Today was a 'rest' day, the only activity was an acclimatisation hike, climbing…

Today was a 'rest' day, the only activity was an acclimatisation hike, climbing to 3900m to Praken Gompa set high in the hills above Manang. There we met 74 year old Buddhist nun Ani Chorten, daughter of Lama Tashi. She talked about her life, her daily routines, advice on follows one's own path and her thoughts on detachment. She lives at Gompa Praken alone only descending every three to four months. I was delighted that she allowed me to take her portrait and record.

Upon returning to the hotel, after 'freshening up' I went to the hotel dining room our group was there all talking about the amazing day. Over the conversation I heard 'I'm a painter' , somewhat rudely from across the room I said 'who are you!!' amazingly it was Lilianne Ivens an extraordinary painter from the Blue Mountains. I'd been following her work for sometime, we'd passed a couple of messages back and forth...somewhere I'd seen she was also heading to Nepal...but seriously what are the chances? We share a similar love of nature and it informs out work. It was a wonderful evening of talking art, painting, travel, our inspiration and photography, and sharing work.

Tomorrow we head to Yak Kharka, the temps will be dropping and the elevation rising.

Here is a link to her work
https://lnkd.in/gGbu7Zks

Image1 : Ani Chorten
Image2 : Ani Chorten
Image3 : part of my new body work made at Praken Gompa after hiking to 3900m