Himalaya Top 10

map of our Route
Originally uploaded by patrickdowd.

I am somewhere off the coast of Greenland as I write this. Our B-777 left Delhi about midnight; it's now 11:30 a.m. Delhi time. We have about 2 1/2 hours more flying time to Newark. I arrive in Charleston about 30 hours after leaving Delhi. It was a great trip; the Top Ten are:

Everest Base Camp in Tibet
 homestay with Tibetan nomads
 pilgrim stempede in Jokhang Temple
  Tianamen Square and Beijing
 chanting monks at Kirti Gompa in Langmusi
  Mao’s underground tunnel
 talking with Tibetan guides about their life, culture and religion
  Arti Ganga at Haridwar
 walk in Dhulikhel fields
 Chinese construction projects

...and the Runner-ups
+ Himalayan mountain passes
+ Potala Palace
+ hot pot in Cheng Du
+ alleys of Lhasa

... and what didn't happen:
+ never robbed or felt that my security was threatened
+ never lacked adequate food, clothing or shelter
+ the classic Chinese tourist sites of the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Terracota Warriors are certainly must see attractions. However, the hordes of tourists and the Chinese tourism system keeps them off my top list.
+ I gained some understanding of Tibetan Buddhism but did not find it personally motivating.
+ I needed more time to explore India and went when it was very hot.