After the first hike on the way to Everest BC on the Nepal side, I stopped in the small village of Phakding. I went for a short climb to the local monastery, where the monks were chanting and the poorest locals were handed some money the few tourist had brought in.
I just sat there and enjoyed the serenity and peace and the distorted sounds of the electronically enhanced prayers. It was only after a while I spotted the lead chanting monk as he chanted his Om Mani padme Hums through an old microphone connected to a loud karaoke machine.
Meanwhile young monks were serving tea -to me as well- and others like this guy just seemed a bit bored with it all. Maybe he was thinking that my life with all the camera-goodies and travels was better than his steady life of prayers and devotion, while I was thinking the same about him…
