The Himalaya is gigantic and impressive but that doesn?t mean it isn?t vulnerable. Relatively young, this range continues to gain a few millimetres every year, with the Indian plate making progress under the Asian plate. Moreover, the growth of the population, the overexploitation of the natural resources by the local population and the war have devastating effects on the soil, the forest, the fauna and the bio-diversity of the massif. Here is some advice to trekkers who want to be as eco-friendly as possible: Bring some micropure pills which clean the water instead of drinking bottled water ( the bottles are carried by men and burnt afterwards), and for those who camp, bring gas instead of cutting the very few trees to make campfires!
Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 10 April 2009.
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Himalayan populations are highly religious. The cohabitation of the 2 great religions which are Hinduism and Buddhism is a perfect example of religious tolerance. Everywhere acts of devotion are part of the daily life of the inhabitants. The towns are filled with temples, sanctuaries and votive altars. Buddhist landscapes are strewed with prayer flags, prayer wheels and many walls which are used to pass on the prayers written on them to gods. As for chartens, they protect villages and passes from evil spirits. Religious fervour is no doubt one of the most typical cultural features of Himalayan societies.
Panorama made of 3 x 11 photos taken on the 13 April 2009.
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Lodges are very simple mountain refuges in local people?s homes including meals and two-bedded bedrooms. Treks with accommodation in lodges are very friendly as they allow to discover the Nepalese way of life and to meet other trekkers. Dinner and breakfast are taken in a common room heated with a wood-stove. This room is also used for the exchange of Sherpas. Bedrooms are not heated and very poorly isolated. (How chilly are the nights with the temperature going below 0 C almost every night in April!) Facilities: A simple wash-basin, often situated outside, is enough to brush your teeth. And you will have to make do with a basin full of hot water instead of a daily shower! And better not feel like going to the toilets in the middle of the night, since they are often situated in another building!
Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 09 April 2009.
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It is with extreme kindness that Sherpas and Buddhist monks welcome visitors. It is hard not to be enthralled by their strength, loyalty and good spirits. Sherpas are farmers, breeders, traders and since the 1950?s porters, mountain guides, trek agents and innkeepers. Sherpa people are associated with the history of Mount Everest.
Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 08 April 2009.
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Called the ?Capital of Sherpas?, Namche is at 2 days?walk to Lukla (There is no road suitable for vehicles going to Namcha).Nearly all the treks in the Khumbu region go through Namche Bazar, the gate to the high Himalaya. In this village, the landscape on summits higher than 8000m is breathtaking (Mt Everest, Lhoste, Ama Dablam). It is highly recommended to spend 1 or 2 nights in N to get used to the altitude and to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness.
Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 08 April 2009.
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Lukla?s airfield was built in the 60?s by Sir Edmund Hillary (the first man who ever climbed Mount Everest in 1953 with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay). At the beginning, there was just enough space for one plane to fly from and to Katmandou. Now, there is capacity for up to 4 Darnier 228. The runway, 527-meter-long, is surrounded on one side by the mountain, and on the other side by a dizzy slope (12% incline) into the void. The pilot flies only visually, so very good weather conditions are necessary to carry out this flight which lasts 25 minutes. In case of bad weather conditions, one day?s drive in a four-wheel-drive vehicle and two days?walk are needed to travel the same distance! Lukla is THE place to go for the tourists visiting the Himalaya and the surrounding valleys at the beginning and at the end of their trek.
Panorama made of 3 x 11 photos taken on the 15 April 2009.
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