Himalayan Cycle 16 — Shenmuda Camp to Menbu Town Camp

A town camp, elevated 'The Simpsons' reading!

Robin Capper

18 Sep 2014 — 4 min read

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A mix of travel notes and comments added later

18-09-2014 - Thursday

Cold start to the day, overcast and a cool wind. Had a light breakfast as felt a bit crap after riding on full breakfast yesterday. The ride was great as we headed from the near Tingri to camp at the base of the next big pass.

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The Chinese text in the image reads: 实施两基利国利民 This translates to: "Implementing the two basics benefits the country and the people."
The phrase “两基” (liǎng jī) refers to “two basics,” which in Chinese policy contexts often means:
- Basic education (universal nine-year compulsory education)
- Basic health services
So, the slogan promotes foundational development in education and healthcare as a means to improve national and public welfare. Copilot 2025

Lovely scenery and quiet, almost no traffic, riding across the plains then up a river valley. Passed through several small villages and saw lots of harvest activity. The weather improved, sun replacing cloud and it warmed up.

Regroup, and rest, stop

Ancient Fort ruins seemed more common in this area.

Menbu Town Camp

After arriving at camp, it was a nice lazy afternoon enjoying the luxury of a single tent (3 of us who didn't pay single supplement are rotating between 2+1).

I read some The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets (Kindle app on my phone) then it was afternoon teatime. Rather odd topic to read about in the Himalayas but had heard author Simon Singh talk about it on several podcasts and was the first chance I’d had to read the book.

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It's a great read and mentioning it, and the location I read it, resulted in this amusing tweet from Simon!

@robincapper i think that makes you my most elevated reader.
— Simon Singh (@SLSingh) November 17, 2014

Rent collectors?

We are camped near a town again and for the first time had a visit from beggars. While lots are trying to sell goods this was just a straight “Give us money” request, a first for me in Tibet. Next someone arrived looking for payment for the campsite. Another first, the guides dealt with that!

Most locals visiting our other camps have just been curious.

In a busy afternoon we also had a herd of goats, several local dogs and a man drive past close to camp in a large excavator. For a minute wondered if that was the response for not coughing up for the ground rent! Turned out he was just going to a nearby building construction site.