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Mantras and high altitude pit stops

11/7/2011

10 Comments

 
Om. Step. Mani. Step. Padme. Pause. Hum. Gasp.
I repeat the mantra in slow unison with each shuffling step as I painfully inch my way up to the pass.
“Time. For. A. Rest,” I announce breathlessly.
I collapse onto the snow, my lungs screaming for oxygen, while Kunchok sits patiently beside me, lighting a cigarette.
I suck in as much of the rarified air, while my 20-something Tibetan guide casually inhales tobacco smoke into his lungs.
Two elderly Tibetans join us, visibly exhausted from the high altitude trek.
“Tashi delek,” we greet each other, wheezing from exhaustion, “Hello.”
We’re 200m from the highest pass, halfway through our 52km, three-day pilgrimage around Tibet’s holy mountain, Mt Kailash; Kang Rimpoche as the Tibetans call it, Precious Jewel in the Snow.
We had camped at 4800m the previous day and were now inching towards the 5630m-high Drolma-la pass. I set off at 8am on Day 2 for the 18km trek and would not arrive at our next camp until 5.30pm.
Kunchok has been holding my hand for the past few hours, the ice and snow slippery underfoot. He also gallantly carries my day pack, so all I have to do is carry myself.
“Okay. I’m ready,” I said, breathing deeply. “Let’s go.”
I shuffle a few metres before doubling over, fatigue weighing down on me. Kunchok stands by in silent encouragement, his lungs and blood cells immune against the severe lack of oxygen in the nether regions of the Himalayas.
“I … just … need … a minute…”
My guide remains non-judgmental about by my painfully slow progress and lights another cigarette.

Professional pilgrims
A youngish Tibetan man strides past us, purposefully heading towards the high pass.
“He’s a professional,” Kunchok tells me. “Sick or older Tibetans who can’t do the pilgrimage pay him to walk around Kailash for them.”
A karma win-win.
The record for completing the 52km kora (circuit) is around 12 hours – I was doing it in the painstakingly slow tourist pace of three days.
The more devout pilgrims make the kora doing full prostrations all the way, even in knee-deep snow, taking them about three weeks to complete the circuit.
I continue to stop-start, stop-start, silently repeating the mantra Om mani padme hum in time with my shuffling footsteps.
Kunchok walks diligently by my side until we reach the Drolma-la pass, prayer flags fluttering in the breeze, cheering our arrival.
Picture
Mani stone: the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is carved into stones along the pilgrim route around Mt Kailash. Image: Hari Kotrotsios
Saga Dawa festival
Tibetans believe that one kora around Kailash offers merit points towards your spiritual development, with bonus points if you make this journey during the Saga Dawa festival, which celebrates Buddha’s enlightenment.
Every year on the full moon day of the fourth Tibetan month (May or June) thousands of pilgrims from Tibet, India, Nepal and around the world gather to drink and eat as they watch a flagpole wrapped with new prayer flags being replaced by a dozen men.
Once the flagpole is in place, people set off for the  pilgrimage around Mt Kailash. 
We caught our first glimpse of Kailash two days before we arrived at its base. We heard from a returning group of Westerners that the snow was knee deep and the visibility on the track was almost zero due to cloud cover.
So I appealed to the gods, sending out a silent prayer asking for clear blue skies – and that's exactly what we had during our entire time walking around the mountain! Unfortunately, I forgot to add one tiny detail: warm weather. 
I huddled into my sleeping bag every night wearing two pairs of thermals, flannel pyjamas, track pants, fleece top, extra thick socks, a beanie as well as having two blankets over the sleeping bag. 
And it was still freezing cold.

Getting up in the middle of the night when nature called was a laborious, time-consuming effort:
  • unzip myself out of the sleeping bag
  • fumble for the torch
  • put on a jacket
  • fumble getting shoes on
  • find roll of toilet paper
  • unzip frosted tent flap
  • stumbling out into the open air
  • steer clear of grazing yaks
  • peel off three layers of clothing etc
  • bundle myself up again
  • crawl back into tent
  • zip up frosted tent flap
  • kick shoes off
  • crawl into sleeping bag
  • re-arrange blankets
  • curl up into a ball to warm myself up
I was exhausted and breathless by the effort of it all!

High altitude pit stops
“I’ll need a toilet stop soon.”
“Yes, okay,” Kunchok relayed the message to our driver.
We continued driving for another hour across the open, empty plains of the Tibetan plateau.
“Really, I do need to make a stop.”
Another half hour later, the Landcruiser rolled to a stop near some large boulders, the first we’d found since my initial request.
“You can go here,” said Kunchok.
Our driver, mindful of female modesty, would drive until he found a suitable outcrop of rocks or a ditch, which also provided (albeit minor) protection against the raging winds whipping across the plateau.
There is nothing remotely lady-like about trying to maintain your balance behind a boulder, toilet paper fluttering in the wind while tucked under your chin, fumbling to re-arrange three layers of clothing to look somewhat respectful for the short trip back to the Landcruiser while wheezing and gasping due to oxygen deprivation.
Oh for the comforts of sea level living!
Picture
June 2007: No outhouses here...heading westwards on the Tibetan plateau after leaving Mt Kailash.
10 Comments
Annabel Candy, Get In the Hot Spot link
11/7/2011 12:37:03 pm

Blimey,I was really keen to go trekking in Tibet until I read this;)

Loos are always a great source or discomfort/amusement/fascination amongst travelers and while the freezing climes sound terrible I'd definitely prefer to relieve myself al fresco than in a stinky, dirty "toilet".

Sounds like a brilliant adventure and you survived it!

Reply
Hari Kotrotsios
11/7/2011 01:00:18 pm

Annabel, it was definitely worth it, despite the loo challenges.
Tibetan toilets, as such, were an outdoor affair of the hole-in-the-ground variety, with three walls and generally no roof, and situated across the courtyard from the guest house compound.
However, al fresco was the order of the day when camping!

Reply
Dave Overett
11/7/2011 03:05:01 pm

You do have some great campfire stories. That one may frighten little kiddies though.
Have had similar experiences in the Simpson Desert where believe it or not it can get below freezing during the night. Take a shovel and for god's sake fill it in after.
By the way no using dry creek beds and that of course is the only place that offers vegetation coverage.

Reply
sue kruger
11/7/2011 03:53:44 pm

You have such an exciting life Hari! My hatred of getting out of my warm bed at night in winter in my own house, has now paled into insignificance compared to that saga in the tent.

Reply
Peter Nolan link
11/7/2011 10:54:21 pm

The trick is to void thoroughly before departure and then not eat or drink (other than tiny amounts of water) for three days. Then, when you get back to camp, eat a humongous curry and wash it down with many bottles of beer. Repeat as required. When back to normal, hook up with a new outfit. Yours will have moved on.

Reply
Hari Kotrotsios
12/7/2011 03:27:05 am

Sue - the tent saga was a temporary discomfort set among the magnificent backdrop of the Himalayas! If anything, it gives me more appreciation of my own warm bed and plenty of oxygen that's available at sea level.

Peter - thank you for your practical tips. I shall take them into consideration in any future expeditions.

Reply
sandra kelly
12/7/2011 07:18:06 am

Hari you really should be a travel writer, but after going to the toilet in these conditions, I understand why you love Coolum so much, great read Sandra x

Reply
Hari Kotrotsios
12/7/2011 07:27:33 am

Sandra, travel is character-building, that's for sure. These are just minor inconveniences, even though they can seem overwhelming at the time.
Apart from the comfort and convenience of a home-based toilet, I also love Coolum because of the sun, surf and relaxed lifestyle!

Reply
Robyn Downey
12/7/2011 08:54:44 am

Excellent story, Hari. I'm enjoying your tales of Tibet and I'll think of you in that frozen tent when I snuggle up in my warm bed tonight! :)

Reply
Coral McVean
13/7/2011 12:01:11 pm

Your life has been so exciting . I'm thrilled that you are sharing your stories with your readers.

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​I acknowledge the traditional Custodians of the land on which I work and live, the Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi Kabi and Joondoburri people, and recognise their continuing connection to land, the waters and sky. I pay my respect to them and their cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.
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