Two of the interesting things in the Himalayas in 1986 in Shermontang area of Helambu, Nepal

First of all the Himalayas is much closer to the equator than here in California so the tree line is much higher than here. So, even at 9000 feet you might see bananas growing in a sheltered valley there which to me at the time was sort of mind blowing.

Another day as we trekked past any roads for 25 to 50 miles across suspension bridges erected because all roads wash away there every monsoon so the suspension bridges are the only way across some areas because of the churning water below in canyons where all roads will wash away. So, since 1986 when we left often tourists who can afford it rent helicopter rides to go deep into the Himalayas just like tourist rent planes and helicopters to go into the bush in Alaska or Canada now too.

So, I thought I was seeing things as we trekked into a village along a river there but what it really was was my first sight of Fireflies. Because I had never been to the east coast the right time of year to see them I had never seen a flrefly before the Himalayas along a stream deep in a canyon.

Also these bloomed up to 9000 or 10,000 feet in the Himalayas while we were there too trekking in 1986. My older children were then 10, 12 and 14 (my son and two step children) who trekked deep into the Himalayas with us.

I wouldn't do this now because many people died doing this then because there was no one to rescue you if you broke a toe or were injured in any way. If you couldn't get someone to carry you out piggy back you likely would die there. There were pictures of dead westerners on the walls when we bought our Nepalese Trekking permits in Kathmandu for the Himalayas to warn us we might die if we went into the bush then and many  unsuspecting naive tourists from all over the world died like that in the Himalayas then and likely now too. (especially like Climbing Mt. Everest). but just trekking anywhere in the Himalayas there are no roads (or were not when we were there in 1986) so there was no rescue vehicles of any kind then except for piggy back if you were small enough and rich enough to find  someone to rescue you.

Rhododendron: National Flower of Nepal - Nepal Database

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Nepal's National Flower Rhododendron