A few years ago, I made a wonderful trip to Tibet.  I not only had the fortune to climb (circumambulate) the much revered Mt. Kailash, I also had the chance to see the famous Mt. Everst.
                 
Mt. Everst                                             Mt. Kailash                                    Sherpas                                          Nomadic Family

Every year, people from all over the world travel to Tibet to visit Mt. Kailash.  In the Tibetan tradition, it is believed that the gods reside on top of Mt. Kailash.  People make pilgrimages to Mt. Kailash to pay their respect, to connect with spirits, and also in hope to wash away their sins.  The mountain itself is majestic and pure.

We hired Sherpas (Tibetan/Napalese mountain people) to help carry our personal belongings.  They also cooked our meals and watched out for our group as we climbed the ice mountain.  We had a very nice American guide who spoke English, Tibetan, Napalese, and Chinese; so, communication was not a big problem.  The Sherpas were such warm, friendly, and even-tempered people.

In the mountains of the Hamalayas (we were up as high as 18000 feet!), we encountered nomads, who make living by herding yaks (shaggy-haird mountain ox), horses, and donkeys.  They live in huge tents braided from the hairs of yak.  We learned that yak hair expands when it gets wet.  So, it is the ideal material for these mountain people to make rain-proof tents out of.  They also use yak milk to make butter and yak dung as fuel.

                  
Yaks                                                      Yak Dung                                       Man Cooking                                 Using Yak Dung as Fuel

Shivoham