Momo Mania

If you've ever been to Nepal, you'll surely be familiar with this fun little snack. Momos are Tibetan stuffed dumplings--which can be filled with chicken, buffalo, lamb, pork, veg, and even yummy fusion momos stuffed with Snickers!

If you're missing Nepal--or just want to try out a new cuisine for your next dinner party--Here's a great recipe for Non-Veg Momos--but you can always substitute the meat for potatoes and your other favorite, finely chopped, veggies.

You will need:

Dumpling Wrap:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon oil
water, as required
1 pinch salt

Filling:
2 lbs lean ground meat (50% lamb or chicken & 50% pork works best)
1 cup red onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup green onion, finely chopped
1 cup ripe tomato, finely chpped
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon curry powder, or momo masala if available
3 fresh red chilies, minced (or to taste)
3 tablespoons cooking oil
salt and pepper

Directions:

Dough:

• In a large bowl combine flour, oil, salt and water.

• Mix well, knead until the dough becomes homogeneous in texture, about 8-10 minute.

• Cover and let stand for at least 30 minute.

• Knead well again before making wrappers.

Filling:

• In a large bowl combine all filling ingredients.

• Mix well, adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.

• Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow all ingredients to impart their unique flavors.

• This also improves the consistency of the filling.

Assembly:

• Give the dough a final knead.

• Prepare 1-in. dough balls.

• Take a ball, roll between your palms to spherical shape. 

• Dust working board with dry flour. 

• On the board gently flatten the ball with your palm to about 2-in circle.

• Make a few semi-flattened circles, cover with a bowl.  

• Use a rolling pin to roll out each flattened circle into a wrapper.

For well executed MOMO's, it is essential that the middle portion of the wrapper be slightly thicker than the edges to ensure the structural integrity of dumplings during packing and steaming.

• Hold the edges of the semi-flattened dough with one hand and with the other hand begin rolling the edges of the dough out, swirling a bit at a time.

• Continue until the wrapper attains 3-in diameter circular shape.

• Repeat with the remaining semi-flattened dough circles.

• Cover with bowl to prevent from drying.

• For packing hold wrapper on one palm, put one tablespoon of filling mixture and with the other hand bring all edges together to the center, making the pleats.

• Pinch and twist the pleats to ensure the absolute closure of the stuffed dumpling. This holds the key to good tasting, juicy dumplings.

• Heat up a steamer, oil the steamer rack well. This is critical because it will prevent dumplings from sticking. Arrange uncooked dumplings in the steamer.

• Close the lid, and allow steaming until the dumplings are cooked through, about 10 minutes.

• Take dumplings off the steamer and serve immediately.

Alternatively, you can place uncooked dumplings directly in slightly salted boiling water and cook until done, approximately 10 minutes. Be careful not to over boil the dumplings.

To serve, arrange the momos on a serving plate with hot tomato achar (pickle) or any other chutneys as condiment.

                                                          Enjoy your taste of Nepal!

Yak Culture

Domesticated Herd in Tibet

If you decide to go trekking in Nepal or Tibet's mountainous regions, you will often find local farmers tending to their herds of Yaks. Yaks are large, long-haired, bison-like animals known as bovine, that graze on grass and other shrubs. They will not eat grain, contrary to some beliefs. Yaks were once found in wild herds throughout Nepal and Bhutan, but wild Yaks are now considered ''vulnerable'' and found mostly as domesticated animals.

The Yak is said to have diverged from typical cattle some 1 to 5 million years ago. The Wild Yak is amongst the largest bovine, second only to the Gaur in shoulder height. Wild Yaks stand about 5-7 ft. tall at the shoulder and weigh 670-2,200 lbs. The female wild Yak is about 1/3 the weight and 30% smaller in height. The domesticated Yak is much smaller with males weighing 770-1,300 lbs and females weighing in around 500-600 lbs). You can differentiate a male from a female by their horns. Male horns are generally darker in color and sweep out to the side, whereas female horns are a bit lighter in color, smaller, and have an upright shape. A male is called a Yak and a female a Nak. So, no--There is NO such thing as Yak Cheese-- Its NAK Cheese!

Wild Yak

Yaks are very heavily built, with bulky frames and sturdy legs--made for hard work. They are the only bovine with long, thick hair--which helps them live comfortably at colder, high-altitude climates. Their larger lungs and hearts also help them live and perform at a higher rate than those cattle of lower altitudes. Yaks consume only about 1% of their body weight each day, compared to the 3% consumed by common cattle. Yaks do not thrive at lower altitudes, however, and begin to suffer from heat exhaustion around 15C or 59F. This is due to their thick layer of fat and hair, as well as having almost non-functional sweat glands.

Yaks are generally friendly in nature and are easily domesticated and trained. They are usually not hostile creatures but mothers, as with any animals, can be very protective of her young and even charge if she feels there is a threat.

Tibetan Woman with her Yak

Mt. Kailash Yak Caravan

Yaks are domesticated primarily for their milk, hair, meat, and ability to carry large quantities of goods between villages. Their droppings are considered important fuel--used all over Tibet and in parts of Nepal. Yaks are used to not only to transport local goods, but also to transport equipment for mountain expeditions. Their milk can be turned into tasty cheese and butter used in the famous Tibetan Butter Tea, and their hair into wool for a number of quality products such as bags, hats, gloves, socks, coats, decorations, and much more.




If you're out on the trail--make sure to stock up on local NAK cheese and try the infamous Tibetan Butter Tea. You'll see why the locals worship this animal--for giving to them in such abundance.

Yeti: The Himalayan Bigfoot?

TV Show Host Josh Gates with Footprint

Hollywood Version of the Yeti

From childhood and through the ages we've always heard about the illusive Yeti, also known as the Abominable Snowman. He's appeared in our cartoons, movies, and even on the news when one person or another claims to see him. But did you know, the Yeti gained his origin in Nepal?

You Westerners might be thinking: "But I thought Big Foot was sited on the opposite side of the world?" -- Well you would be right and wrong in that assumption. In fact, Big Foot and the Yeti are NOT one in the same. I guess you could say, the Yeti is the mountainous version of Big Foot. Is it a coincedence that two similar creatures have been spotted across the globe? I'll leave that for you to debate.

The Yeti actually has a long history in Nepal, and he was not, in fact, named  Yeti by Nepali people. In Tibet, he is known as ''Miche,'' or man bear. In Nepal he is known ''Bun Manchi,'' or jungle man. ''Mirka'' is also another Nepali name common in the area. Most all Yeti sightings have been in the Everest Region of Nepal--but others have occurred in parts of Tibet, Bhutan, and even the Annapurna Region of Nepal.

Analyzing a "Yeti" Finger

The Yeti started appearing in the Western culture in the 19th century. An early record of large, strange footprints appeared in the 1899 book, Among the Himalayas, by Laurence Waddell. The heat really turned up on the hunt for the Abominable Snowman in the 1920's. In 1921, Lt. Col. Charles Howard-Bury recorded finding large, strange footprints that he credited to a wolf, but stated that his Sherpa guide immediately corrected him saying it was from the "The wild man of the Snows." Again in 1925, N.A. Tombazi, a photographer for the Royal Geographic Society, wrote that he saw the ''creature'' at 4,600m., near the Zemu Glacier.

Yeti Skull in Tengboche

Fast forward to 1953, when Sir Edmund Hillary and guide Tenzing Norgay reported seeing large footprints while scaling Everest. They later started to doubt what they saw and eventually chalked it up as nothing more than a legend, althought Tenzing Norgay did report his father seeing the Yeti twice in his autobiography. In 1954, John Angelo Jackson was the first to trek from Everest to Kanchenjunga--at which point he photographed ancient symbolic painting of the Yeti at Tengboche Gompa.

Along the trail to Everest Base Camp, you will find a number of temples that hold supposed Yeti skulls. The most famous one can be found in Khumjung. These skulls have been examined by anthropologists, doctors, and scientists, but no one can prove anything.




What do you think?? Fact or Fiction?
 

Tibet Motorbike Tour

Attention all adventure seekers:

Bookings are now available for the Tibet Motorbike Tour-- What is this, you ask? Exactly as it states: A thrilling 11 day tour through the mysterious Tibet on none other than a 500cc Royal Enfield motorbike.

The roads are both challenging and exhilarating to navigate. You'll see some of the world's best high altitude views, while experiencing a culture that is still closed off to most of the world. 

Lead by experienced guides and followed (for safety reasons) by a jeep of staff--this tour will lead you from Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, to the border crossing at Kodari--along the Tibetan Plateau (4,900m), past Everest Base Camp, Rongbuk, and over the Gyatso La (5,220m) and Karo La (5,050m) passes. Once in Tibet, you will pass Shigatse, Tibet's 2nd largest city, and pass the pristine turquoise waters of Yamdrok Tso--all before arriving in Lhasa. You'll enjoy stunning desert landscapes, with roads that disappear into the horizon. You will encounter nomadic life, ancient monasteries, and get a feel for one of the most well kept cultures in the world.



In Lhasa, you will visit the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera, Drepung, and more before leaving the so-called Roof of the World. From Lhasa, you will fly back to Kathmandu--enjoying spectacular mountain views along the way.


If you're an adventure seeker and motorbike lover--This is the trip of life time you don't want to miss out on.



Tibet borders are now partially open to groups of 6 or more of the same nationality--Remember: If you book your trip in advance while the borders are open, and the borders close at the time of your trip, you can still go on your trek/tour because you booked when the borders were open!

The History of Everest

Mt. Everest

Nepal is home to 8 of the world's 14 highest mountains--including the mightiest of the all--Mt. Everest, known in Nepal as Sagarmatha, and Tibet as Chomolungma. The majestic and mighty Everest sits at 8,840m (29,002 ft).

The first record of Mt. Everest was in 1841 by Sir George Everest. Sir Everest, a British surveyor, recorded the location--and it wasn't until 1848 that another British surveyor recorded the height at an estimated 30,200 ft. from 110 miles away. The surveyor was only 1,200 ft. off -- not too shabby!

Mt. Everest was originally known as Peak XV--but in 1865, was renamed to Mt. Everest after Sir George Everest. It wasn't until 1907 that the Everest region was entered by foreigners, and mapped along the Dudh Kosi River, all the way to the Khumbu Glacier.

The Mt. Everest Committee was formed in 1920, in attempts to plan the summit of the mighty mountain. At this point in history, expeditions had reached the North and South Poles--Everest was the next likely feat for society.

In 1921, the Northern Route up Everest was established by Guy Bullock and George Mallory after 10 weeks of exploring the Northern and Eastern faces of the mountain. In 1922, 3 failed summit attempts were lead by Mallory, claiming the lives of at least 7 Sherpas in an avalanche on the 3rd attempt. When asked by reporters why he wanted to reach summit--he replied, "Because its there!"

In 1924, another British expedition lead by Lt. Colonel Edward Norton, set the height record for the next 29 years by Norton at 28,126 ft (8,570 m). In the same year, Mallory and Irvine attempted summit on June 8th, and lost their lives--The mystery of whether or not they ever reached summit still prevails to this day.

Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Guide

Edmund Hillary

The first flight over Everest took place in April of 1933--and a picture, worth its weight in gold, of the summit was taken. In 1936, the first light weight sets of radios were taken on yet another failed summit attempt. In 1947, after still having no successful summit attempts-- the Himalayan Committee of the Alpine Club and the Royal Geographical Society were formed in place of the Everest Committee. In 1950, after the Rana family was over thrown, the Nepalese borders were opened to foreigners and climbers were allowed to attempt summit from the South face.

In 1951, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand, made his first failed attempt. It wasn't until 1953, 112 years after the first siting of Everest, that British Expedition team finally reached the summit of the mighty Mt. Everest--

                                                               The rest is history!

Tibetan Borders Closed..again

      The world over knows that China’s presence in Tibet has been unwanted since the beginning. Tibetans are extremely proud people and hold true to their culture and customs. In 2008, there was a public outcry amongst native Tibetans about the Chinese occupancy in Tibet. Many people set themselves on fire in protest and took to rioting in the streets of Lhasa, Tibet’s capitol. This was quickly and easily put down by the Chinese government and the Tibetan border was closed to tourists for almost a year.

      Again, unrest is being shown in the region and since March 2011, a reported 30 people have set themselves on fire in protest of Chinese occupancy. Recently, in late May 2012, the Tibetan borders were again closed to foreign tourists. There is no word as to when the ban will be lifted. Many said this was due to the Saga Dawa festival, which celebrates the birth of Lord Buddha, and often draws many foreign Buddhist pilgrims to Tibet. But because of the growing unrest in Tibet, it is clear to see why China has again closed its borders to the outside world.

      Tibet is a truly beautiful country with equally beautiful people and customs. They have suffered immensely in the past and we at Trek Nepal aim to inform the people of the world of this beautiful place, so high on Earth, through our tours and excursions. We only hope and pray that the Chinese government will lift the ban so the people of Tibet can continue sharing their customs and lives with the rest of the world and thus, help bring an end to their seemingly endless suffering in the process.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Tibet at this time and we will inform the rest of you when its’ beautiful doors are once again open.

Source