Past, Present....Future
Anna with her 22st Birthday cake, featuring the Old Man Yogi, Purple Yak, and Spotted Dog
On July 13th the group plus a few resident villagers went out for a big family style dinner to celebrate Anna's 22nd Birthday. We dined at a restaurant that served the Tibetan equivalent of a fondue style dinner called "Hot Pot". The evening began with an explosion (literally), some spillage of liquids, piles and piles of food to throw in the pot and people shouting and standing and grabbing cooked food to shovel into their mouths (manners were checked at the door).
Then it was on to self portrait time as the camera slowly made its way around our huge table of 20 plus people. This is a tradition I started in my family years ago and it always provides tons of laughs as everyone fumbles with the camera trying to capture their choice facial expressions in the moment-and someone always wants a do over. The evening couldn't have gotten any better but then the lights dimmed and everyone began hootin' and hollerin' as a HUGE specially ordered cake rolled out with a yak on top!!! Everyone sang Happy Birthday and gave Anna plenty of gifts with special meanings attached (some of the gifts included lizard skins, pickled chicken feet and string cheese-SO Anna). I think Anna's real B-Day wish was answered about 12 hours later back in the states (then July 13th) when her family was blessed with its newest edition a baby boy named Gabriel...Awe!!!
Today Jen and I went on an early morning hike to the west of the village into the foothills. After a short climb we found ourselves atop what appeared to be a field or some sort of terraced plateau that offered amazing views of the village below. The sun slowly peaked over the hills to the east as smoke began to rise as the village awoke to their daily routines...At the moment I am sitting in the Net Cafe after downing 2 cups of some kind of fresh yogurt (could be cow, could be yak, I don't know or care). What I do know is that it was delicious (Tibetan= Shimbo rey) and tasted like a cross between cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. Yummo!!!
Tomorrow we depart on a little overnight road trip to the Kharma Nat'l Park and then on to the Namzong Nunnery where we will spend the night. I'm sure this trip will offer plenty new stories and challenges as each day usually does!!!
Shout outs- What's up to all my family and friends...I miss and love you all tons...
PS- Guess what Nat...I figured out how to braid my own hair!!!
Ciao, Addrienne
Comments
Ahhhh I knew the day would come when you would not need my services anymore. Just because you learned doesn't mean you will out do the master braider!! Jokin! I wish and would literally give a couple of my toes to be there with you. You look good keep eating baby salamander!! It looks sooooooo beautiful one day Addie one day!!
Posted by: Natalie | July 17, 2007 03:04 AM
it was a great day and you really captured the magic. oxoxoxox
anna
Posted by: Anna | July 17, 2007 03:11 PM
I CANNOT BELIEVE THE AMATO FAMILY CELEBRATION TRADITION OF PASSING THE CAMERA TRAVELED AND WAS SHARED IN TIEBET..DID ANYONE CUT THEIR OWN HEAD OFF AS I ALWAYS DO!!!!--love mom
Posted by: ellen amato | July 18, 2007 04:45 PM
Hi
Nice to hear from you I was wondering where you have been, never would have guessed it was in a big mud pit. I guess you could give each other facials to pass the time, you know how the nuns appreciate good skin. Hopefully you made it to your destination it sounds so interesting. National Park sounds great cannot imagine the pictures you will get. I am glad to hear you continued our tradition of pictures round the table, gets a laugh everytime. If nothing else it will give the locals a story to tell bout the crazy americans...
xxxooo
andrea
Posted by: Andrea Amato | July 18, 2007 06:17 PM
i want to see the round table pic's they are always classics!!
Posted by: ash | July 18, 2007 10:18 PM
good morning baby girl-really enjoyed the pictures and stories...onward you go to new adventures--key west kisses M
Posted by: ellen amato | July 22, 2007 01:28 PM