Raven black hair framing a face full of mystique. Magnetic eyes that hypnotize and draw you closer and closer. This was Kunga Dorma. It was a given name from a grateful Buddhist head monk after her last visit to an isolated Monastery high in the forbidden lands in the Himalayas. These were the wonderous and mysterious lands known as Nepal.
Within the Kingdom of Nepal lies the forbidden lands of Mustang. The walled village of Luo Mathiang is the gateway and without special permission no visitors are allowed. It has been isolated for many centuries and yet despite the advance of westernization its people are believed to be the healthiest and longest living anywhere in the world.
Nepal is also home to the Yeti, or the abominable snowman, a folkloric creature occasionally seen but never caught. The Yeti is said to live above the snowline in the Himalayas, stands over two and a half meters tall, walks upright like a human and is covered in white fur-like hair.
Earlier on in her life, Kunga had been an exponent of the martial arts, in her early teens a black belt in Judo, moving onto Karate, Aikido, Taekwondo and Krau Maga. These interests led her to source inner strength through meditation.
AND these interests compelled her to visit Nepal, the forbidden land and the isolated Buddhist Monastery high in the Himalayas.
The paperwork trail was long and tortuous but eventually permission was granted. Kunga had passed the test of sincerity and was requested to deliver to the Monastery a very rare two-thousand-year-old Buddhist document.
Setting off from the village of Luo Mathiang, the road was soon reduced to horse trails. Mounted on a tiny pony Kunga was absorbed in the beauty of the mountains, the peace and wonderment of nature in pure form.
Reaching the Monastery, she was welcomed by the head Buddhist monk and handed over the ancient document. For the next 10 days she was totally immersed in the Buddhist environment and participated in their prayers and activities.
She was curious as to the absence in these forbidden lands of any of the serious illnesses that afflicted western civilization: cancers, heart disease, dementia and others. The head Monk smiled and explained that the ‘forbidden land’ meant that these diseases were forbidden, not visitors.
When the time came to leave, she was trusted with delivering to the village of Luo Mathiang a basket of sacred fruit. The fruit was extremely rare and could only be picked once a year during full moon.
The fruit enhances the body’s own immune system and when prepared as a tea was attributed to curing all diseases and ensuring a long and healthy life.
Returning to her native country of Spain, Kunga tried hard to settle into the routine of her job in hotel management. The stress of long and unsocial hours gradually wore down her free spirit and it led to a feeling of doubt as to where her life was leading.
The hotel was hosting a medical conference on the advances in cancer treatment, Kunga oversaw the planning and management and got to know several of the doctors and speakers.
She was fascinated at the progress being made but still couldn’t help thinking about the sacred fruit that enabled the people in the forbidden lands to be free of illnesses. She realised she was in a totally different league to the many medical specialists but felt she had to talk to someone.
During a lunch break she arranged to meet with several specialists representing a major cancer foundation. She spoke of her visit to Nepal, of the forbidden lands, the amazing health of the people, their longevity and the sacred fruit.
The response was polite but muted. However, the enthusiasm and sincerity that Kunga imparted was enough to intrigue some of the specialists to consider it warranted research. It would need an expedition. The foundation asked if Kunga would be prepared to make another visit for which they would sponsor and pay all expenses. This was a dream come true and Kunga, full of excitement, said YES and jumped at the opportunity.
Sitting close by was a group of Chinese medical representatives and having overheard realised this could be the biggest breakthrough in medical advances. With China sharing a border with Nepal they considered the sacred fruit should be possessed by their own Government.
Kunga had to be followed and if necessary -eliminated.
AND so started an adventure that would challenge Kunga to the maximum of her determination, strength, faith and courage. Kunga took leave from the hotel and made plans to return to Nepal and the forbidden lands. She was able to reach out to her contacts and within a few weeks she was granted permission to visit.
The flight from Madrid to Kathmandu was lengthy and tiring but, finally stepping out of the plane, Kunga felt she was coming home – and the adventure was to begin. The journey now to Luo Mathiang at this late time of the year was only accessible by private charter flights.
Kunga was anxious to move as quickly as possible for she had been warned there was a group of Chinese making enquiries as to her travels. Supposedly, they were here on a mountaineering expedition, but they looked more military than civilian.
The weather was closing in and the few charter companies around were not prepared to risk flying. However, there was talk of a crazy Englishman called Barry with a single-engine Beechcraft who, for the right price, might risk it. Kunga found him propping up a bar and at the cost of a few more beers, a deal was struck.
The next morning, the Beechcraft raced down the runway and in seconds lifted off and headed into a darkening sky towards Luo Mathiang. Within an hour the light plane was lost in a swirling snowstorm, visibility down to zero and thrown about like a butterfly in a hurricane.
It was then the motor cut out. Barry was gripping the column and with a confidence he did not feel, smiled at Kunga and said, “Brace – keep your knickers on, legs crossed and pray to your karma.”
AND then the ground came up, tearing and ripping, skidding - and blackout …….
Coming gradually around in a fog of emotions, she found herself buried up to the neck in snow and still trapped inside the wrecked plane.
AND then on the edge of panic a white fur-covered arm reached out and plucked her out of the plane. She looked up into a visage of a monstrous figure, incredibly tall and covered in white fur, a Yeti – and then she fainted….
In the meantime, the Chinese, having planted a tracker on the plane were in pursuit. They had arranged for a helicopter and, loaded up with a variety of equipment including weapons, were getting close to where the plane had crashed.
Kunga felt herself floating over a landscape of snow, strangely comfortable and warm on the shoulders of the furry Yeti. She felt no fear and after several hours they came to rest, and she was gently laid on the ground.
Looking up at her ‘captor’, he was everything an imagination could ever imagine – an impossibility.
Suddenly the air was blasted by gunfire, the Chinese had followed them and wasting no more time were determined to kill them both. The Yeti picked Kunga back up and climbed higher into the mountains. The Chinese followed but the Yeti kept ahead and with purpose aimed towards an outcrop of rock with a huge overhang of snow. He gently laid Kunga on the ground, looked back and Kunga was sure he gave her a wink!
The Chinese were getting closer and the gun fire stronger. When they were no more than fifty meters away the Yeti stepped out into the open. He lifted his arms into the air and gave out a thunderous ROAR followed by another and another ….
THEN the mountain of snow started to move, sliding, trembling, creating an enormous avalanche. The Chinese were frozen in fear and within seconds were swept away, disappearing forever.
“My hero” she thought, “he saved me again”. But what next? For she had to get to the forbidden land as soon as possible in order to get to the fruit during the very short window it could be picked.
Her Yeti, for she was beginning to have a soft spot for him, gently picked her up and they set off further up the mountain. Over a ridge they came out onto a small plain in the middle of which was a circular depression. Without hesitation and before Kunga could draw breath the Yeti jumped straight into the ‘hole’ and together they slid down an ice slope, faster and faster.
They were hurtling through a never-ending spiral tunnel, Kunga was a helpless passenger with no time to think or to even fear – only trust in her destiny and where it may lead.
AND then they burst out into the open, still sliding but slowing down now on a bed of straw, gradually coming to a stop. Kunga, mouth wide open, gazed up in amazement at a panorama of absolute splendor and wonder. She was in a vast valley, a landscape of trees, farmlands, animals and a river meandering through the centre. The whole valley was lit by a strange unnatural light for it was not open to the skies, but it permeated a glowing warmth. She observed a small grouping of huts and ……………
THEN – Yetis of all sizes, children and adults came rushing out to meet them. This was an undiscovered Yeti village and Kunga had stumbled onto the greatest adventure of her life!
Kunga and her Yeti climbed down into the village and were soon surrounded by Yeti children, they were not threatening but wanted to touch her face and her raven black hair. They seemed unable to speak although they did make guttural noises and their method of communication seemed through some form of developed sign language and facial expressions.
This was an anthropologist’s dream, the Yeti ‘find’ would shake the world if it ever came out and Kunga’s fame and fortune would be made. BUT what would happen to the Yetis? Their lifestyle would be destroyed and they would be no more than freaks in a living zoo. Kunga was devastated that if she did tell the world she would be responsible and deep in her heart she knew she could never betray these new Yeti friends.
She focused on the job she was sent to do – and that was to find and take some of the sacred fruit from the forbidden lands. She didn’t have much time to spare and hoped they could help her out of the valley and point her in the direction of her goal.
Kunga tried to understand their means of communication. It was tiring and frustrating but then the breakthrough came when she started drawing pictures on the ground. The Yeti were fascinated, giggling and jumping up and down when they recognised something.
She had drawn the distinguished shape of the Monastery high in the forbidden lands and her Yeti friend grunted in excitement and then pointed in the direction where it lay.
Her Yeti gestured for her to go with him they started climbing out of the valley – she looked back at her new found Yeti friends, saddened, with tears in her eyes, that she may never see them again.
As they reached the top of the valley the Yeti pulled aside a growth of bushes revealing a cave opening. They entered the cave and started walking down a long and seemingly endless tunnel. Again, just like the Yeti valley there was a strange light emanating from the walls and ceiling.
The tunnel was sloping downwards and after two hours of walking Kunga felt they must have dropped several thousand feet and were probably now on the edge of the snow line. Coming around a sharp corner she noticed a light at what appeared to be the end of the tunnel.
Just like the entrance it was covered by bushes and when the Yeti pulled them aside, she looked out in amazement – mouth open in shock and awe for below them was a vista of the forbidden lands and in the centre…The Monastery.
The Yeti stayed hidden in the entrance to the cave. Kunga turned back, full of emotion and tears in her eyes, she gave him a big hug. Her Yeti enveloped her in his huge arms, picking her up and, with tenderness stroked and smelt her hair, her raven black hair. Kunga felt this was his way of saying goodbye and keeping her memory alive.
AND with one last wave Kunga set off down the mountain towards the Monastery and her destination.
With her head spinning, she contemplated what she had experienced during the last few days; the expedition sponsored by the cancer foundation, the flight with crazy Barry, the crash and then saved by a Yeti, chased and attacked by the Chinese, saved again by the Yeti who caused an avalanche and defeated them and then the hidden Yeti valley deep within the mountain.
New found Yeti friends, amazing that their hidden valley should be so close to the forbidden lands - what an adventure!
At the end of a long day she eventually arrived at the Monastery and was guided to the suite of rooms of the head monk. They met like old friends, the head monk could see she was exhausted and before she could protest, he insisted she had a hot bath and then catch up with sleep. They would talk later.
The next day, still groggy but much more relaxed, she dressed and shared a breakfast with the head monk and several others. After breakfast and in private she explained the purpose of her visit, how she had explained to a western cancer foundation the ‘sacred fruit’ and its seemingly magic benefits for defeating cancer and other major illnesses.
The foundation sponsored her to come to the forbidden land and bring back samples of the sacred fruit. Kunga realised that tomorrow would be the first night of a full moon and requested the head monk that she be allowed to collect samples.
The head monk, tenderly and with wisdom looked into her magnetic eyes and said, “Dear Kunga you are like a daughter to me and we have taken you in as a member of our family. Let me explain, these forbidden lands and the strength of our beliefs have empowered the sacred fruit to eliminate the cancers and illnesses you refer to – hence all illnesses are forbidden here.
I don’t doubt your sincerity to alleviate illnesses in the western world and I can see it is not for monetary gain or fame but and, here is the big BUT:
Once you take the sacred fruit out of these forbidden lands its healing powers no longer exist.”
Kunga was stunned, sacred fruit that only works in the forbidden land! What could she say to her sponsors?
She was devasted and disappointed but looking up at the serene face of the head monk realized perhaps after all it would be for the best. The sacred fruit was special to these forbidden lands and it was their faith that bestowed on them the magical properties. The West would have to find their own path to cures.
With no rush to return, Kunga spent the next few weeks walking and exploring the forbidden land, meeting the ever-smiling people and, beginning to learn the language felt herself welcome and at home. She would often gaze up into the mountains trying to find where the entrance to the cave was that led to the valley of the Yetis. On one of these days when she was walking with the head monk he observed where she was looking and asked if she was looking for something special – like the entrance to the Yeti valley?
“You know?” she asked. The head monk with a smile said, “Of course we do. These are our friends and have been for hundreds of years. And just as we lead our own isolated lives in the forbidden lands, we respect the lands of the Yetis and keep their secrets.”
Kunga felt the time was coming when she had to leave and return to her regular life. It was not a prospect she was looking forward to but somehow she felt the experience over the past two weeks was only the start to even more adventures.
She was determined and happy she would keep the secret of her Yeti saviour and to the peoples in the Yeti valley to herself and herself alone. She also realised she had to conjure up an explanation at the failure over the sacred fruit to her sponsors.
Saying her goodbyes and promising to return she was provided with a small horse and slowly made the journey back to the village of Luo Mathiang, the gateway to the forbidden land.
There was not much in the way of accommodation in the village apart from one small hotel in which she booked in and enjoyed another welcome hot bath. Fully relaxed she came down to the lounge bar and although alcohol was not consumed the hotel did provide for tourists and she settled down to a cold beer.
AND then a voice from behind said, “I’d recognize that raven black hair framing a face full of mystique anywhere”
AND turning round there was crazy Barry…
END
Within the Kingdom of Nepal lies the forbidden lands of Mustang. The walled village of Luo Mathiang is the gateway and without special permission no visitors are allowed. It has been isolated for many centuries and yet despite the advance of westernization its people are believed to be the healthiest and longest living anywhere in the world.
Nepal is also home to the Yeti, or the abominable snowman, a folkloric creature occasionally seen but never caught. The Yeti is said to live above the snowline in the Himalayas, stands over two and a half meters tall, walks upright like a human and is covered in white fur-like hair.
Earlier on in her life, Kunga had been an exponent of the martial arts, in her early teens a black belt in Judo, moving onto Karate, Aikido, Taekwondo and Krau Maga. These interests led her to source inner strength through meditation.
AND these interests compelled her to visit Nepal, the forbidden land and the isolated Buddhist Monastery high in the Himalayas.
The paperwork trail was long and tortuous but eventually permission was granted. Kunga had passed the test of sincerity and was requested to deliver to the Monastery a very rare two-thousand-year-old Buddhist document.
Setting off from the village of Luo Mathiang, the road was soon reduced to horse trails. Mounted on a tiny pony Kunga was absorbed in the beauty of the mountains, the peace and wonderment of nature in pure form.
Reaching the Monastery, she was welcomed by the head Buddhist monk and handed over the ancient document. For the next 10 days she was totally immersed in the Buddhist environment and participated in their prayers and activities.
She was curious as to the absence in these forbidden lands of any of the serious illnesses that afflicted western civilization: cancers, heart disease, dementia and others. The head Monk smiled and explained that the ‘forbidden land’ meant that these diseases were forbidden, not visitors.
When the time came to leave, she was trusted with delivering to the village of Luo Mathiang a basket of sacred fruit. The fruit was extremely rare and could only be picked once a year during full moon.
The fruit enhances the body’s own immune system and when prepared as a tea was attributed to curing all diseases and ensuring a long and healthy life.
Returning to her native country of Spain, Kunga tried hard to settle into the routine of her job in hotel management. The stress of long and unsocial hours gradually wore down her free spirit and it led to a feeling of doubt as to where her life was leading.
The hotel was hosting a medical conference on the advances in cancer treatment, Kunga oversaw the planning and management and got to know several of the doctors and speakers.
She was fascinated at the progress being made but still couldn’t help thinking about the sacred fruit that enabled the people in the forbidden lands to be free of illnesses. She realised she was in a totally different league to the many medical specialists but felt she had to talk to someone.
During a lunch break she arranged to meet with several specialists representing a major cancer foundation. She spoke of her visit to Nepal, of the forbidden lands, the amazing health of the people, their longevity and the sacred fruit.
The response was polite but muted. However, the enthusiasm and sincerity that Kunga imparted was enough to intrigue some of the specialists to consider it warranted research. It would need an expedition. The foundation asked if Kunga would be prepared to make another visit for which they would sponsor and pay all expenses. This was a dream come true and Kunga, full of excitement, said YES and jumped at the opportunity.
Sitting close by was a group of Chinese medical representatives and having overheard realised this could be the biggest breakthrough in medical advances. With China sharing a border with Nepal they considered the sacred fruit should be possessed by their own Government.
Kunga had to be followed and if necessary -eliminated.
AND so started an adventure that would challenge Kunga to the maximum of her determination, strength, faith and courage. Kunga took leave from the hotel and made plans to return to Nepal and the forbidden lands. She was able to reach out to her contacts and within a few weeks she was granted permission to visit.
The flight from Madrid to Kathmandu was lengthy and tiring but, finally stepping out of the plane, Kunga felt she was coming home – and the adventure was to begin. The journey now to Luo Mathiang at this late time of the year was only accessible by private charter flights.
Kunga was anxious to move as quickly as possible for she had been warned there was a group of Chinese making enquiries as to her travels. Supposedly, they were here on a mountaineering expedition, but they looked more military than civilian.
The weather was closing in and the few charter companies around were not prepared to risk flying. However, there was talk of a crazy Englishman called Barry with a single-engine Beechcraft who, for the right price, might risk it. Kunga found him propping up a bar and at the cost of a few more beers, a deal was struck.
The next morning, the Beechcraft raced down the runway and in seconds lifted off and headed into a darkening sky towards Luo Mathiang. Within an hour the light plane was lost in a swirling snowstorm, visibility down to zero and thrown about like a butterfly in a hurricane.
It was then the motor cut out. Barry was gripping the column and with a confidence he did not feel, smiled at Kunga and said, “Brace – keep your knickers on, legs crossed and pray to your karma.”
AND then the ground came up, tearing and ripping, skidding - and blackout …….
Coming gradually around in a fog of emotions, she found herself buried up to the neck in snow and still trapped inside the wrecked plane.
AND then on the edge of panic a white fur-covered arm reached out and plucked her out of the plane. She looked up into a visage of a monstrous figure, incredibly tall and covered in white fur, a Yeti – and then she fainted….
In the meantime, the Chinese, having planted a tracker on the plane were in pursuit. They had arranged for a helicopter and, loaded up with a variety of equipment including weapons, were getting close to where the plane had crashed.
Kunga felt herself floating over a landscape of snow, strangely comfortable and warm on the shoulders of the furry Yeti. She felt no fear and after several hours they came to rest, and she was gently laid on the ground.
Looking up at her ‘captor’, he was everything an imagination could ever imagine – an impossibility.
Suddenly the air was blasted by gunfire, the Chinese had followed them and wasting no more time were determined to kill them both. The Yeti picked Kunga back up and climbed higher into the mountains. The Chinese followed but the Yeti kept ahead and with purpose aimed towards an outcrop of rock with a huge overhang of snow. He gently laid Kunga on the ground, looked back and Kunga was sure he gave her a wink!
The Chinese were getting closer and the gun fire stronger. When they were no more than fifty meters away the Yeti stepped out into the open. He lifted his arms into the air and gave out a thunderous ROAR followed by another and another ….
THEN the mountain of snow started to move, sliding, trembling, creating an enormous avalanche. The Chinese were frozen in fear and within seconds were swept away, disappearing forever.
“My hero” she thought, “he saved me again”. But what next? For she had to get to the forbidden land as soon as possible in order to get to the fruit during the very short window it could be picked.
Her Yeti, for she was beginning to have a soft spot for him, gently picked her up and they set off further up the mountain. Over a ridge they came out onto a small plain in the middle of which was a circular depression. Without hesitation and before Kunga could draw breath the Yeti jumped straight into the ‘hole’ and together they slid down an ice slope, faster and faster.
They were hurtling through a never-ending spiral tunnel, Kunga was a helpless passenger with no time to think or to even fear – only trust in her destiny and where it may lead.
AND then they burst out into the open, still sliding but slowing down now on a bed of straw, gradually coming to a stop. Kunga, mouth wide open, gazed up in amazement at a panorama of absolute splendor and wonder. She was in a vast valley, a landscape of trees, farmlands, animals and a river meandering through the centre. The whole valley was lit by a strange unnatural light for it was not open to the skies, but it permeated a glowing warmth. She observed a small grouping of huts and ……………
THEN – Yetis of all sizes, children and adults came rushing out to meet them. This was an undiscovered Yeti village and Kunga had stumbled onto the greatest adventure of her life!
Kunga and her Yeti climbed down into the village and were soon surrounded by Yeti children, they were not threatening but wanted to touch her face and her raven black hair. They seemed unable to speak although they did make guttural noises and their method of communication seemed through some form of developed sign language and facial expressions.
This was an anthropologist’s dream, the Yeti ‘find’ would shake the world if it ever came out and Kunga’s fame and fortune would be made. BUT what would happen to the Yetis? Their lifestyle would be destroyed and they would be no more than freaks in a living zoo. Kunga was devastated that if she did tell the world she would be responsible and deep in her heart she knew she could never betray these new Yeti friends.
She focused on the job she was sent to do – and that was to find and take some of the sacred fruit from the forbidden lands. She didn’t have much time to spare and hoped they could help her out of the valley and point her in the direction of her goal.
Kunga tried to understand their means of communication. It was tiring and frustrating but then the breakthrough came when she started drawing pictures on the ground. The Yeti were fascinated, giggling and jumping up and down when they recognised something.
She had drawn the distinguished shape of the Monastery high in the forbidden lands and her Yeti friend grunted in excitement and then pointed in the direction where it lay.
Her Yeti gestured for her to go with him they started climbing out of the valley – she looked back at her new found Yeti friends, saddened, with tears in her eyes, that she may never see them again.
As they reached the top of the valley the Yeti pulled aside a growth of bushes revealing a cave opening. They entered the cave and started walking down a long and seemingly endless tunnel. Again, just like the Yeti valley there was a strange light emanating from the walls and ceiling.
The tunnel was sloping downwards and after two hours of walking Kunga felt they must have dropped several thousand feet and were probably now on the edge of the snow line. Coming around a sharp corner she noticed a light at what appeared to be the end of the tunnel.
Just like the entrance it was covered by bushes and when the Yeti pulled them aside, she looked out in amazement – mouth open in shock and awe for below them was a vista of the forbidden lands and in the centre…The Monastery.
The Yeti stayed hidden in the entrance to the cave. Kunga turned back, full of emotion and tears in her eyes, she gave him a big hug. Her Yeti enveloped her in his huge arms, picking her up and, with tenderness stroked and smelt her hair, her raven black hair. Kunga felt this was his way of saying goodbye and keeping her memory alive.
AND with one last wave Kunga set off down the mountain towards the Monastery and her destination.
With her head spinning, she contemplated what she had experienced during the last few days; the expedition sponsored by the cancer foundation, the flight with crazy Barry, the crash and then saved by a Yeti, chased and attacked by the Chinese, saved again by the Yeti who caused an avalanche and defeated them and then the hidden Yeti valley deep within the mountain.
New found Yeti friends, amazing that their hidden valley should be so close to the forbidden lands - what an adventure!
At the end of a long day she eventually arrived at the Monastery and was guided to the suite of rooms of the head monk. They met like old friends, the head monk could see she was exhausted and before she could protest, he insisted she had a hot bath and then catch up with sleep. They would talk later.
The next day, still groggy but much more relaxed, she dressed and shared a breakfast with the head monk and several others. After breakfast and in private she explained the purpose of her visit, how she had explained to a western cancer foundation the ‘sacred fruit’ and its seemingly magic benefits for defeating cancer and other major illnesses.
The foundation sponsored her to come to the forbidden land and bring back samples of the sacred fruit. Kunga realised that tomorrow would be the first night of a full moon and requested the head monk that she be allowed to collect samples.
The head monk, tenderly and with wisdom looked into her magnetic eyes and said, “Dear Kunga you are like a daughter to me and we have taken you in as a member of our family. Let me explain, these forbidden lands and the strength of our beliefs have empowered the sacred fruit to eliminate the cancers and illnesses you refer to – hence all illnesses are forbidden here.
I don’t doubt your sincerity to alleviate illnesses in the western world and I can see it is not for monetary gain or fame but and, here is the big BUT:
Once you take the sacred fruit out of these forbidden lands its healing powers no longer exist.”
Kunga was stunned, sacred fruit that only works in the forbidden land! What could she say to her sponsors?
She was devasted and disappointed but looking up at the serene face of the head monk realized perhaps after all it would be for the best. The sacred fruit was special to these forbidden lands and it was their faith that bestowed on them the magical properties. The West would have to find their own path to cures.
With no rush to return, Kunga spent the next few weeks walking and exploring the forbidden land, meeting the ever-smiling people and, beginning to learn the language felt herself welcome and at home. She would often gaze up into the mountains trying to find where the entrance to the cave was that led to the valley of the Yetis. On one of these days when she was walking with the head monk he observed where she was looking and asked if she was looking for something special – like the entrance to the Yeti valley?
“You know?” she asked. The head monk with a smile said, “Of course we do. These are our friends and have been for hundreds of years. And just as we lead our own isolated lives in the forbidden lands, we respect the lands of the Yetis and keep their secrets.”
Kunga felt the time was coming when she had to leave and return to her regular life. It was not a prospect she was looking forward to but somehow she felt the experience over the past two weeks was only the start to even more adventures.
She was determined and happy she would keep the secret of her Yeti saviour and to the peoples in the Yeti valley to herself and herself alone. She also realised she had to conjure up an explanation at the failure over the sacred fruit to her sponsors.
Saying her goodbyes and promising to return she was provided with a small horse and slowly made the journey back to the village of Luo Mathiang, the gateway to the forbidden land.
There was not much in the way of accommodation in the village apart from one small hotel in which she booked in and enjoyed another welcome hot bath. Fully relaxed she came down to the lounge bar and although alcohol was not consumed the hotel did provide for tourists and she settled down to a cold beer.
AND then a voice from behind said, “I’d recognize that raven black hair framing a face full of mystique anywhere”
AND turning round there was crazy Barry…
END
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