caption : Choding hermitage taken at about 800
metre above Sera monastery
Like all major monastery, Sera (some 3600m above sea level) also
offer a kora (pilgrimage circuit) along the mountain track. My team
were tired and did not want to do the walk so I decided
to leave the team and do the kora alone. While walking the kora, I
looked up and saw this golden hut some 1000m up the
mountain. I decided to visit it so I asked around for the
way up but nobody was able to tell me.
caption : A view of Sera from some 500m
above
Old habit die hard so the only way was up, climbing up the
rocky path straight from where I was standing. As I saw prayer
flags above, I was certain there must be a way up so I started
climbing. I make it to the 1st prayer flags point easily but
subsequent prayer flags point got more and more difficult as I have
to climb down again when I found the path inassessible and my hand
were getting cut by the thorny shrubs. The altitude have also
increased and every effort seems more exhausting. Like every other
time, I started to feel lonely and regretting my
stubborness.
Anyway I did not want to give up whenever I looked up and I
was getting nearer. Finally I made it to the last prayer flag
point some 800m above. I was only about 200m away from my
goal. Then I realised that there was no way up otherwise more
prayer flags point would be available. The slope was getting more
vertical and I had already spent 2 hours climbing. Tired and
hungry, I started to get worried that it might get dark soon
even if I make it to the top. I finally had no choice but to
give up and make my way down.
caption : short cut to Choding Hermitage and in just 1
hour!!!
I continued with the rest of the kora, looking back at the
golden hut each time I rested and asking for the way up each time I
meet a Tibetan pilgrim. Finally there was someone who
could give me the direction but it was too late and I was too
tired to do it again.
