Herding Yaks

While having a hot chocolate the other day, we were lucky enough to meet Eleanor, an Australian woman who lives here in Shangrila and works for an NGO called the Eastern Tibetan Training and Language Institute (ETLI). As part of their mission, ETIL runs a school that teaches English and other hospitality-focused skills to a growing number of local children (about 50 this year).

Not only did Eleanor invite us to a great birthday party at the bar later that evening, but she also invited us to visit their school, have dinner with a local family, and -- herd yaks!

It was wonderful experience. We took a short bus ride out of the city center and then walked about 20 minutes through a small village and grazing fields to a wooden home that the family uses in the warmer months (so they can be close to the herd of yaks). The farmer gave us handfuls of salt powder to pour on our hands and lure the yaks in for the evening. He also taught us the herding call, which sounded something like "Nyn-yhh, Nyn-yhh", but the salt was far more effective.

We then had a nice dinner of beef (yak?), tomatoes and eggs, cabbage, rice and the signature drink in these parts -- yak butter tea. I wish I could say that I love it, but it really does taste like a stick of salty butter was melted and poured into the cup. Rich is an understatement.

After dinner we went to the school and met with the kids who eagerly showed us around their school and practiced their English -- once they got over their initial bout of shyness.