Bells chime through the wet air and the odd manic high-pitched wail of urging in Tibetan rips over the grassland. Plodding through the pine and spruce are the sagging, deflated bodies of mules lugging packs that dwarf them. Their day thus far has been a crushingly long one. Light beige coloured hats appear too, and the bodies beneath them lithely take in steps, stalking along in between the ten mules. They are the muleteers and what a sight they and the mules make. Someone ev

Mountains and the worship of them are everywhere along the route Jana is one of those towns that looks to be embarrassed with itself, somehow inward looking with its newly built homes falling into disrepair and a winding dusty road that is littered with refuse. We one depart it one happy morning marching up once again and I for one am happy to be rid of its dusty and confused presence. The Kawa Karpo pilgrimage can be described as a cultural odyssey of relentless ups and down

The first night of sleep is under an enormous rock which overhangs our informal outdoor space. A huge sacred rock covered in money, inscriptions, prayer flags and offerings.  Pilgrims study it and raise up their eyes to it in wonder. This is our camp and at first it seems ostentatious and a little presumptuous, but as Kandro points out, “it is covered”. Our little camp beneath a sacred rock with Tseba, Drolma and a yet to be prepared dinner Our camp selected by Kandro, sits b

Snow, pilgrims with tireless feet, endless spirit and mountains that one bows to every day…and the odd cup of tea. Posts of the journey upcoming #Yunnantrekking #kawagebo #Snowmountains #bonreligion #Deqin #sacredmountains #KawaKarpo #circumambulation #Tibet #Himalayas #JeffFuchs #trekking #buddhism #animism #yunnan #kora