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Warm greetings from this side of the world

Members of the Karma Bhotia Foundation Trekking Group post for a photo in Chyamtang, Nepal. Durango Herald columnist John Peel, back row center, is among the group, which is helping to repair a schoolhouse in the tiny village.

Hello from the Nepal outback. It's a 5-minute walk to a place where you can see the mountains of the Tibet border.

We've been welcomed many, many times now by traditional dances of the people of this region. We've had to learn a few new words because their first language is not Nepali, and some phases we've learned no longer work.

Right now, a group of school kids, grades one to five in Chyamtang, are serenading us with the help of their teacher.

The most visible sign of “progress” we've made here is to tear down part of the school, which definitely need a new roof and also needs to be rebuilt. The work was done mostly by our porters.

Our camp of yellow tents is situated next to the school. We're a dab of Western culture in a village that is a living museum, destined to lose its culture as soon as a road makes its way from Num, 40 miles south, and Chinese bring goods from the nearby border.

We continue to do what we can – reading to the kids, playing Frisbee with them, mingling with people when we're invited to their homes.

They have a long way to go, but Karma Bhotia, who grew up here and lives in Durango, has a strong vision and continues to push in any way he can.

johnp@durangoherald.com. Editor's note: Herald Columnist John Peel traveled to Chyamtang, a village of about 600 in Nepal, to help the people repair a schoolhouse. He left Oct. 20 and plans to return next week.

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