April 22, 2023: Mothers, Babies, Bridges and Paintings

Yesterday morning was a strenuous hike to a nunnery where Dungse Lama Pema was giving an Empowerment Blessing to dispel obstacles. There were many villagers and no other westerners. The ceremony was late in beginning while people hiked in from their remote villages, and then it began to sleet and snow. My colleague Holly from Australia and I stayed inside the temple with women and children while most of the men were outside in the harsh weather. We loved hanging out with the mothers and babies.

Eventually we left and trekked back to Tsum Monastery as the ceremony had not yet started and we needed to make a site visit for conservation planning for next October. On the way back, the delicate footbridge over the raging river was especially dramatic!

In Tsum Monastery, a master thangka was working with carpenters to install large paintings that were created in his studio in Kathmandu. I gave him two strong and adjustable work lights as they were up on scaffolding.

Return to Kathmandu via helicopter is planned for April 23, depending on weather and availability!