Amristar, sikh's holy city

I could recently visit Amristar, the city where the "Golden Temple" of Sikh people is.

Sikhism, the youngest of the world religions, is barely five hundred years old. Its founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469. Guru Nanak spread a simple message of "Ek Ong Kar": we are all one, created by the One Creator of all Creation. This was at a time when India was being torn apart by castes, sectarianism, religious factions, and fanaticism. He aligned with no religion, and respected all religions. He expressed the reality that there is one God and many paths, and the Name of God is Truth, "Sat Nam".

These days I was with Anush and her friends. Good to speak in spanish after more than one month speaking english!! Very special days... "time seemed to have been stopped...!"

We met one Sikh indian fellow and he spent a lot of time with us... he was pleased to show us the city, to invite us to dinner and to share his most intimate confidences with us. It was a enriching time, sharing different cultures in a friendly way... so nice!!

Lavado de cara...

Que ha pasado con mi sucia y monzonica Delhi?? De vuelta en la capital de la India todo me resulta extraño. El barrio en el que residi ya no es un escombrero embarrado al que llaman "bazar". Ahora es un barrio de lo mas comercial, iluminado y pavimentado. Ahora te piden mas dinero por las mismas cosas. Sin embargo, nada es nuevo... simplemente un lavado de cara, una nueva imagen. Por que?? Todo esto es porque Delhi ha sido la anfitriona de los "Commonwealth Games 2010". Asi que la ciudad se viste de gala y esconde su realidad. Unos pocos se sienten mas orgullosos de su pais que nunca... la mayoria, aun mas desgraciados.

Ademas, la ciudad se esfuerza bajo el lema "Green Delhi", consiguiendo "grandes" resultados: infinitos parques sbre-extra-cuidados ayudan a vender la ciudad al turismo, mientras miles de indios duermen sobre el hormigon (o peor).

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Deportistas de elite consiguen el segundo puesto en los "Games 2010" cuando miles de niños viven en la calle sin acceso a una educacion.

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Este gobierno, bajo el lema Incredible India te da la bienvenida a un pais magico, maravilloso, increible... pero corrupto, injusto y pobre.

I already miss Nepal...

Bhaktapur...

The most beautiful village of Nepal, known by postcards, where many movies have been filmed... I met my friend "Service" here and we started to plan our trekking.
If some day you need a guide and a friend in Nepal you can contact him... in that case contact me first for more information!!

Kathmandu...

Big city, where culture and trade are well mixed.

Dashain...

Biggest Hindu festival of the year. Sacrifices are made during two years in all the temples or just in front of their vehicles to bless them. During the next days, it's time for "tika": Elders put the red point on the forehead of younger relatives to bless them with fertility and abundance in the upcoming year.
I was very glad to share those days in the village, in Service's house. His wife "Bina", his ten-days-old daughter "Sophie"and all his relatives received me like one more of the family. I'm "uncle Javi" for Sophie, the new member of my friend's family. I will never forget those days and I promised I'll come back some day...

Nagarkot...

Service, Denish, Binod, Thomas and me went up to Nagarkot, the highest hill close to Kathmandu. From there, the sunrise was wonderful... and the bath (including jumps) in the river were funny, cold and awesome!!

From Himalaya's lands...

One trekking, one peak... one dream!!

First day I met my "trek-mate" (and now my friend) at the airport of Kathmandu. His name: Pavel. Russian, strong man, good mountaineer and a very nice person. Besides, I could get my Nepali friend "Service" with me too. Very good ambient during the whole trek!!

I don't want you to get bored with a detailed diary of my experience... Just some words explaining the planing of those days and after that... some beautiful pictures!!

Flight Kathmandu (1300 m) - Lukla (2800 m). The second day we get one pass at the height of 4600 m!! Waoow!! Such a good acclimatisation... lol!! Well, we went down to sleep at (4200 m). The next days: up and down, up and down... and the more and more up!! The 7th day with bad weather we go to the base camp (5350 m). It was snowing, cold night in tents... but the next day the sun was shining!! We went up to the high camp (5800 m). We needed one more day of good weather to reach the summit... and we got it!! That night at 1:00 am we woke up and got ready to climb. At 2:00 am we were already walking. Clear sky, windy night... I couldn't feel my fingers and the air entered everywhere between my clothes arriving up to my bones!! But we only looked up, at the summit. We felt good and it was only time what we needed to arrived up there... and we did it!! The sunrise came to heat us just before the last part of the climbing. Nice experience using one fix rope and a "jumar" to reach the summit!!
My body was shaking an the top of mera peak, but not because of the frost... I was happy!! Since my childhood I dreamt about that first moment in the Himalaya and all the efforts were worth taking!! It wasn't so easy to climb up there with my stomach in bad conditions... but this only makes this climbing more special for me!!

Look at this video from the summit of mera peak...

The way back to Lukla was fast... we just wanted to celebrate it at lower altitudes!! We had "sherpa" parties and the way down!! hahaha!!
I can tell you a lot of things more... however, better to show you the pictures!!

Getting ready in the base camp...


Sunrise during the climbing...


Sunrise reaches mount Everest... wonderful view!!


From the summit... the Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse in the background...


Makalu and Baruntse...


With our climbing guide and porter... and trying to carry porter's bagage!!



Pavel and me... Mera Peak 2010!!