Tsering's New Shop

Our big project these past few months, aside from preparing for the Namche Conference has been helping Tsering convert his trekking shop into a pashmina boutique.

Tsering Choekyap, proprietor of Sunrise Trekking. He still has dozens and dozens of sleeping bags and other trekking gear, now available at fire-sale prices. Unlike most shops, Tsering's stocked mostly genuine stuff. You can tell the difference; for one thing, the zippers are YKK... and they don't fall apart after a week. Anyway, Tsering still has an overflowing storeroom, so if you stop by for a maharani duita jacquard in aubergine with net beading, you might just ask for that water bottle you'll be needing on trek. Or for the flight home -- it's amazing how hard it is to get a decent-sized glass of water on an international flight.

The painting has started.

Semi-grand opening. (The sign isn't ready yet!) Empar does the honors. Tsering is carrying our shop-warming present: a mirror.

Lighting a candle for prosperity... and peace.

Tsering's hla-khang (shrine).

Shey! Shey! (Eat, eat!)

The sign arrives!

The painters didn't use drop cloths.

New full-surface Virgin Goddess bridal shawl.