This April, Blair and Cynthia took a month-long trip to Nepal. Blair shot the following photographs on a 16-day trek around Manaslu, the world's eighth highest peak. Manaslu is a restricted trekking area and our group of nine trekkers was privileged to see some wondrous sites in this remote area. Most of the group had visited the same villages two years ago and were returning with health and school supplies donated through the SEEDS Foundation. We hope you enjoy our trip.

The Group - Keith Goldstein, Sabra Jones, Blair Davis, Cynthia Tinapple, Donna Goldstein, Bea Christob, Kate Besleme, Gail Oshiro, Nick Lederer. Bea is from Idaho by way of Germany. The others are all Californians except Ohioans Blair and Cynthia.

Heavy Helicopter
Tues, April 6, 1999 — Jagat (4,500')
We intended to land in Philam but the extra weight of the medicines and school supplies we were carrying forced the pilot to set down in Jagat, an afternoon's walk away from our intended site.

Bridges over the gorge
The bridges were not as perilous as "Lonely Planet" led us to believe. In preparation for opening the Manasalu area to more trekkers, many improvements were being made.

Prok
Fri, April 9, 1999 — Prok (7,000')
We were fortunate to arrive in this village of about 500 people just in time for a two-day spring festival. We spent two days here. Our tents were set up in a cabbage patch.

Opening a health clinic in Prok
Fri, April 9, 1999
We had brought medicines for the newly constructed health clinic, built with funds from SEEDS. The clinic uses both Tibetan and western medicines and is staffed by a local physician, Dr. Dorje. The villagers were most hospitable and treated us royally. We fell asleep to the sounds of drumming and music and dancing coming from the gompa on the hill above the village.

Dancing in Prok
Sat, April 10, 1999
We took a rare step back in time as we witnessed the parade, dancing, and archery competition in this ethnically Tibetan village.

Tibetan garb
Sat, April 10, 1999 – Prok
I loved the detail of the costumes on the Prok women dancers. Their embroidered woolen boots made a pleasant rhythmic thud as they sang and danced. In a ritual archery contest, participants sent their grudges and resentments flying with each arrow. After many volleys (and much drinking of the local brew) someone finally hit the target and a good harvest was assured. It rained that night, a good sign for the harvest.

Music in the gompa
Sat, April 10, 1999 — Prok
These copper and brass horns were part of the parade around the village. One person plays while the other one supports the end.

Parading around the village
Sat, April 10, 1999 — Prok
Once each year, the sacred Tibetan scriptures are taken out of the monastery and carried around the village to ensure a good harvest. This farming village looked quite fertile, organized and prosperous.

Inspecting the drums
Sat, April 10, 1999 — Prok
Blair couldn't resist trying out one of the drums, to the delight of a young monk.

People of the villages
Though life is difficult in these villages and faces are often weathered by the sun, the people are very friendly, open and accepting. Almost everyone wears beads, coral, Tibetan turquoise and usually a dzi bead (most simulated). It was fun to give away the Dalai Lama beads on satin cords that Cynthia had made and brought along. Villagers usually put the charm to their foreheads as a sign of reverence and respect before they put the necklace on.

Prayer wheel
An old woman chants and spins her prayer wheel as she walks through the village.

Infant mortality
The infant mortality rate of the region approaches 50% and most deaths are attributed to pneumonia and dehydration. There are plans to build an air strip in this village which may disrupt the traditional customs and ways but may also bring better health care, sanitation, and education.