A Himalayan adventure travel memoir with a humanitarian twist. About to turn sixty-eight, Patti's life was disintegrating. Leaving behind her injured husband she packs her bags and heads to Nepal. Solo travel forces her to surmount daunting hurdles-both physical and emotional. While trekking in the forbidden kingdom of Upper Mustang she realizes her strength and determination when she suffers a frightening fall in an isolated cave monastery.
Volunteering in remote Ratmate village presents unforeseen challenges, and a visit to nearby Aprik village offers a life-changing opportunity. Along the way, conversations with fascinating monks, teachers, and entrepreneurs provide insight into how best to serve the children of Nepal.
Map of Dharapani and Ratmate XI
Upper Mustang XII
Prologue XIII
Silver Star Mountain
January 2014
Chapter 1 Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone 1
Chapter 2 Second oughts 14
Hong Kong
April 18, 2014
Chapter 3 Keep Paddling 27
Kathmandu, Nepal
April 20, 2014
Chapter 4 Birthplace of the Buddha 44
Ratmate Village, Gorkha, Nepal
April 25, 2014
Chapter 5 Teacher, Teacher! 57
Chapter 6 On (and O) the Grid 73
Chapter 7 Pheri Bhetaula Ratmate 87
Chapter 8 Namaste Aprik 101
Pokhara, Nepal
May 12, 2014
Chapter 9 Lonely in Lakeside 114
Upper Mustang
May 15, 2014
Chapter 10 Gateway to the Forbidden Kingdom 124
Chapter 11 Mero Sathi, My Friend 134
Chapter 12 Reaching New Heights 146
Chapter 13 e Greatest Library of Lo 159
Chapter 14 Return to Lo-Manthang 174
Chapter 15 Medieval Monarch 187
Chapter 16 Age-old Rituals, Contemporary Connections 197
Chapter 17 Retail erapy at 3,840 Meters 211
Chapter 18 Kindred Spirits 225
Chapter 19 Restoring the Heart of an Ancient Culture 238
Chapter 20 Will this Trek Ever End? 247
Chapter 21 e Long Stairway to Heaven 258
Chapter 22 Homeward 269
Silver Star
June 2019
Chapter 23 Nepal One Day at a Time 275
Reading Guide 286
Acknowledgements 288
Resources 291
About e Author 295