Part 51 - Journey from Kyi La to Chendebi via Tangsebi, 11 May

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SUMMARY:
Travel from Kyi La to Chendebi via Tangsebi, with steep ascents and a crossing of the Chendebi Chu; coolies were changed at Tangsebi and a pony was used for one climb. Weather was sunny and hot after light rain the previous night, and notes mention rhododendrons along the Chendebi - Trongsa road, with R. arboreum common and a large white rhododendron noted.

CONTENT:
25

replaced by rice.

8400ft 11th May. To Chendebi. 16 miles. BP. 197.6 Temp. 60° Time 3.0pm. Ht. Map Ht. 7500'

Left Kyi La at 5.30 am, in at Chendebi at 4.15pm, having changed coolies at Tangsebi. Leaving Kyi La the path drops gradually for a mile, then ascends and finally drops very steeply at m 3 to the Chendebi Chu, which is crossed at m 3 1/2. Ascent on the north side is very steep indeed, for 2 miles, when the first houses of Tangsebi are reached. Here coolies are changed if one is going to Chendebi. From here the ascent is again very steep indeed for 2 miles till the main Chendebi - Trongsa road is reached at m 7. A path, unfit for anything but coolies, goes more direct towards Chendebi, meeting the main path at about m 8. Thence the path is good and more or less level, rising gradually the last mile or so to Chendebi. A fine sunny hot day. It rained yesterday evening and some of the night, but not much. It was nice to get up from the hot Mangde Chu valley, almost straight to 7000ft. I had a pony today for the first time, but only used him for that climb. Rhod. arboreum is very common along the main road, but nearly all over. But another rhod. a fine big white one, which I don't yet know,

R. arboreum on Chendebi - Trongsa Road
R. griffithianum 3.26