Day Six Acclimitization Day in Manang

Prayer wheels

Sunrise on Annapurna III

Burning juniper branches for good luck

A gompa with Himalayan background

Old Braga village

We were so fortunate with the weather. Again we awakened to blue skies and Annapurna III posing right outside our window. I was awake early and just watched the sun brighten the mountain from the top down. It looks tempting to just grab the poles and start hiking up. Rick, Sabrina and I walked through the old village of Braga which was similar to a Pueblo or Anasazi village. Houses are built into the steep side walls and ladders are used to move from one house to another. Men and women were painstakingly moving stones from an old house so they could rebuild in another location. Women carried the stones in braces on their backs. An old woman lit juniper branches in a coffee can and was waving the smoke around in honor of spirits of dead relatives. Juniper burning brings good luck for crops as well and we have seen branches burning in the fields as the plowing begins. Religion permeates life in Nepal with a mixing of Hindu and Buddhism. There are chortens, manis, stupas and prayer flags. Walk to the left of the mani so that the right hand can spin the prayer wheels.