Podcasts about himalayan mountains

Utahns are well known for their humanitarian efforts and charitable giving.  In this segment of Midday with Maria Shilaos, Maria tells the story of a Utah non-profit that is making a huge difference for people with cleft palettes nearly 8,000 miles away in Nepal, a country in the Himalayan Mountains of Asia. She speaks with Jim Webber, who is the owner of Foothill Oriental Rugs. He went to Nepal in the 1990s to find a way to design and create his own unique rugs. But his mission ended up becoming something much more fulfilling and long-lasting.  Learn more about the Nepal Cleft and Burn Center, and register for the May 16th fundraiser, at nepalcleftandburncenter.org or by calling Foothill Oriental Rug.

Sadhviji Bhagawati Saraswati is a renunciate nun, or sanyasi, living in an ashram on the banks of the sacred Ganges River in Rishikesh, India, nestled amidst the majestic Himalayan Mountains. Originally from Los Angeles, California, and a graduate of Stanford University, she holds a Ph.D. in psychology and has devoted her life to sharing the profound wisdom of the ancient Vedic tradition from India. Sadhviji is a bestselling author, a world-renowned speaker, and a recipient of President Biden's Award for a Lifetime of Service. She also serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on Religion. Connect with Sadhviji: WEBSITE: www.sadhviji.org INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/sadhviji YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/@Sadhviji This event is hosted by ✨ Happy Jack Yoga University ✨ www.happyjackyoga.com ➡️ Facebook: /happyjackyoga ➡️ Instagram: @happyjackyoga Bhakti Yoga Conference at Harvard Divinity School Experience a one-of-a-kind online opportunity with 40+ renowned scholars, monks, yogis, and thought leaders! REGISTER FOR FREE: www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-... This conference is your opportunity to immerse yourself in the wisdom of sincere practitioners as they address the questions and challenges faced by us all. Expect thought-provoking discussions, actionable insights, and a deeper understanding of cultivating Grace in an Age of Distraction and incorporating Bhakti Yoga into your daily life.

This episode we continue to follow the monk Xuanzang on his path along the silk road.  From Gaochang, he traveled through the Tarim Basin, up over the Tianshan Mountains, to the heart of the Western Gokturk Qaghanate.  From there, he traveled south, through the region of Transoxania to Bactria and the land of Tukhara.  He pushed on into the Hindu Kush, witnessing the stone Buddha statues of Bamiyan, and eventually made his way to the land of Kapisa, near modern Kabul, Afghanistan.  From there he would prepare to enter the Indian subcontinent: the home of the historical Buddha. For more discussion and some photos of the areas along this journey, check out our podcast blog at https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-121   Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua, and this is Episode 121: Journey to the West, Part 2   The cold winds blew through the travelers' doubled up clothing and thick furs.  Cold, wet ground meant that even two sets of boots were not necessarily enough after several days.  The frozen mist would often obscure everything except for the path immediately in front, hiding the peaks and making the sky a uniform white. In many places, the path would be blocked by rock, ice, or snow—the remnants of an avalanche, which could easily take an unsuspecting traveler.  And there was the elevation.  Hiking through the mountains, it was easy enough to reach heights of a mile or higher, and for those not accustomed to that elevation the thin air could take a surprising toll, especially if you were pushing yourself.  And the road was no less kind to the animals that would be hauling said travelers and their gear. And yet, this was the path that Xuanzang had agreed to.  He would continue to push through, despite the various deprivations that he would be subjected to.  No doubt he often wondered if it was worth it.  Then again, returning was just as dangerous a trip, so why not push on?   Last episode we introduced the monk Xuanzang, who traveled the Silk Road to India in the 7th century and returned to China.  He brought back numerous sutras to translate, and ended up founding a new school, known as the Faxian school—or the Hossou school in Japan.   As we mentioned last time, Xuanzang during his lifetime met with students from the archipelago when they visited the continent.  The records of his travels—including his biography and travelogue—are some of the best information we have on what life was like on the silk road around this time. In the last episode, we talked about Xuanzang: how he set out on his travels, his illegal departure from the Tang empire, and his perilous journey across the desert, ending up in Gaochang.  There, King Qu Wentai had tried to get him to stay, but he was determined to head out.  This episode we are going to cover his trip to Agni, Kucha, and Baluka—modern Aksu—and up to the Western Gokturk Qaghanate's capital of Suyab.  From there, we'll follow his footsteps through the Turkic controlled regions of Transoxania and into Tukhara, in modern Afghanistan.  Finally, we'll cover the last parts of his journey before he reached the start of his goal:  India. From Gaochang, Xuanzang continued on, through the towns he names as Wuban and Dujin, and into the country of Agni—known today as the area of Yanqi—which may also have been known as Wuqi.  The route was well-enough known, but it wasn't necessarily safe.  At one point, Xuanzang's caravan met with bandits, whom they were fortunately able to pay off.  The following night they encamped on a river bank with some merchants who also happened to be traveling the road.  The merchants, though, got up at midnight and headed out, hoping to get to the city early so that they could be the first ones to the market.  They only made it a few miles down the road, however, before they encountered more bandits, who slaughtered them and took their goods.  The following day, Xuanzang and his retinue came upon the merchants' remains lying in the road and saw the aftermath of the massacre. This was an unforgiving land, and the road was truly dangerous, even for those who traveled it regularly.  And yet Xuanzang was planning to travel its entire length until he reached India. So with little alternative, they carried on to the royal city of Agni. Agni, or Yanqi, sits on the southwestern edge of the basin, west of Bositeng lake, on the border between the Turfan basin and the larger Tarim Basin.  The name is thought to be a Tocharian—or Turfanian—name for the city, which is also known as Karashr. According to the biography by Huili, Xuanzang and his party didn't stay long in Agni.  Apparently Agni and Gaochang were not exactly on friendly terms, and even though the King of Agni and his ministers reportedly came out to greet Xuanzang and welcome him to their city, they refused to provide any horses.  They spent a single night and moved on. That said, Agni still made an impression on Xuanzang.  He noted how the capital was surrounded by hills on four sides, making it naturally defensible.  As for the people, he praises them as honest and straightforward.  They wore clothing of felt and hemp cloth, and cut their hair short, without hats or any kind of headwear.  Even the climate was pleasant, at least for the short time he was there.  He also notes that they used a script based on India—likely referring to the Brahmic script, which we find in the Tarim basin. However, as for the local lord, the King of Agni, he is a little less charitable.  Xuanzang claimed he was brave but “lacked resourcefulness” and he was a bit of a braggart.  Furthermore, the country had “no guiding principles or discipline and government orders are imperfect and not seriously implemented.”  He also mentioned the state of Buddhism in the country, noting that they were followers of Sarvastivada school, a Theravada sect popular along the Silk Road at the time.  Xuanzang was apparently not too pleased with the fact that they were not strict vegetarians, including the “three kinds of pure meat”.  From Agni, Xuanzang continued southwest, heading for the kingdom of Kucha.  He seems to have bypassed the nearby kingdom of Korla, south of Agni, and headed some 60 or 70 miles, climbing over a ridge and crossing two large rivers, and then proceeding another 200 miles or so to the land of Kucha. Kucha was a kingdom with over one hundred monasteries and five thousand monks following a form of Theravada Buddhism.  Here, Xuanzang was welcomed in by the king, Suvarnadeva, described as having red hair and blue eyes.  While Xuanzang was staying in Kucha, it is suspected that he probably visited the nearby Kizil grotto and the Buddhist caves, there, which include a painting of King Suvarnadeva's father, King Suvarnapuspa, and his three sons. You can still visit Kucha and the Kizil grottos today, although getting there is quite a trek, to be sure.  The ancient Kuchean capital is mostly ruins, but in the Kizil caves, protected from the outside elements, you can find vivid paintings ranging from roughly the 4th to the 8th century, when the site was abandoned.  Hundreds of caves were painted, and many still demonstrate vibrant colors.  The arid conditions protect them from mold and mildew, while the cave itself reduces the natural bleaching effect of sunlight.  The paintings are in numerous styles, and were commissioned by various individuals and groups over the years.  They also give us some inkling of how vibrant the city and similar structures must have been, back when the Kuchean kingdom was in its heyday. The people of Kucha are still something of a mystery.  We know that at least some of them spoke an Indo-European language, related to a language found in Agni, and both of these languages are often called Tocharian, which we discussed last episode.  Xuanzang himself noted that they used Indian writing, possibly referring to the Brahmi script, or perhaps the fact that they seem to have used Sanskrit for official purposes, such as the inscription on the cave painting at Kizil giving the name of King Suvarnapuspa.  The Kucheans also were clothed in ornamental garments of silk and embroidery.  They kept their hair cut, wearing a flowing covering over their heads—and we see some of that in the paintings. Xuanzang also notes that though we may think of this area as a desert, it was a place where rice and grains, as well as fruit like grapes, pomegranates, plums, pears, peaches, and almonds were grown.  Even today, modern Xinjiang grows some absolutely fantastic fruit, including grapes, which are often dried into raisins. Another point of interest for Xuanzang may have been that Kucha is known as the hometown of none other than Kumarajiva.  We first mentioned Kumarajiva back in episode 84.  Kumarajiva was one of the first people we know of who translated many of the sutras from India that were then more widely disseminated throughout the Yellow River and Yangzi river basins.  His father was from India and his mother was a Kuchean princess.  In the middle of the 4th century, when he was still quite young, he traveled to India and back with his mother on a Buddhist pilgrimage.  Later he would start a massive translation project in Chang'an.  His translations are credited with revolutionizing Chinese Buddhism. Xuanzang was initially welcomed by the king, his ministers, and the revered monk, Moksagupta.  They were accompanied by several thousand monks who set up tents outside the eastern gate, with portable Buddha images, which they worshipped, and then Xuanzang was taken to monastery after monastery until sunset.  At one of the monasteries, in the southeast of the city, there were several tens of monks who originally came from Gaochang, and since Xuanzang had come from there, they invited him to stay with them. The next day he met and feasted with the King, politely declining any meat, and then went to the monastery in the northwest to meet with the famous monk: Moksagupta.  Moksagupta himself had made the journey to India, and had spent 20 years there himself.  It seems like this would have been the perfect person for Xuanzang to talk to about his plans, but instead, the two butted heads.  Moksagupta seems to have seen Xuanzang's Mahayana faith as heretical.  He saw no reason for Xuanzang to travel all the way to India when he had all the sutras that anyone needed there in Kucha, along with Moksagupta himself.   Xuanzang's response seems to have been the Tang dynasty Buddhist version of “Okay, Boomer”, and then he went ahead and tore apart Moksagupta's understanding of his own sutras—or so Xuanzang relayed to his biographers.  We don't exactly have Moksagupta's side, and, let's face it, Xuanzang and his biographers are not necessarily reliable narrators.  After all, they followed Mahayana teachings, which they considered the “Greater Vehicle”, and they referred to the Theravada teachings as the “Hinayana” or “Lesser Vehicle”.  Meanwhile, Theravada Buddhists likely saw many of the Mahayana texts as extraneous, even heretical, not believing them to actually be the teachings of the Buddha. It must have been winter time, as the passes through the mountains on the road ahead were still closed, and so Xuanzang stayed in Kucha, spending his time sightseeing and meeting with various people.  He even went back to see Moksagupta, but the older monk shunned him, and would get up and exit the room rather than engaging with him, so they had no more conversations. Eventually, Xuanzang continued on his way west, following along the northern rim of the Tarim basin.  Two days out from Kucha, disaster struck.  Some two thousand or so Turkish bandits suddenly appeared—I doubt Xuanzang was counting, so it may have been more or less.  I imagine that memories of what had happened to the merchants near Agni must have gone through Xuanzang's mind.   Fortunately, for him, they were fighting over loot that they had pillaged from various travelers, and since they couldn't share it equally, they fell to fighting each other and eventually dispersed. He travelled for almost 200 miles after that, stopping only for a night at the Kingdom of Baluka, aka Gumo—the modern city of Aksu.  This was another Theravada Buddhist kingdom.  Xuanzang noted tens of Buddhist temples, and over 1000 Buddhist monks.  The country was not large—about 200 miles east to west and 100 miles north to south.  For reference that means it was probably comparable in size with Kyushu, in terms of overall area, or maybe the size of Denmark—excluding Greenland—or maybe the US state of Maryland.  Xuanzang described the country as similar to Kucha in just about every way, including the written language and law, but the spoken language was different, though we don't get many more details. From Baluka, he crossed northward through the Tianshan mountains, which are classified as an extension of the Pamirs known as the Ice Mountains.  Had he continued southwest, he would have hit Kashgar and crossed over between the Pamir and Tian Shan ranges into the Ferghana valley, but instead he turned north. We don't know exactly why he took this perilous option, but the route that may have been popular at the time as it was one of the most direct routes to the seat of the Western Gokturk Empire, which he was currently traveling through. The Tian Shan mountains were a dangerous journey.  Avalanches could block the road—or worse.  Xuanzang describes the permanent ice fields—indeed, it is the ice fields and glaciers of the Tian Shan that melt in the summer and provide the oasis towns of the Tarim Basin with water, even to this day.  In Xuanzang's day, those glaciers were likely even more prevalent than today, especially as they have been recorded as rapidly disappearing since 1961.  And where you weren't on snow and ice, the ground was probably wet and damp from the melt.  To keep warm, you would wear shoes over your shoes, along with heavy fur coats, all designed to reduce exposure. Xuanzang claims that 3 or 4 of every 10 people didn't survive the crossing—and that horses and oxen fared even worse.  Even if these numbers are an exaggeration, the message is clear:  This was a dangerous journey. After about seven days, Xuanzang came out of the mountains to the “Great Pure Lake”, the “Da Qing Hai”, also known as the Hot Sea or the Salt Sea, which likely refers to Issyk Kul.  The salt content, along with the great volume of water it possesses, means that the lake rarely freezes over, which is likely why it is seen as “hot” since it doesn't freeze when the fresh water nearby does.  This lake is the second largest mountain lake in the world, and the second deepest saltwater lake.  Traveling past the lake, he continued to Suyab, near modern Tokmok, in Kyrgyzstan, just west of the modern capital of Bishkek.  This was an old Sogdian settlement, and had since become the capital of the Western Gokturks.  Sogdians—like Xuanzang's guide, Vandak—were integral to the Gokturk kingdom. Their language was the lingua franca of the Silk Road, and at the time of the Gokturk Khaganate, it was also the official court language, and so when Xuanzang appeared at the court of the Great Khagan of the Western Gokturks, it was likely the language of diplomacy. When we think of Turkic people, many in the English speaking world think of Turkiye, and perhaps of the mighty Ottoman empire.  Some may think of Turkmenistan, Kazhakstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Uzbekistan, among others.  And of course, there are the Uyghur people in Xinjiang.  All of these people claim roots in the ancestral Turkic homeland in the Altai mountains, which sit largely in western Mongolia, north of China's Xinjiang region.  Much like the Xiongnu and the Mongols, they were pastoral nomads, moving their herds across the steppes, often covering great distances.  They would regularly move through different regions, perhaps returning each season, though sometimes not returning for years at a time.  They were often seen as barbarians by settled people living in cities, and yet their goods and horses were highly prized. Nomad and sedentary lifestyles would often collide.  Farmers would turn pastureland into fields, and when the nomadic people returned on their circuits, they would find walls and fences where there was once open land, and the people there would claim to “own” the land, a concept often foreign to people who were always on the move.  Nomadic people, such as the Gokturks, were not necessarily keeping vast libraries of records about themselves and their histories, and so much of what we get comes from external sources, which do not always have incredibly reliable narrators.  To many of the settled agriculturalists, groups like the Turks were marauders who raided their villages and farms.  They were a great bogeyman of the steppes, which required the firm hand of strong defenses to keep out—or so their opponents would want people to think. While they were known for their warfare, which incorporated their mobility, but they were keenly interested in trade, as well.  They understood the value of the trade routes and the various cities and states that they included in their empire.  Thus, the Sogdians and the Gokturks seem a natural fit: the Sogdians were more settled, but not entirely so, as demonstrated by their vast trade networks.  And the Sogdians also were part of the greater central Eurasian steppe culture, so the two cultures understood each other, to a degree.  They are even depicted similarly in art, with slight differences, such as long hair that was often associated with Turks over the Sogdians.  In some areas of the Gokturk empire, Sogdians would run the cities, while the Gokturks provided military aid and protection. Xuanzang's description of the people of Suyab, or the “City of Suye River”, doesn't pick out anyone in particular, and he even says that it was a place where traders of the Hu, or foreign, tribes from different countries mingle their abodes.  He mentions the people here as being called Suli, which is also the name given to the language—this may refer to “Sogdian” in general.  They write with an alphabet that is written vertically rather than horizontally—this may refer to a few scripts that were written this way, possibly based off Syriac or Aramaic alphabets that were adapted to Sogdian and other Iranian languages, but it isn't clear. We are told that the people dressed in felt and hemp clothing, with fur and “cotton” garments.  Their clothes fit tightly, and they kept their hair cut short, exposing the top of their heads—though sometimes they shaved it completely, tying a colored silk band around the forehead. He goes on to describe these people as greedy liars, possibly a reference to the mercantile nature of many of the people at the time. Something to note: The Turks of this time had not yet encountered Islam, which was just now starting to rise up in the Middle East.  The Prophet Muhammad is said to have been born around the end of the 6th century CE and was preaching in the early 7th century, though his teachings would begin to spread outward soon enough.  But that means that the Gokturks were not an Islamic empire.  Rather, their own traditions seem to have focused on the worship of Tengri, an Altaic personification of the universe, often simplified as a “sky god”.  Tengrism can be found amongst the Xiongnu, Mongols, and others, and it was the national religion of the Gokturks themselves, but there were many who also adopted other religions that they encountered, including Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Manichaeism, and Buddhism.  In fact, Xuanzang notes that the Turks he met in Suyab would not sleep or sit on beds made of wood because wood was thought to contain the spirit of fire, which he says they worshipped.  That sounds similar to Zoroastrian beliefs, where fire is associated with Ahura Mazda, who is also worshipped as a sky god.  These may have been beliefs inherited from their Eastern Iranian Sogdian partners. In Xuanzang's biography, we are given more details about his visit to Suyab.  Apparently, as he was headed to the city, he met a hunting party, which we are told was the retinue of Yehu Khan.  Hunting was an important part of life on the steppes, and it continued to be a favorite sport of the Gokturk nobility. Yehu Khan—possibly Yagbhu Khan, though that is up for some debate—is described as being dressed in a green silk robe, with his hair exposed, and wearing  a turban of white silk about ten feet long that wrapped his forehead and hung behind his back.  His “hunting” expedition wasn't just a couple of the guys.  It included about 200 officials, all with plaited hair and dressed in brocade robes—they weren't exactly out there roughing it.  He also had his soldiers, dressed in furs, felt, or fine woolen clothes, and there were so many cavalry that they stretched out of sight.  The Khan seemed pleased to meet Xuanzang, but his hunt was expected to last another couple of days, at least, so he sent an attendant named Dharmaja to take Xuanzang back to wait for the Khan to return. Three days later, Xuanzang was given an audience.  The khan was seated in a large yurt.  Xuanzang noted the seeming incongruity between the khan, sitting there in the tent, decorated with golden flowers, with the officials dressed in magnificent brocade garments sitting in two long rows in front of him and the armed guards behind him, compared to the simple felt walls of the tent. A ”yurt” is a common feature of nomadic life on the steppes.  It wasn't exactly a single person operation to haul them around, but they can be taken down and put up with relative ease.  And while yurts could be relatively simple, there are examples of much more elaborate structures.  There is little reason they couldn't be made larger, perhaps with some extra support.  In later centuries, there are examples of giant yurts that seem like real construction projects.  Use of tents, even in a city, where they had permanent palace buildings, was likely a means of retaining the nomadic steppe traditions, even while enjoying the benefits of city life. Whom exactly Xuanzang met with is a matter of debate.  His records seem to indicate that it was Tong Yabghu Qaghan of the Western Gokturk Khaganate, but other sources say that Tong Yabghu Qaghan died in 628, and the earliest Xuanzang could have been meeting with him was 630, two years later, so if that is the case, he must have met with Tong Yabghu's son, Si Yabghu Qaghan.  It is likely that Xuanzang, who was dictating his accounts years after, mentioned the Qaghan and then, when they looked up who it was, they simply made a mistake.  Remember, Xuanzang would have had everything translated through one or two languages.  He did know what he saw, however, and he recounted what he remembered. Tong Yabghu Qaghan oversaw the height of the Gokturk Qaghanate, and appears to have favored the Buddhist religion, though there were many different religions active in their territories at the time.  They oversaw an extremely cosmopolitan empire covering huge swaths of central Eurasia, including the lucrative silk road.  Xuanzang notes that at the court there were individuals from Gaochang and even a messenger from the Han—which is to say the Tang Empire.  One wonders if Xuanzang—or anyone at that time—realized just how tenuous the Khan'sposition was.  After Tong Yabghu's death, the Qaghanate would decline, and less than a decade later it would fall to the Tang dynasty, who took Suyab and made it their western outpost.  In fact, Suyab is thought to have been the birthplace, over a century later, of a young boy who would find a love of poetry.  That boy's name was Li Bai, or Ri Haku, in Japanese. He would become one of the most famous poets in Chinese history, and his poems were even known and studied in Japan.  And it was largely through Japanese study of Li Bai's poems that his works came to the English speaking world: first through Ernest Fenollosa, who had studied in Japan, and then by the celebrated Ezra Pound, who had used Ernest's notes to help with his own translations of the poems. This was, though, as I said, over a century after Xuanzang's journey.  At the time of our story, the Qaghan was throwing a feast, including Xuanzang and all of the foreign envoys.  Xuanzang comments on the food and drink—his hosts provided grape juice in lieu of wine, and cooked a special vegetarian feast just for him, while the other guests ate a feast of meat, such as veal, lamb, fish, and the like.  There was also the music of various regions along the Silk Road, which Xuanzang found to be catchy, but of course not as refined as the music he was used to, of course.  After dinner Xuanzang was asked to expound upon the Darma, largely about the basic principle that you should be kind to one another—I doubt he was getting into the deep mysteries of Buddhist philosophy. Xuanzang stuck around the court for three more days, during which time the Qaghan tried to get him to stay, but Xuanzang insisted that he had to make it to India.  And so the Qaghan relented.  He found men in his army who could translate for Xuanzang along his journey, and had letters of introduction written to at least as far as the state of Kapisa, in modern Afghanistan. And so, armed with the Qaghan's blessing and a fresh translator, Xuanzang struck out again.  They headed westward for over one hundred miles, eventually reaching Bingyul, aka the Thousand Springs.  This is the area where the Qaghan and his court would spend his summers, and the deer in the area were protected under his orders, so that they were not afraid of humans—which sounds similar to the situation with the deer in Nara.  Continuing on another fifty miles or so—the distances are approximate as Xuanzang's primary duty was not exactly to map all of this out—Xuanzang arrived at the city of Taras, in modern Kazakhstan, another place where the cultures of the Silk Road mixed and mingled.  Xuanzang didn't have much to say about Taraz, apparently, though it is one of the oldest cities in Transoxania, founded near the beginning of the Common Era.  A few miles south of there, Xuanzang reportedly found a village of re-settled ethnic Han that had been captured by the Gokturks and settled here.  They had adopted the dress and customs of the Turkic people, but continued to speak a version of Chinese. Southwest of that he reached the City of White Water, likely referring to Aksukent.  This is the same “Aksu” as the city in Xinjiang, both of which mean “White Water” in Turkic, but this one is in the south of Kazakhstan.  Xuanzang found the climate and products an improvement over what he had experienced in Taras.  Beyond that, he next arrived at the city of Gongyu, and then south again to Nujkend, and then traveling westward to the country of Chach, aka Tashkent.  Both Nujkend and Chach were large cities in nations of smaller, mostly autonomous city-states, which made up a lot of the political geography of Transoxania. I would note that Xuanzang's notes here are much more sparse than previously.  This may be because these were outside of the Tarim basin and therefore of less interest to individuals in the Tang empire.  Or perhaps he was just making his way more quickly and not stopping at every kingdom along the way. From Tashkent, he continued southeast to the Ferghana valley—the country of Feihan.  Oddly, this country doesn't appear in Xuanzang's biography, even though the Ferghana Valley seems to have been fairly well known back in the Tang Empire—it was known as the home of some of the best horses, which were one of its first major exports.  In fact, the Han dynasty even mounted a military expedition to travel to Ferghana just to obtain horses.  Xuanzang is oddly silent on this; however, he does talk about the fertile nature of the land.  He mentions that their language here is different from the lands he had been traveling through up to this point, and also points out that the people of the Ferghana valley were also visibly different from others in the area. From the Ferghana valley, Xuanzang headed west for about 300 miles or more to the land of Sutrushana—perhaps referring to the area of Ushrusana, with its capital of Bunjikat.  This country was also largely Sogdian, and described as similar to Tashkent.  From there, he traveled west through a great desert, passing skeletons, which were the only marker of the trail other than a view of the far off mountains.  Finally, they reached Samarkand, known as the country of “Kang” in Chinese, which was also the term used to mark Sogdians who claimed descent from the people of Samarkand. Samarkand is another of the ancient cities of Central Asia, and even today is the third largest city in modern Uzbekistan.  Human activity in the region goes back to the paleolithic era, and the city was probably founded between the 8th and 7th centuries BCE.  Samarkand was conquered by Alexander the Great, and during the Achaemenid Empire it was the capital of Sogdiana.  During Xuanzang's visit, Samarkand was described as an impenetrable fortress with a large population. For all of his travel, Samarkand was the first place Xuanzang notes as specifically not a Buddhist land.  In fact, there were two monasteries, suggesting that there had been Buddhists, but if any monks tried to stay there then the locals would chase them out with fire.  Instead, they worshipped fire—likely meaning Ahura Mazda and Zoroastrianism.  This leads to a story that I have to wonder about, given the reliability of our narrators. It is said that Xuanzang was met by the King with arrogance, but after staying the night Xuanzang was able to tell the King about Buddhism and its merits.  The king was intrigued, and asked to observe the Precepts, and treated Xuanzang with hospitality and respect.  So when two of Xuanzang's attendants went to the monasteries to worship, they were chased out with fire.  When the king heard about this, he had the people arrested and ordered their hands to be cut off.  Xuanzang could not bear to witness such suffering, however, and he intervened to have them spared.  So instead the king had them flogged and banished from the city.  Ever since then, all the people believed in Buddhism. Some parts of this strike true.  It was likely that the king would entertain this strange wanderer who had arrived with letters from the great Qaghan—that may have even explained why Xuanzang had been encouraged to make the dangerous journey to Suyab in the first place, so that he could obtain such permission.  And it would not be strange for the king to listen to his teachings.  If Xuanzang's attendants were attacked, that would have been a huge breach of hospitality, and however the King felt about it, he no doubt had to do something about it.  And so all of that sounds somewhat believable.  Does that mean everyone suddenly converted to Buddhism?  I don't know that I'm quite willing to go that far.  It is also likely that there were Buddhists there already, even if the majority religion was Zoroastrianism. From Samarkand, Xuanzang traveled farther southwest, to the country of Kasanna, which seems to have been the edge of what we might call Sogdiana.   According to his biographers, however, there was a little more to all of this.  Rather, he headed west to Kusanika.  Then he traveled to  Khargan, and further on to the country of Bukhara, and then to Vadi.  All of these were “An” in Chinese, which was the name element used for Sogdians from this region.  He then continued west to the country of Horismika, on the other side of the Amu Darya, aka the Oxus River of Transoxanian fame. From there he traveled further southwest, entering into the mountains.  The path here was often such that they had to travel single-file, and there was no food or water other than what you brought with you.  Eventually they came to a set of doors, known as the Iron Gate.  This was a Turkic fortress.  It was no doubt fortuitous that he had come from his meeting with the Qaghan, and likely had permission to pass through.  From there, they entered the country of Tukhara. As we noted in Episode 119, Tukhara was in the region of Bactria.  It was bordered by the Pamir range in the east, and the Persian empire in the west.  There were also the Great Snow Mountains in the south, likely referencing the Hindu Kush. Tukhara had been conquered by the Gokturks just within the past couple of decades, and Xuanzang notes that the country had been split into largely autonomous city-states as the local royalty had died without an heir many years before.  With the Gokturk conquest, it was now administered by Tardu Shad, the son of Tong Yabghu Qaghan.  “Shad” in this case was a local title. Here, Xuanzang's narrative gets a little dicey, especially between his biography and his records.  The records of the Western Regions denotes various countries in this area.  It is unclear if he traveled to all of them or is just recounting them from records he obtained.  He does give us at least an overview of the people and the region.  I would also note that this is one of the regions he visited, again, on his return trip, and so may have been more familiar with the region than those areas he had passed through from Suyab on down. For one thing, he notes that the language of the region was different from that of the “Suli”, which appears to refer to the Sogdians.  This was the old territory of the Kushan empire, and they largely spoke Bactrian.  Like Sogdian, it was another Eastern Iranian language, and they used an alphabet based largely on Greek, and written horizontally rather than vertically.  They also had their own coins. This region had plenty of Buddhist communities, and Xuanzang describes the cities and how many monasteries they had, though, again, it isn't clear if he actually visited all of them or not.  These are countries that Li Rongji translates as “Tirmidh”, “Sahaaniyan”, “Kharuun”, “Shuumaan”, etc. It does seem that Xuanzang made it to the capital city, the modern city Kunduz, Afghanistan. Xuanzang actually had something specific for the local Gokturk ruler, Tardu Shad.  Tardu Shad's wife was the younger sister of King Qu Wentai of Gaochang, whom we met last episode.  Qu Wentai had provided Xuanzang a letter for his younger sister and her husband.  Unfortunately, Xuanzang arrived to learn that the princess of Gaochang had passed away, and Tardu Shad's health was failing.  It does seem that Tardu Shad was aware of Xuanzang, however—a letter had already come from Qu Wentai to let them know that Xuanzang was on his way.  As I mentioned last episode, letters were an important part of how communities stayed tied together.  Of course, given the perils of the road, one assumes that multiple letters likely had to be sent just in case they didn't make it.  The US Postal Service this was not. Tardu Shad, though not feeling well, granted an interview with Xuanzang.  He suggested that Xuanzang should stick around.  Then, once the Shad had recovered from his illness, he would accompany Xuanzang personally on his trip to India.  Unfortunately, that was not to be.  While Xuanzang was staying there, he was witness to deadly drama.  Tardu Shad was recovering, which was attributed to the recitations by an Indian monk who was also there.  This outcome was not exactly what some in the court had wanted.  One of the Shad's own sons, known as the Tagin prince, plotted with the Shad's current wife, the young Khatun, and she poisoned her husband.  With the Shad dead, the throne might have gone to the son of the Gaochang princess, but he was still too young.  As such, the Tagin Prince was able to usurp the throne himself, and he married his stepmother, the young Khatun.  The funeral services for the late Tardu Shad meant that Xuanzang was obliged to stay at Ghor for over a month. During that time, Xuanzang had a seemingly pleasant interaction with an Indian monk.  And when he finally got ready to go, he asked the new Shad for a guide and horses.  He agreed, but also made the suggestion that Xuanzang should then head to Balkh.  This may have meant a bit of backtracking, but the Shad suggested that it would be worth it, as Balkh had a flourishing Buddhist community. Fortunately, there was a group of Buddhist monks from Balkh who happened to be in Kunduz to express their condolences at the passing of Tardu Shad, and they agreed to accompany Xuanzang back to their hometown, lest he end up getting lost and taking the long way there. The city of Balkh is also known as “Baktra”, as in “Bactria”, another name of this region.  A settlement has been there since at least 500 BCE , and it was already an important city when it was captured by Alexander the Great.  It sits at the confluence of several major trade routes, which no doubt were a big part of its success.  Xuanzang's biography notes that it was a massive city, though it was relatively sparsely populated—probably due to the relatively recent conquest by the Gokturks, which had occurred in the last couple of decades.  That said, there were still thousands of monks residing at a hundred monasteries in and around the city.  They are all characterized as monks of Theravada schools.  Southwest of the city was a monastery known as Navasamgharama, aka Nava Vihara, or “New Monastery”.  Despite its name, the monastery may have actually been much older, going back to the Kushan emperor Kaniska, in the 2nd century CE.  Ruins identified as this “New Monastery” are still visible south of Balkh, today. The monastery is described as being beautifully decorated, and it seems that it had a relic—one of the Buddha's teeth.  There are also various utensils that the Buddha is said to have used, as well.  The objects would be displayed on festival days.  North of the monastery there was a stupa more than 200 feet in height.  South of the monastery was a hermitage.  Each monk who studied there and passed away would have a stupa erected for them, as well.  Xuanzang notes that there were at around 700 memorial stupas, such that they had to be crammed together, base to base. It was here that Xuanzang met a young monk named Prajnaakara, who was already somewhat famous in India, and well-studied.  When questioned about certain aspects of Buddhism, Xuanzang was impressed by the monk's answers, and so stayed there a month studying with the young monk. Eventually, Xuanzang was ready to continue on his journey.  He departed Balkh towards the south, accompanying the teacher Prajnakara, and together they entered the Great Snow Mountains, aka the Hindu Kush.  This path was even more dangerous than the trip through the Tian Shan mountains to Suyab.   They eventually left the territory of Tukhara and arrived at Bamiyan.  Bamiyan was a kingdom in the Hindu Kush, themselves an extension of the Himalayan Mountain range.  It Is largely based around valley, home to the modern city of Bamyan, Afghanistan, which sits along the divide between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.  Today it is a major center for individuals of the Hazara ethnic group, one of the main ethnic groups in Afghanistan, which is a multi-ethnic state that includes, today, the Pashtun, Hazara, Tajik, and Uzbek people, along with a number of smaller ethnic groups.  Today they largely reside in the mountainous areas of the Hindu Kush. Bamiyan made an impact on our protagonist.   Their language was slightly different from that in Tukhara, but using the same—or similar enough—writing system.  Buddhism was thriving in the capital, and we are told of a rock statue of the standing Buddha, over a hundred feet in height, along with a copper statue of the standing Buddha nearby.    There was also another reclining Buddha a mile or two down the road.  There were multiple monasteries with thousands of monks, and the ruler of that kingdom received Xuanzang well. Xuanzang wasn't the first monk to travel to Bamiyan from the Middle Kingdom—in this he was, perhaps unwittingly, on the trail of the monk Faxian.  Faxian likely did not see these statues, though, as we believe they were built in the 6th and early 7th century—at least the stone Buddha statues.  They were a famous worship site until February 2001, when the Taliban gave an order to destroy all of the statues in Afghanistan.  Despite this, they were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. Fortunately, we have images from before their destruction.  These statues were a blend of Greco-Buddhist and Gandharan art styles—appropriate as it stands between the Hellenistic area of Tukhara and the ancient region of Gandhara—including the modern city of Kandahar and into the Indus Valley region of Pakistan. Continuing east through the mountains, Xuanzang eventually came out at the kingdom of Kapisa.  This may have had its capital around modern-day Bagram, north of modern Kabul, but the country seems to have been quite large.  Kapisa over saw some tens of other countries, and it is thought that at one time its influence extended from Bamyan and Kandahar to the area of modern Jalalabad.  Their language was even more different than that of Tukhara, but they were still using the same writing system.  The king of Kapisa is said to have been of Suli ethnicity—which would seem to indicate that he was Sogdian, or at least descended from people of the Transoxanian region.    Xuanzang notes that the ruler, as rough and fiery as he is described—as a true warlord or similar—he nonetheless made a silver image of the Buddha, eighteen feet in height, every year.  He also gave charity to the poor and needy in an assembly that was called every five years.  There were over one hundred monasteries and some 6000 monks, per Xuanzang's recollection, and notably, they were largely following Mahayana teachings. For the most part the monks that Xuanzang had encountered on this journey were Theravada—Xuanzang refers to them as “Hinayana”, referring to the “Lesser Vehicle” in contrast to Xuanzang's own “Mahayana”, or “Greater Vehicle”.  “Theravada” refers to the “way of the elders” and while Mahayana Buddhism largely accepts the sutras of Theravada Buddhism, there are many Mahayana texts that Theravada Buddhists do not believe are canonical.  We discussed this back in Episode 84. There was apparently a story of another individual from the Yellow River being sent as a hostage to Kapisa when it was part of the Kushan Empire, under Kanishka or similar.  Xuanzang recounts various places that the hostage, described as a prince, lived or visited while in the region.  Xuanzang's arrival likely stirred the imagination of people who likely knew that the Tang were out there, but it was such a seemingly impossible distance for most people.  And yet here was someone who had traveled across all of that distance.  One of the monasteries that claimed to have been founded because of that ancient Han prince invited Xuanzang to stay with them.  Although it was a Theravada monastery, Xuanzang took them up on the offer, both because of the connection to someone who may have been his countryman, but also because of his traveling companion, Prajnakara, who was also a Theravada monk, and may not be comfortable staying at a Mahayana monastery. Xuanzang spends a good deal of ink on the stories of how various monasteries and other sites were founded in Kapisa and the surrounding areas.  He must have spent some time there to accumulate all of this information.  It is also one of the places where he seems to have hit at least twice—once on the way to India, and once during his return journey. The King of Kapisa is said to have been a devotee of Mahayana Buddhism.  He invited Xuanzang and Prajnakara to come to a Mahayana monastery to hold a Dharma gathering.  There they met with several leading figures in the monastery, and they discussed different theories.  This gathering lasted five days, and at the end, the king offered Xuanzang and the other monks five bolts of pure brocade and various other gifts.  Soon thereafter, the monk Prajnakara was invited back to Tukhara, and so he and Xuanzang parted ways. And it was about time for Xuanzang to continue onwards as well.  From Kapisa, he would travel across the “Black Range” and into Lampaka.  This may refer to the area of Laghman or Jalalabad.  Today, this is in modern Afghanistan, but for Xuanzang, this would have been the northwestern edge of India.  He was almost there. And so are we, but we'll save his trip into India for next episode. Until then thank you for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.

This session will describe how a inner-city Community Health Center in Buffalo, N.Y. that serves at risk pregnant women and their babies can be duplicated in a diverse, rural and under-resourced foriegn setting. Session recorded on November 7 2024 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM Session block #2 Speaker name(s): Paul Violanti and Heidi Nowak WHNP, FNP, CLC Session webpage: https://www.medicalmissions.com/events/gmhc-2024/sessions/reaching-the-nepalese-himalayan-mountain-communities-through-health-care

This week, we preview our upcoming Holistic Heart seminar by talking about External CounterPulsation (ECP) Therapy, which is a safe, non-invasive solution for heart disease.  In this episode, you'll find out:—Why ECP Therapy is "like having a second heart" and how it helps the heart to function better.—How ECP Therapy oxygenates the heart and gives your heart the benefit of five years of marathon training in just SEVEN WEEKS.—The reason why Dr. Prather calls ECP Therapy the only hope for congestive heart failure, which has become "medical disaster".—The incredible safety record of ECP Therapy without a single negative incident or injury reported to the FDA and with no negative side effects.—How ECP Therapy helps reduce heart pain and helps patients to lower their medication needed for angina.—Why ECP Therapy is able to open up collateral circulation and dormant arteries (and can even GROW new arteries).—How the improved circulation and oxygenation from ECP Therapy improves all organ systems and helps with dementia, erectile dysfunction, and can reverse Type 2 diabetes.—The stories of patients who went from over 90% blockage in their arteries to less than 10% blockage through ECP Therapy.—Plus, you'll hear the story of Lynn and how our Holistic Heart program helped him to take the motorcycle trip-of-a-lifetime through the Himalayan Mountains.—How you can receive our Autonomic Nervous System Test that measures your heart, circulatory, and nervous systems for just $49 (regularly a $195 value) by attending our free educational seminar this Wednesday, February 26th at 6 p.m.http://www.TheVoiceOfHealthRadio.com

The benefits of Shilajit, the resin found in the Himalayan Mountains.

Welcome back to Season 6 of Ojas Oasis! We are so happy to be back in our soul home of Mama India, held by the angelic peaks and valleys of her Himalayan Mountains. We took a long pause to honor a deeply transformative process, which we are happy to share a bit about as we continue to integrate. And the fact that we get to share our experience of Vedic and Yogic Knowledge and Wisdom straight from the source, is crazy grace. Today, we also begin peeling back the 5 Koshas. The Sanskrit word “kosha” means covering, layer, or sheath. Starting from the outermost layer and moving inward to the core of the true self, each kosha comprises increasingly more subtle energy. From the physical body to the breath body, mental body, wisdom body, and finally, to our very core: the bliss body. In Ayurveda, we focus on strengthening, balancing, and preparing the physical body via Ahara/Vihara (diet and lifestyle) so we can build higher levels of energy and expanded awareness. We must carefully consider what we consume, because what we consume, ultimately consumes us. We are not just this physical body, but we need this body. It is a sacred vehicle that consciousness depends on to experience itself. As we venture deeper down the path of Healing with Yoga and Ayurveda, a skilled Ayurvedic Doctor, Yoga Practitioner and Teacher also knows the importance of integrating the more subtle aspects of the body. Because if we don't step outside the lower vibrational layers we identify with, how will we ever truly know who we are? How will we ever experience the truth of why we are here? A deeper level of seeing needs to happen, to deepen our healing and evolution on an individual and collective level.  Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

As soon as I say something even a little nice about Spotify, it screws me over again. There's no way I was going to re-record a 30 minute episode, so you get another episode immediately after, like seconds after, I published an episode. The mystery of the Joe Richter tag in the lady's room of one of my local die bars has been solved!!!!

Luis Escobar is a legend in the trail running community. Luis is a full time adventure photographer, avid trail runner and race director for his own running company, All We Do Is Run. As a runner, he was one of the inaugural ultrarunners invited down to join the infamous race through Copper Canyons in the book “Born To Run.” He is a 8x Western States finisher, 12x HURT 100 finisher & one time champion, and finisher among more of the most difficult events we know to exist in the ultrarunning space including Badwater and Leadville. As a race director, he plans to host the second annual Snowman Race this year in Bhutan. The Snowman Race is the ultimate race for climate action, taking runners over 123 miles of extremely challenging terrain through the Himalayan Mountains. All of that to say… you are going to want to tune into this one! You can connect with Luis on Instagram @luis_escobar  More information on The Snowman Race: https://snowmanrace.org/ More information on All We Do Is Run: https://allwedoisrun.com/ If you'd like to check out Luis's podcast, Road Dog Podcast, you can follow the link below. My interview with Luis can be found on Episode #306.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aimee-kohler-is-a-mountain-runner-focused-on/id1507975080?i=1000654650083 You can find more information about The Running Kind here. https://therunningkind.net/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/therunningkind/ @therunningkind_ If you are looking for additional ways to support The Running Kind, check out our Patreon page! patreon.com/TheRunningKind Aimee Kohler  Founder of The Running Kind @aimskoh Produced by Aimee Kohler Music Dim Red Light by Don Dilego  

Bhagavad Gita Ch. 10 “Yoga of the Opulence of the Lord” Verses 24, 25 & 26 The lecture discusses the glory of the Himalayan Mountain range, the importance of Japa Yoga, and how to use the one-syllable sound symbol of God, “OM,” to meditate on the supreme Moksharthi - Please visit YouTube for Bhajans by Neil Bhatt - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8jOW56VdfinQGoaP3cRFi-lSBfxjflJE

In August of 2016, world traveler and survival expert JUSTIN ALEXANDER goes missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. ALEXANDER appeared to vanish without a trace. Four years later, host and "true crime newcomer" LIAM LUXON is introduced to JUSTIN'S story and begins his investigation into this perplexing case, with a mysterious last message from JUSTIN. LUXON joins the Outlier to discuss his podcast, "Status-Untraced," that explores the secrets behind revealing what happened to JUSTIN.EPISODE NOTES AND DISCLAIMER:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/status-untraced/id1733931750https://www.instagram.com/adventuresofjustin/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/liamluxon/reels/?locale=uken1&hl=am-et WHILE EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, WE WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES EXPRESSED BY THE INDIVIDUAL ARE THEIR OWN. THROUGHOUT THE PODCAST, THERE MAY BE INSTANCES WHERE OPINIONS AND/OR SPECULATION ARE EXPRESSED REGARDING CERTAIN EVENTS, INDIVIDUALS, OR CIRCUMSTANCES. THESE ARE THE PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE PODCAST HOSTS OR GUESTS AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS CONCLUSIVE OR FACTUAL STATEMENTS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stuff You Should Know✓Claim Key Takeaways  The Silurian Hypothesis is a thought experiment and scientific inquiry proposed by Adam Frank and Gavin Schmidt, exploring the possibility of advanced civilizations existing on Earth millions of years before humansIt does not claim that such civilizations existed but rather serves as a framework for considering how we might detect signs of ancient advanced societiesAbout one-tenth of 1% of all the species that have ever existed have had one of their individuals fossilizedIn 88 million years, the Himalayan Mountains will be gone; it will just be a meadow where they once wereFuture species will likely find evidence of our nuclear tests, which include compounds such as plutonium 244 and 129The earth's surface erodes at 0.1 millimeters per year Whether a civilization is long-lived or short-lived, the record it leaves will be a blimp on the geological record, in the grand scheme of time Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.orgThe idea that we aren't the first advanced civilization to live on Earth sounds like a fringe theory, but it raises a good question: How can we be so sure that a civilization didn't arise and die on Earth so long ago that any trace of it has been erased?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on MYTH, we'll climb up into the heights of the Himalayan Mountains to windswept Tibet. You'll see that some brothers know how to share, that you can do a lot with a cake and a skull, and that you should always know what your work is worth. Then, in Gods and Monsters, a tiny bat will disobey a mighty king.   Source: Tibetan Folklore

Up and Vanished presents... Status: Untraced. In 2016, survivalist and world traveler Justin Alexander went missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. Justin was someone that Neil knew, he was a reader, a fan and a friend. While the circumstances of his disappearance point to murder, a chilling message he left behind throws everything into question. True crime newcomer Liam Luxon was introduced to Justin's story 4 years after he vanished, and he embarks on an investigation into the case. “Status-Untraced” is a 10-episode journey that explores the secrets the Parvati Valley holds, the stones left unturned, and what really happened to Justin Alexander. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up and Vanished presents... Status: Untraced. In 2016, survivalist and world traveler Justin Alexander goes missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. While the circumstances of his disappearance point to murder, a chilling message he left behind throws everything into question: “I should return mid-September or so. If I'm not back by then, don't look for me.” Four years later, host and true crime newcomer Liam Luxon is introduced to Justin's story and embarks on an investigation into the case. "Status-Untraced" is a 10-episode journey that explores the secrets the Valley holds, the stones left unturned, and what really happened to Justin Alexander. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up and Vanished presents... Status: Untraced. In 2016, survivalist and world traveler Justin Alexander goes missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. While the circumstances of his disappearance point to murder, a chilling message he left behind throws everything into question: “I should return mid-September or so. If I'm not back by then, don't look for me.” Four years later, host and true crime newcomer Liam Luxon is introduced to Justin's story and embarks on an investigation into the case. "Status-Untraced" is a 10-episode journey that explores the secrets the Valley holds, the stones left unturned, and what really happened to Justin Alexander. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up and Vanished presents... Status: Untraced. In 2016, survivalist and world traveler Justin Alexander goes missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. While the circumstances of his disappearance point to murder, a chilling message he left behind throws everything into question: “I should return mid-September or so. If I'm not back by then, don't look for me.” Four years later, host and true crime newcomer Liam Luxon is introduced to Justin's story and embarks on an investigation into the case. "Status-Untraced" is a 10-episode journey that explores the secrets the Valley holds, the stones left unturned, and what really happened to Justin Alexander. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up and Vanished presents... Status: Untraced. In 2016, survivalist and world traveler Justin Alexander goes missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. While the circumstances of his disappearance point to murder, a chilling message he left behind throws everything into question: “I should return mid-September or so. If I'm not back by then, don't look for me.” Four years later, host and true crime newcomer Liam Luxon is introduced to Justin's story and embarks on an investigation into the case. "Status-Untraced" is a 10-episode journey that explores the secrets the Valley holds, the stones left unturned, and what really happened to Justin Alexander. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up and Vanished presents... Status: Untraced. In 2016, survivalist and world traveler Justin Alexander goes missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. While the circumstances of his disappearance point to murder, a chilling message he left behind throws everything into question: “I should return mid-September or so. If I'm not back by then, don't look for me.” Four years later, host and true crime newcomer Liam Luxon is introduced to Justin's story and embarks on an investigation into the case. "Status-Untraced" is a 10-episode journey that explores the secrets the Valley holds, the stones left unturned, and what really happened to Justin Alexander.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up and Vanished presents... Status: Untraced. In 2016, survivalist and world traveler Justin Alexander goes missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. While the circumstances of his disappearance point to murder, a chilling message he left behind throws everything into question: “I should return mid-September or so. If I'm not back by then, don't look for me.” Four years later, host and true crime newcomer Liam Luxon is introduced to Justin's story and embarks on an investigation into the case. "Status-Untraced" is a 10-episode journey that explores the secrets the Valley holds, the stones left unturned, and what really happened to Justin Alexander.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up and Vanished presents... Status: Untraced. In 2016, survivalist and world traveler Justin Alexander goes missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. While the circumstances of his disappearance point to murder, a chilling message he left behind throws everything into question: “I should return mid-September or so. If I'm not back by then, don't look for me.” Four years later, host and true crime newcomer Liam Luxon is introduced to Justin's story and embarks on an investigation into the case. "Status-Untraced" is a 10-episode journey that explores the secrets the Valley holds, the stones left unturned, and what really happened to Justin Alexander.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up and Vanished presents... Status: Untraced. In 2016, survivalist and world traveler Justin Alexander goes missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. While the circumstances of his disappearance point to murder, a chilling message he left behind throws everything into question: “I should return mid-September or so. If I'm not back by then, don't look for me.” Four years later, host and true crime newcomer Liam Luxon is introduced to Justin's story and embarks on an investigation into the case. "Status-Untraced" is a 10-episode journey that explores the secrets the Valley holds, the stones left unturned, and what really happened to Justin Alexander.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up and Vanished presents... Status: Untraced. In 2016, survivalist and world traveler Justin Alexander goes missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. While the circumstances of his disappearance point to murder, a chilling message he left behind throws everything into question: “I should return mid-September or so. If I'm not back by then, don't look for me.” Four years later, host and true crime newcomer Liam Luxon is introduced to Justin's story and embarks on an investigation into the case. "Status-Untraced" is a 10-episode journey that explores the secrets the Valley holds, the stones left unturned, and what really happened to Justin Alexander. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up and Vanished presents... Status: Untraced. In 2016, survivalist and world traveler Justin Alexander goes missing in the Parvati Valley while on a spiritual trek into the Himalayan Mountains. While the circumstances of his disappearance point to murder, a chilling message he left behind throws everything into question: “I should return mid-September or so. If I'm not back by then, don't look for me.” Four years later, host and true crime newcomer Liam Luxon is introduced to Justin's story and embarks on an investigation into the case. "Status-Untraced" is a 10-episode journey that explores the secrets the Valley holds, the stones left unturned, and what really happened to Justin Alexander.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celia Straus is an accomplished writer whose talents span television, film, and literature, earning her an Emmy nomination for the YouTube series "Kids Speak Out" in collaboration with the United Nations She also created and wrote the Emmy Award Winning Memorial Day Concert that was broadcast nationally on PBS. Her versatility in storytelling has been recognized with numerous additional awards, highlighting her ability to engage audiences across various platforms. Straus's literary contributions include a poetry trilogy for middle school girls, insightful works on military themes and children's picture books where she hopes to ignite a love for animal conservation and encourage them to learn about, appreciate and protect our natural world. Celia resides in Washington, D.C. but travels frequently to see her two daughters and gorgeous grandchildren, who are the apple of her eye. You can learn more about Celia Straus and her work at https://celiastraus.com.   TOPICS OF CONVERSATION About "Livy Little Honey Bee" and "Red Pandas Journey to Sikkim" and the inspiration behind the stories Balancing storytelling between providing educational content and entertainment Encouraging a sense of self and care for the planet Understanding environmental issues as young readers What's next for Celia Straus?   LEARN MORE: A portion of proceeds from the sales of her children's books are donated to organizations dedicated to conservation, education and research.   LIVY LITTLE HONEY BEE Livy is a honey bee who spends her days gathering nectar and pollen from flowers with other worker bees. But Livy runs into trouble when her determination to express who she really is and what she values in life runs counter to the rest of the hive. Ultimately she is called before the Queen Bee to plead her case.       RED PANDAS JOURNEY TO SIKKIM High in the Himalayan Mountains two young Red Pandas, Connor and Mishti, befriend a shy Pangolin. Oblivious of their precarious existence, they dance and play together until a wise Sarus Crane disrupts their fun. They must flee, he warns them, before civilization destroys their forest home. He promises to lead them to Sikkim, a nature sanctuary across the mountains. The three friends follow his feathers on their long journey to safety.  

Read the new guide to the Trans Bhutan Trail from Ever Wonder Adventure! More details at https://www.everwonderadventure.com/bhutan Ever Wonder Adventure City: Singapore Address: One Oxley Rise Website: https://www.everwonderadventure.com

Today's episode dives into our primitive instincts to heal, reduce chronic tension and trauma in the body with expert Dr. Monica Lesslie Devoting her life to creating a full spectrum skill set, Monica is exploring the human potential around the globe through assisting in PT service projects for children with disabilities in Antigua, studying Traditional Chinese Medicine in China, volunteering with physio's in New Zealand, being immersed in Hindu and Buddhist culture while trekking through the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal, and summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, to name a few. One of her most challenging endeavors included volunteering as the guest Doctor of Physical Therapy at Kwa Mkono Polio Hostel with 48 children near Handeni, Tanzania. It has been her passion and curiosity for life through which Monica discovered her true, authentic self, and her purpose. She continued to expand with a life changing 500-hour Master Yoga Training in Bali, studying Ayurvedic Wellness in California and India, training in various bodywork techniques across both coasts of the U.S., being one of the first 20 PT's to be Myofacial Decompression Certified (Cuptherapy.com), and is now bridging the gap between Eastern and Western philosophies with Cortical Field Reeducation work. The latter may be one of the most important endeavors as it completes the circle of her approach to healing at the highest level. Monica is also the official Ambassador of Entrainment Yoga to the United States, where she can certify others to teach this beautifully awakening practice. While she currently resides in the California Bay Area, Monica's educational and spiritual journey is far from over. Monica endlessly pursues new ways in which to grow and enhance her experience and contribution on this earth. Through her strong teachings, she empowers others to Live Their Bliss and access their highest vitality — just as she strives to do every day. Connect with her on instagram @dr.monicalesslie Visit her website Learn more about Synergy Social Wellness Retreats If you are liking the information you hear in this podcast and want to continue learning more, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the Alpha Health Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the brands I love⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get access to my online supplement/herb dispensary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Connect with me on my website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ drhalieschoff.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drhalieschoff/support

This is our 2nd VLOG where we answer YOUR Questions! We talk about Church, Marriage, Relationships, Conflict Management, remaining Humble and so much more!We officially have our 1st MERCH! We have designed and dropped our 1st T-Shirt to help fund our 1st Overseas 10-Day Missions trip to Nepal as a couple! We will be bringing business education, english education, and health education to the people tucked away in the Himalayan Mountains and the valley of Kathmandu. Our focus in education is to help prevent human trafficking that is so prevalent in the mountains. If you'd like to partner with us on our trip to Nepal, you can contribute financially at the following links!Get your T-Shirt HERE or you can directly donate HERE! Want to chat or have any suggestions for the show? Let's Talk! You can find us at: Instagram: @mark.k.benton2 @jubynotjudyFacebook: Mark K. Benton II Website: markkbenton2.com Comment Below your Biggest Takeaway and please SHARE this if you gained any value from this Episode!

Josh, Cassie, and Harvey Sutton live in Lynchburg, VA. Known on Instagram as LiveSutton, they promote “Live life fully!" Josh, Cassie, and Harvey have done just that. After realizing that a healthy retirement wasn't guaranteed, they decided to restructure their life to one filled with extraordinary stories by taking mini-retirements throughout their life. After having their son Harvey in 2016, they began saving for their first mini-retirement in 2021, to thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail as a family. Harvey would be 4 years old when they began in January 2021 and finished at 5 years 4 months old. After thru-hiking the East Coast, they have gone on to backpack the John Muir Trail in California, traveled to the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal to trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp, and continue to plan more adventures as a family. ‌ Josh also looks forward to some individual challenges and invites followers to participate in such future adventures. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@livesutton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livesutton/  Email: office@livesutton.com Our “Unsung Hero” is George “Beatnik” Lightfoot. After falling in love with hiking and the Appalachian Trail, George completed an AT section hike and then committed himself to helping AT hikers. When not teaching college, George spends many hours on the roads shuttling hikers to trailheads between Port Clinton, Pennsylvania and Kent, Connecticut. (He can be sweet-talked into Duncannon PA and Great Barrington MA.) George will also pick you up or drop you off at the Stewart, Westchester County, Newark, ABE, and (ugh) Philadelphia Airports. His vehicle fits four passengers. Dogs are welcome.... but only Good Dogs. Message from George: “I carry no special insurance—I'm just an old guy with a car. I'm not a "drop-everything" kinda shuttle—please contact me as far in advance as possible. I don't have rates—I'll quote you my round-trip mileage, and you'll pay me what you judge appropriate. My teaching schedule changes every semester, but I'll do my best to get you on the Trail. Walk Well. Be Well.” ~ "Beatnik" The podcast host is Bruce (“RTK”) Matson, who completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 at age 61. His adventures were captured as part of the Hiking Radio Network podcast known as “Returning to Katahdin: An Appalachian Trail Dream.” Bruce's memoir of that hike is also available on Amazon. The Platinum Blazing Podcast was inspired by the book: Platinum-Blazing the Appalachian Trail: How to Thru-hike in 3-Star Luxury. A new, updated edition is soon to be released. It will be available on Amazon or on the Platinum Blazing website. For more information, write to the editors at platinumblazing@gmail.com. This new edition features many new Best Platinum honorees, including a new, Platinum-Blazing Hall of Fame. It also has a new section of the Best Platinum Shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Another chapter highlights the “Tennessee Hostel Hop” and the “Virginia is for Hostel Lovers Hike” - each listing helps hikers determine an itinerary to permit them to stay overnight in a hostel for over 200 miles straight in Tennessee and over 100 miles in Virginia. More information about Platinum-Blazing is available as follows: Website: www.platinum-blazing.com Facebook: Platinum-Blazing Instagram: Instagram (@platinum_blazing) Please email Bruce at platinumblazing@gmail.com with any ideas you have for topics or guests, especially hostel owners, shuttle drivers, AT maintenance club members, owners of best Platinum eating establishments, recent thru-hikers, etc. Please feel free to suggest or nominate yourself.  

As we look back over our 1 year move to Texas, we take the time to express our Gratitude and what does it look like to truly live a Surrendered life to God. We are also doing our 1st Overseas 10-Day Missions trip to Nepal as a couple! We will be bringing business education, english education, and health education to the people tucked away in the Himalayan Mountains and the valley of Kathmandu. Our focus in education is to help prevent human trafficking that is so prevalent in the mountains. If you'd like to partner with us on our trip to Nepal, you can contribute financially at the following links! They are separate as we both have to be funded individually.JUBY'S TRIP TO NEPALMARK'S TRIP TO NEPALWant to chat or have any suggestions for the show? Let's Talk! You can find us at:Instagram: @mark.k.benton2 @jubynotjudyFacebook: Mark K. Benton IIWebsite: markkbenton2.comYouTube And if you're enjoying this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcast, Spotify or on the Website. We'd be so grateful and appreciative of you! 

Ever feel lost in life? What if you were actually closer to hitting your goals than you think? In this episode we talk about navigating through tough moments in life, how to reorient ourselves and set intentional direction to hit your goals in life. We are also doing our 1st Overseas 10-Day Missions trip to Nepal as a couple! We will be bringing business education, english education, and health education to the people tucked away in the Himalayan Mountains and the valley of Kathmandu. Our focus in education is to help prevent human trafficking that is so prevalent in the mountains. If you'd like to partner with us on our trip to Nepal, you can contribute financially at the following links! They are separate as we both have to be funded individually.JUBY'S TRIP TO NEPALMARK'S TRIP TO NEPALWant to chat or have any suggestions for the show? Let's Talk! You can find us at:Instagram: @mark.k.benton2 @jubynotjudyFacebook: Mark K. Benton IIWebsite: markkbenton2.comYouTube And if you're enjoying this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcast, Spotify or on the Website. We'd be so grateful and appreciative of you! 

We're back from our 2 month break! In this episode, we talk about how to hear from God, the gifts of the the Holy Spirit and what it looks like to also have Character. We are also doing our 1st Overseas 10-Day Missions trip to Nepal as a couple! We will be bringing business education, english education, and health education to the people tucked away in the Himalayan Mountains and the valley of Kathmandu. Our focus in education is to help prevent human trafficking that is so prevalent in the mountains. If you'd like to partner with us on our trip to Nepal, you can contribute financially at the following links! They are separate as we both have to be funded individually. JUBY'S TRIP TO NEPALMARK'S TRIP TO NEPALWant to chat or have any suggestions for the show? Let's Talk! You can find us at:Instagram: @mark.k.benton2 @jubynotjudyFacebook: Mark K. Benton IIWebsite: markkbenton2.comYouTube And if you're enjoying this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcast, Spotify or on the Website. We'd be so grateful and appreciative of you! 

Join the PJ Masks as they travel to the snowy Himalayan Mountains on their Owl-Glider. There, they save hungry snow leopards from tricky yeti-like creatures and make sure they had enough food to stay strong and happy!

Welcome to our virtual Himalayan mountain retreat where we combine the power of sleep hypnosis and the tranquility of nature to help you achieve deep relaxation and inner peace. In this guided sleep hypnosis session, we will take you on a journey of the mind, body, and soul. Surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayan mountains, you will be gently guided into a state of deep relaxation where you can let go of all your worries and allow yourself to drift into a restful sleep. You will wake up feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to face the day ahead. So, sit back, relax, and allow yourself to be transported to a peaceful and serene Himalayan mountain retreat where you can let go and experience the healing power of sleep hypnosis. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andrew-m-green/support

-United Nations Says this is the era of Global boiling -Nevada “fire whirls” inundate Las Vegas with smoke -Surface ocean temperature around the Florida Keys soared to 101.1F -Antarctica's sea ice had hit its lowest summer level -Himalayan Mountains ice is melting rapidly -Warning of disasters that could occur as the climate crisis worsens -New Zealand becomes the first nation to ban plastic shopping bags -Automotive companies are teaming up for EV charging joint venture

Episode 840 - Jason Interviews Alex Segura - Project: Cryptid - Ahoy ComicsFor the last five years, AHOY Comics has asked its readers to believe in the weird and sublime — whether it's a friendship between Jesus and a superhero, a grandmother who fights eldritch horrors, or a space squadron run entirely by cats. This fall, AHOY Comics' latest jam-packed anthology, PROJECT: CRYPTID, will feature unbelievably hilarious and hilariously unbelievable tales about cryptids from around the world. Featuring comics and short stories from well-established creators as well as new voices, PROJECT: CRYPTID will transport readers from the depths of Loch Ness to the wilds of the Yeti's Himalayan Mountains to the Ohio backroads where the Loveland Frogman lurks, asking the important questions like are any of these mysterious, unthinkable creatures actually real? And more importantly, are they funny? The anthology will feature comics and stories from writers Mark Russell, Paul Cornell, Alisa Kwitney, Alex Segura, Bryce Ingman, Paul Constant, Liana Kangas, Henry Barajas, AA Rubin, Joe Illidge, Melissa F. Olson, Zander Cannon, Gene Ha, Hanna Bahedry, Matt Ligeti, Stuart Moore and more, as well as art by Jordi Perez, Madeline Seely, PJ Holden, Mike Spicer, Mauricet, Steven Bryant, Peter Krause, Richard Pace, Jamal Igle, Ted and Ro, Lew Stringer, Lane Lloyd, and more.Buy it: https://comicsahoy.com/news/ahoys-newest-anthology%E2%80%94project-cryptid CFP Patreon https://www.patreon.com/comicsfunprofitCFP Merch https://comicsfunprofit.threadless.comDonations Keep Our Show Going, Please Give https://bit.ly/36s7YeLThank you so much for listening and spreading the word about our little comic book podcast. All the C4FaP links you could ever need in one place https://beacons.ai/comicsfunprofit Listen To the Episode Here: https://comcsforfunandprofit.podomatic.com/

As a shaman, Sipa Melo is the beating heart of tribal faith and culture in a remote corner of north-east India, tucked in the shadow of the Himalayan Mountains. He's a healer, a story-teller and a protector of the natural world. Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent joins Sipa for a week of ritual, performing ceremonies to mark deaths and births and maintaining taboos that help preserve this mountainous region's indigenous culture and its rich wildlife. She hears about his determined efforts to encourage a new generation of trainee shamans and his worries about the changing values of the region as roads and hydro-electric dams end its isolation from the booming cities to the south.

In this episode of "Behind The Ride," we're taking a thrilling journey to the top of the Himalayan Mountains to explore the exciting Expedition Everest attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Join us as we dive into the history of the ride, from its conception to its creation, and hear behind-the-scenes stories of how it was built. We'll also share fun facts and little-known secrets about the ride, including how the animatronic Yeti works, the inspiration for the ride's design, and the hidden details throughout the queue. Strap in and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime as we explore Expedition Everest like never before. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/castconversations/message

Is that an icicle in your pocket or are you just happy to see us? The boner jokes continue in part 2 of our Mt. Everest series!Join the ladies as we talk about life and death here on Earth! Some people get saved from Everest, but also…some don't. Popsicle people everywhere! Resources for Lost Nuclear Device:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanda_Devi_Plutonium_Mission#cite_note-wired-1https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/18/archives/desai-says-usindian-team-lost-atomic-spy-gear-no-comment-from-us.htmlhttps://www.thebetterindia.com/253759/nanda-devi-nuclear-device-expedition-captain-manmohan-singh-kohli-central-intelligence-agency-america-intelligence-bureau-india-secret-government-mission-raini-uttarakhand-glacier-burst-history-myster/https://www.wired.com/2013/04/cia-himalayan-spies/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/james-bond-in-the-himalayas-the-buried-secret-of-nanda-devi/articleshow/65350186.cms Yeti Resources:https://www.mossgate.lancs.sch.uk/serve_file/570306#:~:text=The%20yeti%20can%20stand%20at,they%20said%20was%20a%20Yeti. https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2017/09/28/on-exhibit-the-yeti-memo/#:~:text=It%20stipulated%20that%20the%20Yeti,rupees%20to%20the%20Nepalese%20government. https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/28/health/yeti-scientific-proof-study/index.html https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-16264752https://www.amazon.com/Snowed-Yeti-Erotic-Monster-Romance-ebook/dp/B0BLSTMGZLhttps://www.amazon.com/Seduced-Bigfoot-Ravaged-Yeti-humiliation-ebook/dp/B01E66FG9Ihttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BLHTCYRB/ref=x_gr_bb_kindle?caller=Goodreads&tag=x_gr_bb_kindle-20https://www.amazon.com/Saved-Yeti-Monster-Erotica-Stories-ebook/dp/B0BL6DDKNL   Write us some of your cringe stories at [nervouslaughterpodcast@gmail.com](mailto:nervouslaughterpodcast@gmail.com)The socials: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/nervouslaughterpodcast) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/NervousLaughterPodcast) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/NervouslaughPod) 

Are you Exhausted? Tired? Overwhelmed? Anxious? It might be time for you to get some REST and SOLITUDE. Give this episode a listen as we go over Biblical and Practical ways to live rested! We also give you some great filter questions to ask yourself when it comes to making decisions on receiving rest.  We are also doing our 1st Overseas 10-Day Missions trip to Nepal as a couple! We will be bringing business education, english education, and health education to the people tucked away in the Himalayan Mountains and the valley of Kathmandu. Our focus in education is to help prevent human trafficking that is so prevalent in the mountains. If you'd like to partner with us on our trip to Nepal, you can contribute financially by going to the following links below!JUBY'S TRIP TO NEPALMARK'S TRIP TO NEPALWant to chat or have any suggestions for the show? Let's Talk! You can find us at:Instagram: @markkbenton2 @jubynotjudy Facebook: Mark K. Benton IIWebsite: markkbenton2.comYouTube And if you're enjoying this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcast, Spotify or on the Website. We'd be so grateful and appreciative of you! 

Ibn Battuta heads to India - the long way. This time he travels north to Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), and then ventures into the realm of the Golden Horde - aka the Kipchak Khanate. We can also throw in a side excursion to Constantinople before Ibn Battuta crosses the western Himalayan Mountains and enters the Sultanate of Delhi.  The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for Everest like you've never heard before! The first part of our Mt. Everest deep dive.We talk about the Sherpa baddies, how much Everest costs, what to do with your poop, the surprise boners, and more!ExpedReview - How Much Does it Cost to Climb Mt. Everesthttps://www.expedreview.com/blog/2022/11/how-much-does-it-cost-to-climb-mt-everest-in-2023Adam Ruins Everything- Mt Everesthttps://youtu.be/fQjEHj34W88The Darker Side Of Life Podcast- Mt. Everest: Life in the Death Zonehttps://open.spotify.com/episode/2jfHigySUmUJqOVBexUKKW?si=dA6GxSTrQiWJMxI-pMV4eQJourney- Everest Base Camp By Ryan Wolfhttps://open.spotify.com/show/5QlS4bv6WmPXJUCSLJ0HzD?si=9md9-Uh6QP6iMlBkHN-e6AMt. Everest Wikihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_EverestWhy Climbing Mt Everest Gives People Weird Bonershttps://www.vice.com/en/article/wjmvyy/why-climbing-mount-everest-gives-people-weird-penis-boners-erections Write us some of your cringe stories at nervouslaughterpodcast@gmail.comThe socials: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

05/30/23 - Imagine you could travel to the Himalayan Mountains on a scientific expedition. This expedition tasks your group of explorers with finding evidence of the existence of the cryptid king, The Yeti. Now, imagine in the middle of this expedition, everything suddenly goes wrong and you are instantly jolted from an adventure filled with mystery and conservation into a terrifying nightmare that placed you on the edge of death. That is Expedition Everest. We explore this attraction along with it's history and technology in this episode. Thanks for tuning in. We will be back soon with another episode! You can send comments and questions to see.wdwnearandfar@gmail.com Who we are -  John, the founder of See WDW and See UO lives in the Orlando area. This makes him the "near" of this podcast. He is a theme park content creator on several social media formats. His point-of-view theme park video style presents viewers with theme park experiences free of bias or opinion. This allows the viewer to see the parks, hotels, rides, and shows from a guest perspective. You can find his content in the following places. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/see.wdw/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/see.wdw Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/seewdw Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/see.uo/ Mike is from the mountains of Central Pennsylvania and has been going to Disney World and the Orlando area since the early 1980s. He has been involved in several content creation ventures including podcasts, YouTube content creation, and video game streaming. While not currently active, he built a small fanbase as Twitch personality "Willyrob Levi" and took that personality to YouTube for a series of travel and model building videos. Mike is currently working with John on his YouTube channel. You can find his content in the following places. Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/theegiantrat/ Tiktok - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMecFj11t/ or just search for theegiantrat Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@theegiantrat --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/seewdwnearandfar/support

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SHERPA OR MOUNTAIN WORKER DIES ON A MOUNTAIN CLIMBING EXPEDITION? TODAY I HAVE DAVID MORTON HERE TO talk about The Juniper Fund, its beginnings,  and the important work they're doing in Nepal to help the families of Sherpa who have lost their lives guiding and working in the mountains.For Sherpa throughout the Khumbu Region of Nepal, the dangers of guiding climbers to the world's highest peaks like Mount Everest, with the ever-present possibility of accidents, avalanches and the extremes of weather and altitude became no more evident than last month when a serac fall took the lives of three Sherpa in the Khumbu Icefall of Everest. Ab0ut one-third of the more than 300 deaths on Everest over the past hundred years  have been of Sherpa guides, according to the Himalayan Database, a mountaineering record-keeping body. In 2014 after the tragic avalanche there that claimed the lives of 16 sherpa and high altitude porters, massive strikes in Base Camp and beyond forced the hand of the government to increase the life insurance on a death there to $15000….however, the strength of the Nepal rupee has significantly diminished and that amount is now worth far less since it is paid in rupees. Many times these mostly men who die in the mountains are the sole or primary breadwinners for their families and those survivors have precious few resources to fall back on. In 2014 I visited several families while filming a documentary on Everest  that took a drastic turn after the avalanche. It was a deeply moving experience for me and my friends who were taking part in the expedition. A year before that two longtime friends and Himalayan guides, David Morton and Melissa Arnot Reid, started a non profit organization called The Juniper Fund, set up to help a couple families they knew who had their primary breadwinner lose his life during expeditions they were on.For more information about The Juniper Fund visit their website:https://www.thejuniperfund.orgSupport the show

In this video, His Eminence Shyalpa Tenzin Rinpoche, a revered spiritual leader born in the Himalayan Mountains, offers insights on how to realize the true essence of our human existence. From his early years as a recognized holy child, Rinpoche has trained as a lama, and now he shares his wisdom on how to live life to the fullest and embrace its joys. He discusses the differences between poverty and wealth mentalities and his surprising bullishness on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with this esteemed teacher. Shyalpa Tenzin Rinpoche: https://peacesanctuary.org/rinpoche https://twitter.com/strinpoche ►►THE DAILY CLOSE BRAND NEW NEWSLETTER! INSTITUTIONAL GRADE INDICATORS AND DATA DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX, EVERY DAY AT THE DAILY CLOSE. TRADE LIKE THE BIG BOYS.

Support "Cosmic Scene with Jill Jardine "  https://www.buzzsprout.com/958528/supportBook a reading: www.jilljardineastrology.com/shopCheck out Jill's New on-line courses on Sanskrit Mantras for Wealth, Prosperity, Love and to Develop your intuition!   https://jilljardineastrology.com/MCShttps://jilljardineastrology.com/online-courses/wealth-mantras/https://jilljardineastrology.com/online-courses/develop-your-intuition-with-sanskrit-mantras/Welcome to the Episode on the Eclipses of April 20, 2023 and May 5, 2023.  This is a powerful window of time which will have repercussions in the upcoming months as we witness changes in our personal and collective lives.  Also, during this eclipse window we have Mercury retrograde in Taurus from April 21- May 14, 2023.The Solar Eclipse on April 20, 2023 is in the last degrees of Aries.  Aries is ruled by Mars, and with a Solar Eclipse there can be aggressive energies on the rise.  Solar Eclipse - New Moon in Aries, occurs at 12:13 am EDT on April 20th but weirdly enough the Moon transits into Taurus 17 minutes later at 12:30 am, and then the Sun transits into Taurus at 4:14 am.  This Aries Solar eclipse will also affect Taurus.  Be aware in you have any planets in the last degrees of Aries or early degrees of Taurus. It's a hybrid solar eclipse in Aries. This celestial phenomenon is a unique combination of a total and annular eclipse. As a result, the moon's shadow will fall on the Earth, partially blocking the sun's rays and creating a beautiful ring of fire around the moon.  Any initiatives that governments may launch or any aggressive actions taken by world leaders or governments will be thwarted due to the eclipsed moon.  So don't fear if some major world issues pops up at this time.  It doesn't have staying power. But this is also a Karmic signature solar eclipse so karma comes home to roost!This ARIES NEW Moon occurs at 29 Degrees ARIES:  According to Sabian Symbol interpretation: THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES.  KEYNOTE: Attunement to cosmic order.  GREAT INVOCATION: “From the point of Light within the Mind of GodLet light stream forth into the minds of men. Let Light descend on Earth.From the point of Love within the Heart of GodLet love stream forth into the hearts of men. May Christ return to Earth.From the centre where the Will of God is knownLet purpose guide the little wills of men – The purpose which the Masters know and serve.From the centre which we call the race of menLet the Plan of Love and Light work out -And may it seal the door where evil dwells.Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.”On May 5, 2023, we have a Lunar Eclipse with the Sun in Taurus and Moon in Scorpio, This also marks the high spiritual festival of the WESAK FULL MOON. The Wesak Full Moon occurs annually at the full Moon in Scorpio when the Sun is in Taurus.  It is a heightened time of spiritual light flowing into the planet administered by the Ascended Masters, specifically the Buddha and the Christ who hold a healing ceremony on the higher dimensions of the Himalayan Mountains to bless humanity in the coming years. So again, the theme is that the higher beings have our back during these eclipses but we must invoke them, and not buy into the fear mongering of the 3rd dimension.  The Sabian Symbol for the May 5, CInqo De Maya Full Moon Lunar Eclipse is for the degree of 15 Degrees Scorpio is: Scorpio 15 (14° - 15°) CHILDREN PLAYING AROUND FIVE MOUNDS OF SAND to be interpreted as the FIRST STEPS OF HUMANITY'S SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH

16 Jnana Siddha Yoginis Yoga Nidra In this Feminine Empowered Yoga Nidra we invite the 16 Jnana Siddha Yoginis into our sphere of meditation. These Yoginis are from the Shaiva Tantra Tradition of Northern India where they were a popular practice over a 1000 years ago in the Swat Valley, high in their Himalayan Mountains of Kashmir. The Yoginis are messengers of a transitional primal power, the goddess, fierce compassion for change and upliftment and actually beyond the grasp of the conceptual mind. They are related to the elements and all the guises of our being. The Jnana Siddha Yoginis Practice help us recognize our own energies to push us through our blockages, samsara's, patterns, or issues. They are a source of our ability to love ourselves more deeply and feel the preciousness of our lives. Patreon Link: to join my 21 Tara Practices Study Group and support "Melissa Abbott Yoga & Meditation" Podcast and Goddess Studies: http://patreon.com/Melissaabbott  To find out about my In Person & Zoom Yoga, Meditation Classes, New Podcasts, and Events or Subscribe to my mailing list: https://linktr.ee/melissaabbott The Yoginis are elemental, inherent, pure, and true.  Much Love, Shubha Melissa Abbott

From the Himalayan Mountains to the Peruvian Desert, stories echo through every tribe and tongue of a great flood that destroyed the planet. Their details include a boat, animals, and a family that was saved by God. Are these global clues for a single event?  Join Eric Hovind and Nick Liguori for a trip around the world to discover the truth about the Flood Legends through history.    Watch this Podcast on Video at https://creationtoday.org/on-demand-classes/legends-of-the-great-flood/ Join Eric LIVE each Wednesday at 12 Noon CT for conversations with Experts. You can support this podcast by becoming a Creation Today Partner at CreationToday.org/Partner

This week's episode is a replay of Episode 117: How Kristina Barile Went From MIT Rocket Scientist to Living Off The Land In Panama. On this week's episode, I interview the incredible Kristina Barile on her journey from a Harvard and MIT-grad rocket scientist to living in a mud home in Panama, teaching holistic, nutritional Ayurveda and freelance writing. In last week's episode, we talked all about how unnatural our lives have become and the effects it is having on our lives. Kristina and her husband recognized this deep restlessness in corporate America and decided to embark on a journey to find a better way. Her journey opened her up to a wide array of experiences: traveling 30 hours up to Mount Kailash in the Himalayan Mountains, to living in India for 5 months to focus on meditation and self-awareness, to finally building a sustainable mud home in Panama. Kristina's story is still evolving but her unwavering desire to ground herself and live an authentic life will keep her moving forward.

Research published last year shows the massive Himalayan glaciers have shrunk 10-times faster over the past four decades than during the previous seven centuries. It threatens agriculture and the water supply for millions across South Asia. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on one project aimed at blunting the environmental impact for communities in the Himalayas. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders