is a multiethnic nation with Nepali as the official language. Kathmandu ~ lots of stimulation and sensory overkill, the street life is very busy but simple, this is an old city were people have been existing for thousands of years, its dusty with disorganised broken roads, its very different from our home city ~ its just very refreshing...

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...GCvvDCs-X2.jpg

First famous Kathmandu walk, Pashupatinath Temple, a famous, sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Pashupatinath and is located on the banks of the Bagmati River 5 kilometres north-east of Kathmandu Valley in the eastern part of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. This temple is considered one of the sacred temples of Hindu faith. The temple serves as the seat of the national deity, Lord Pashupatinath. This temple complex is on UNESCO World Heritage Sites's list Since 1979. This "extensive Hindu temple precinct" is a "sprawling collection of temples, ashrams, images and inscriptions raised over the centuries along the banks of the sacred Bagmati river" and is included as one of the seven monument groups in UNESCO's designation of Kathmandu Valley as a cultural heritage site. Pashupatinath is one of the most important Hindu temples in Nepal and at the ghats (stairs where you can descend to the river), plateaus are made that are used for the open air cremations that take place on regular daily basis. The Pashupatinath temple is not accessible for non-Hindus but it is the cremations that attract many visitors, both Nepalese and foreign visitors. Cremations are part of daily life and death here in Kathmandu, but it is something that you do not want to be confronted with too many times....

Despite being clogged with garbage and black with pollution, the fetid Bagmati River is actually an extremely sacred river; Pashupatinath is the Nepali equivalent of Varanasi on the sacred River Ganges. The cremation ghats along the Bagmati are the city's most important location for open-air cremations. Fires burned here day and night after the 2015 earthquake as hundreds of families dealt with the human cost of the disaster. Only members of the royal family can be cremated immediately in front of Pashupatinath Temple; the funerals of 10 members of the Nepali royal family took place here after the massacre in 2001. Funerals of ordinary Nepalis take place daily on the ghats to the south of the temple. Bodies are wrapped in shrouds and laid out along the riverbank, then cremated on a wooden pyre in a surprisingly businesslike way. Inevitably this is the most interesting aspect to Pashupatinath and it’s a powerful place to contemplate notions of death and mortality.At the north end of the ghats, visible from across the river, are a series of yogis' caves, used as shelters since medieval times and still occupied by meditators today.If you walk south along the west bank, you will see a 7th-century standing Buddha image, next to the damaged Raj Rajeshwari Temple, with its unusual curved stucco outbuilding....

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...5x7ZTrj-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...XR22Kh5-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...P4gZbrM-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...LgCLq48-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...PnX7Ph7-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...dLRN4VL-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...WnjhmCf-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Gm7hMS3-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...tVKGwwJ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...m6cLXj2-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...W59kDqq-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...ZkDK9d9-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...F6Khv4G-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...WrzgRH5-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Dp2NRLx-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...fCrPdJ2-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...2CpbmD7-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...bzsgLkc-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...qxmxMWd-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...p6J63pz-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...zt4LCVs-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...ftQQZGz-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...kLWJnSM-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...dPQrH7r-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...7V8TMP2-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...z4B3tTJ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...XFppQX5-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...sx9pssm-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...GHVMwVF-X2.jpg

Pashupatinath Temple, a famous, sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Pashupatinath and is located on the banks of the Bagmati River 5 kilometres north-east of Kathmandu Valley in the eastern part of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...sx9pssm-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...GHVMwVF-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...fMrhqxd-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...tHqPfwg-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...qTqJQn2-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...kgSZ6xQ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...vgqwqLx-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Q5c5P6N-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...qfhnTJh-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...3zHKsRn-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...BZDVnQD-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...SVGj4nD-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...pdQ9jNT-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...6HK7s7q-X2.jpg

***Some might find certain images in the two posts above disturbing but bear in mind please, every continent (country) has a few different religions and we need to respect them all in our opinion. Pashupatinath is the most important temple dedicated to god Shiva. Every year this temple attracts hundreds of elderly followers of Hinduism. They arrive here to find shelter for the last several weeks of their lives, to meet death, be cremated on the banks of the river and travel their last journey with the waters of the sacred river Bagmati, which later meets the holy river Ganges. Hinduists from every corner of Nepal and India are arriving here to die. It is believed that those who die in Pashupatinath Temple are reborn as a human, regardless of any misconduct that could worsen their karma. The exact day of their death is predicted by astrologers of the temple. If you are attracted to the places where the spirit of death can be felt, then consider Pashupatinath as your first destination. It is a temple with special atmosphere of death; death is present in almost every ritual and every corner of it, be well aware before visiting the temple complex***

"Tomorrow never comes in Nepal" became my personal saying whenever I was told when something will get easily done and permits need to be issued crossing the international China / Nepal border in gone by days (1990’s-2000’s), same applies nowadays to purchasing / renting a motor vehicle as as foreigner visiting Nepal in some ways. There's so much smile and charm in Nepal but things definitely move differently in Nepal ~ again, go with the flow rather than against it. Visiting a few Kathmandu bike dealerships checking into availability, purchases, license and registration process of motorbikes for the future as I prefer doing our groundwork's in person as calling or emailing the dealerships and agents gets us either unreliable or confusing feedback most times, better to check during face to face talks with smiles all around and walk away with detailed hard facts.... As always the YAKATTACK team has back up solutions as we are basically on a set schedule... Lets keep them mighty classic Royal Enfield in mind for a later day…

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...DQ6ZxCb-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...3jcHMNW-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...DRkSQKR-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...vFXn7fv-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...xW2NXgs-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...wRQDBvR-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...SZMbWpM-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...SbX8xdM-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...ZRHb4tP-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...v24wJ9T-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...9RdrShX-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...zNb4DXn-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...38pXWPL-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...cXCs7mW-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...H8MtnbF-X2.jpg

After the Royal Enfield dealership visit and meeting, few phone calls and emails and we are "chauffeured" across fascinating Kathmandu by the experienced guys from the unique company called Vespa Valley.
Thrilling experience as we are not a great pillion riders on the cool vintage Vespa Scooters to get a real "in your face" feel of the traffic rules and regulations ~ scratch that last statement, there are no traffic rules and regulations in Kathmandu....
VESPA VALLEY KATHMANDU: http://vespavalley.com

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...BSPcfzM-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...5GqJ39R-X2.jpg

Kathmandu Valley (South of the actual city centre of Kathmandu). The Kathmandu Valley, located in Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several pilgrimage sites for Hindus and Buddhists. There are seven World Heritage Sites within the valley. Historically, the valley and adjoining areas made up a confederation known as the Nepal Mandala. Until the 15th century, Bhaktapur was its capital, when two other capitals, Kathmandu and Lalitpur (Patan), were established. After the annexation of the valley by the Gorkha Kingdom, and subsequent conversion of the Valley as the capital of their empire, the designation of "Nepal" was extended to all the lands they had conquered. The Kathmandu Valley is the most developed and populated place in Nepal. The majority of offices and headquarters are located in the valley, making it the economic hub of Nepal. It is popular with tourists for its unique architecture, and rich culture that includes the highest number of jatras (street festivals) in Nepal. The valley itself was referred to as "Nepal Proper" by British historians. 2015, Kathmandu Valley was hit by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. The earthquake caused thousands of deaths and destruction of many infrastructures.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...k7MgwvD-X3.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...dWVn8p8-X3.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...4pzh9qC-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...CrM7pHc-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...dQSRKMV-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...kHBkGG3-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...7Kpk73Q-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...nPw2zg9-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...GBST5HR-X3.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...6hCJF2t-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...fXLRtDQ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...z5pBfJH-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...jBfHhT2-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...F8WmHrF-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...KPD9LGd-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...HX7HDcp-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...cdLxdRv-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...9LRn9cx-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...gGccq8C-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...zC9PdGv-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...jXVddGF-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...4dpJRsx-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...XsHx2S6-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...b5Mnsbd-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...XVCMhh3-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...bJS98LW-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...QKVxjpr-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...2bQ5mBP-X2.jpg

Tasty and yummy lunch stop (Kathmandu Valley), Newa cuisine (also referred to as Newar cuisine) is a subset of Nepalese cuisine that has developed over centuries among the Newars of Kathmandu (Kathmandu is called Yen in Nepal bhasa language), Nepal. Newa cuisine is the most celebrated food variety in the country that consists of over 200 dishes. It is more elaborate than most Nepalese cuisines because the Kathmandu Valley has exceptionally fertile alluvial soil and enough wealthy households to make growing produce more profitable than cultivating rice and other staples. Food is the integral part of Newar culture. Different kind of foods are prepared for different occasions, considering the climate and nutritional needs for body. Newars are renowned for their sumptuous feasting. Newars cook, store and serve food and beverages in containers and utensils made of gold, silver, copper, brass, iron, clay pottery, dried rice stalks, corn leaves and leaves of certain trees sewn together with toothpicks to make plates and bowls.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...7kCF9SF-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Ls2WKNh-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...p7S84j7-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...DNMXBZG-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Ppb8xt2-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...MQ6bSmp-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...k3GrR5L-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...J6QhTxQ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...9wHq7f2-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...FzW6KqZ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...tgRtbrH-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...9tv55Dz-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...SV8LHqB-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...sB9FXwQ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...kkSkLBT-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...73cvbpW-X2.jpg

Our journey to Mt.Everest started in Kathmandu ~ Mt.Everest fascinates and is extremely breathtaking in a mystical way, had some long time personal unfinished business but as of Tuesday 20/02/2018 have now been on both sides (Tibet / China and Nepal) near the South + North Mt.Eveerst basecamps. But must say, its not only the top of the world mountain called Mt.Everest thats beautiful, its the whole majestic monumental region around. Its actually crazy seeing everything for real with my own eyes as I read about all details in books and seen in many movies all my life... Few pics were taken during -35 (degr.celsius) above Kala Pattar at 6001m, located right at the foot of Pumori (7161m) above Gorakshep (Nepal Everest Base Camp). Dirtnomad#199 thumping mighty Mt.Everest ~ mountain top with the snow flying off….

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...8mmbpX3-X2.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...jhmV953-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...53SDm2C-X2.jpg

Mount Everest, known in Nepali as Sagarmāthā and in Tibetan as Chomolungma, is Earth's highest mountain above sea level, located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas. The international border between China (Tibet Autonomous Region) and Nepal (Province # 1) runs across its summit point.

The current official elevation of 8,848m, recognised by China and Nepal, was established by a 1955 Indian survey and subsequently confirmed by a Chinese survey in 1975. In 2005, China remeasured the rock height of the mountain, with a result of 8844.43m. There followed an argument between China and Nepal as to whether the official height should be the rock height (8,844 m., China) or the snow height (8,848m., Nepal). In 2010, an agreement was reached by both sides that the height of Everest is 8,848m, and Nepal recognises China's claim that the rock height of Everest is 8,844 m.

In 1865, Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society, upon a recommendation by Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India. As there appeared to be several different local names, Waugh chose to name the mountain after his predecessor in the post, Sir George Everest, despite George Everest's objections.

Mount Everest attracts many climbers, some of them highly experienced mountaineers. There are two main climbing routes, one approaching the summit from the southeast in Nepal (known as the "standard route") and the other from the north in Tibet. While not posing substantial technical climbing challenges on the standard route, Everest presents dangers such as altitude sickness, weather, and wind, as well as significant hazards from avalanches and the Khumbu Icefall. As of 2017, nearly 300 people have died on Everest, many of whose bodies remain on the mountain.

The first recorded efforts to reach Everest's summit were made by British mountaineers. As Nepal did not allow foreigners into the country at the time, the British made several attempts on the north ridge route from the Tibetan side. After the first reconnaissance expedition by the British in 1921 reached 7,000m on the North Col, the 1922 expedition pushed the north ridge route up to 8,320m, marking the first time a human had climbed above 8,000m. Seven porters were killed in an avalanche on the descent from the North Col. The 1924 expedition resulted in one of the greatest mysteries on Everest to this day: George Mallory and Andrew Irvine made a final summit attempt on 8 June but never returned, sparking debate as to whether or not they were the first to reach the top. They had been spotted high on the mountain that day but disappeared in the clouds, never to be seen again, until Mallory's body was found in 1999 at 8,155m on the north face. Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary made the first official ascent of Everest in 1953, using the southeast ridge route. Tenzing had reached 8,595m the previous year as a member of the 1952 Swiss expedition. The Chinese mountaineering team of Wang Fuzhou, Gonpo, and Qu Yinhua made the first reported ascent of the peak from the north ridge on 25 May 1960.

Another beautiful perfect day around the Himalayas mountain range, HEV = http://hoteleverestview.com is the starting point for our day hike around Khumjung is a village and Village Development Committee in Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Zone of north-eastern Nepal. It is located in the Khumbu region inside Sagarmatha National Park, a world heritage site. The village is at an elevation of 3,790 metres above sea level, and is situated near Mount Khumbila. The village is the seat of Khumjung village development committee which include Kunde, Khumjung, Tengboche (Tyangboche), Pangboche, Pheriche, Dole, Chharchung, Machhermo, Lobuche, Dingboche, and Gokyo.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...T2L8xfk-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Mf6nxgh-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...VWN56MM-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...FkgH76z-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...MDzcBKr-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Wvc9zpR-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...ffnbwhL-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...rXxJQHP-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...LphjHKZ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...nRvfcTm-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...GW9mdPD-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...96LNjsp-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...dGtDv7B-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...mhWbWtP-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...RcDtkLD-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...PgGw9PS-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...C2znBW3-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...QNqtqcH-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...xQfWcDT-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...7pxgxss-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...psfWjrz-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...48LdP44-X2.jpg

Mt Everest Bakery Khumjung - a cafe/bakery modelled on those in Namche. Mt. Everest Bakery was the first bakery to open in the Everest Region. Unofficialy it is supposed to be the highest bakery in the world. The concept of opening a bakery in such a high altitude, was thought by Mr. Pemba Dorji Sherpa. He was successful in opening and running the bakery, opening doors to many other bakeries in the region. His daughter Pema Shanti Sherpa still runs the Mt. Everest Bakery in Namche. Mt Everest Bakery is apparently a perfect place for good coffee, fresh bread and delicious apple pies but as early in the season (February 2018) was closed as many other business operations.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...npstzq6-X2.jpg

The Yeti Scalp of Khumjung, the small village monastery in northeast Nepal claims to have a 300-year-old Yeti scalp, one carried by Sir Edmund Hillary across the globe for inspection by zoologists and other experts. Despite its purported provenance, it did not pass inspection. The half football-shaped scalp sits in a cabinet at the temple, or gomba, of the village called Khumjung, and for a few Nepalese rupees the monks will take out a small, glass-fronted box containing the scruffy-haired dome. But no matter the donation, the scalp stays in the padlocked box.

The relic is purported by the village to have come from one of the “abominable snowmen” of Himalayan legend, and was found by Hillary and journalist Desmond Doig in 1960 when they were on an expedition to look for evidence of the big-footed beast. They found the scalp in the home of old Khumjung woman, who said it was a good-luck charm for the village, and was anxious about letting it leave. In order to avoid disaster befalling the village, Hillary agreed to a deal: If he made a donation to the monastery and a local school, and took with him a guardian for the scalp from the gomba, they would let it leave and be examined.

The scalp turned out to have been fashioned from the hide of an animal, most likely a goat-antelope native to the Himalayas. After its trip and reported debunking it was returned safely to the monastery, make up your own mind if they really exist or not. As Khumjo Chumbi, the monk who was charged with watching over the scalp on its round-the-world voyage, told the Guardian newspaper at the time, “We don’t believe in giraffes and lions in Nepal because there aren’t any there. Likewise, you don’t believe in yetis because you have none in your country.”

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...JHwQPdd-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...TXdJLqb-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...5SFWHJH-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Xk7dTzm-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...8RNkXDJ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...LLdVDmJ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...HVSVxMP-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...S7cbdGH-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...22ZvvSR-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...hv4TcGN-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...s2BW5zL-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...HZjvrkq-X2.jpg

The traditional villages of Khunde and Khumjung are above Namche. These two towns with rock walls dividing stony fields have beautiful vistas on all sides. Khunde Hospital , built in 1966 and maintained by the Himalayan Trust, is at the top of the village. Its mission is to treat local people, but it also provides emergency care to trekkers. Khumjung is the largest village in the Khumbu at the foot of the sacred peak Khumbila. Another place to visit is Khumjung School which is the original Hillary School established in 1960. Great panoramic views from Khunde Peak near the Hillary Memorial site, a perfect destination to trek and gain the wonderful experience of mesmerising view from The Hillary Memorial View Point at 4200m….

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...MR63FkD-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...LvkGspt-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...WwtHkDC-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...J2MgWLd-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...ZZsFmLc-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...HLWNkv9-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...kKbbWmd-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...H2dfCVg-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...9fnTnzC-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...8Xqv9HH-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...XmK4NZv-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...VwNVBCx-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...JksScFc-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...TdVN8hd-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...43Q8CRx-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...m5kxX77-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...9rtVmcC-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...K47mkRD-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...NdtbL2c-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...fzGzqW2-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...NsHQk4x-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...HJgWcq8-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...kR22q9g-X2.jpg

Sir Edmund Percival Hillary (20 July 1919 – 11 January 2008) was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953, Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. They were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt.

Hillary became interested in mountaineering while in secondary school. He made his first major climb in 1939, reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier. He served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a navigator during World War II. Prior to the 1953 Everest expedition, Hillary had been part of the British reconnaissance expedition to the mountain in 1951 as well as an unsuccessful attempt to climb Cho Oyu in 1952. As part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition he reached the South Pole overland in 1958. He subsequently reached the North Pole, making him the first person to reach both poles and summit Everest.

Following his ascent of Everest, Hillary devoted most of his life to helping the Sherpa people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, which he founded. Through his efforts, many schools and hospitals were built in Nepal. From 1985 to 1988 he served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh and concurrently as Ambassador to Nepal. Hillary had numerous honours conferred upon him, including the Order of the Garter in 1995. Upon his death in 2008, he was given a state funeral…..

NEPAL ~ fantastic awesome mind-blowing trip went by in a flash, once is definitely not enough as we fell in love with the country, great hospitality of the people always smiling, spoken level of English even in remote mountain locations was very high and a huge pleasant surprise to us… We will be back as done our necessary groundwork's now and might be "Riding our trusty KTM's in KTM" in the future, we strongly feel to have barely scratched the surface of the amazing country called Nepal and see endless possibilities enjoying our regular preferred activities: https://www.welcomenepal.com

Lets give some serious credit, massive thanks very much and YAKATTACK team shoutout for the outstanding amazing service, awesome help and assistance during our first Nepal visit: Dwarika’s Hotel: http://dwarikas.com - Hotel Everest View: http://hoteleverestview.com - Vespa Valley: http://vespavalley.com

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...tMR2Sdw-X2.jpg

Where will our future YAKATTACK 2018 adventures bring us next as the Yakattack team will ride & explore more in the coming years ~ stay tuned as we racing the planet visiting exciting destinations…..

The Yakattact Team consist of only 2 riders?

Some interesting pictures.

TB-Racing (Butch) passed away in an motobike accident in Tibet.

I was not a great fan of the guy, but I did love his posted
Died what he love doing.
RIP.