Living in the Clouds: The Story of Lhoku, a Young Sherpa Girl

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During the Monsoon herdsmen move with livestock and families to the high pastures at an altitude of up to 5000 meters.

Young girls like Lhoku often have the responsibility to do all the herding work high in the mountains together with other members of the family.

On these high pastures surrounded by high mountains and often completely hidden behind the clouds. I met different Sherpa families. When I reached a high pasture completely soaked and tried, a Sherpa family invited us in their goht and offered us warm butter tea and pieces of hard cheese.

Later I visited some families in the village where they stayed in wintertime. I am grateful for all the valuable information they gave me.

The rough outline of this story was composed into the final story of Lhoku by Paulien Andriessen. Kees Kuiken did the first English translation.

Back of the Book

Lhoku lives in the mountains where the clouds kiss the snow-capped peaks. She is a daughter of Nature, " living far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife." Among the mountains Lhoku faces rough weather, landslides and a ferocious tiger. She fight them all but yields to the mighty force of teenage love. Her affection for her Sherpa lover flares up her rebellious spirit, which challenges the established authority of her traditional society. Her passionate search for her love lands her in filthy monstrous city life, but Lhoku keeps the flame of her love burning and finally succeeds in going back to where she belongs- among the majestic mountains and the arms of her lover.

A beautiful Nepali tale of love adventure ideal for young adult readers, particularly teenage girls.