rt
Hot Fun in the Summertime
Our cars sweat to keep us cool and relaxed.
Just don't let yours get overheated.
"Their way of life is both compelling and
fascinating, and has taught me the beauty
of simplicity."
two girls in his home.
Ang Dali, 37, is a sweet lady, a good
cook and a very hard worker. I was
perpetually amazed at how much
energy she exuded.
She cooks breakfast, lunch and
dinner on her clay wood-fired stove
every day, starting with raw ingredi-
ents. She also tends the farm, harvests
and packages homegrown produce
(onions and sang, a relative of spin-
ach) to sell at the Saturday market in
Namche Bazaar. And she has com-
pany over for dinner all the time.
As my sore body recovered from
my initial three-hour trek, this was
my first inkling that the Sherpa peo-
ple have super-human strength.
Beauty Of Simplicity
Their way of life is both compelling
and fascinating, and has taught me
the beauty of simplicity, a concept I
have tried to take home with me.
Living in West Bloomfield and
Commerce for the last 38 of my 65
years, and being a member of Temple
Israel for nearly that long, I had a
really different life in the Himalayas.
I felt a real sense of accomplish-
ment figuring out how to allocate one
bucket of water for shampooing and
washing myself. My room consisted
of a bed with no other furniture. I
had an outdoor toilet but no sink. I
brushed my teeth without water. I was
totally happy with the really high-
white-carb diet I normally would not
eat at home.
Most of all, I felt happy about the
chesed, the acts of lovingkindness,
I was able to do when helping the
children learn English and provid-
ing them with warm hats that Sun
Communities Inc. donated that they
so desperately needed.
After wandering the village and
having families invite me for tea, I
met two of Dawa Sherba Jangbu's
cousins, both experienced Everest
climbers. Their stories inspired me to
go on a trek. The Everest Base Camp
was beyond my reach, so I opted to
trek to Namche Bazaar, a beautiful
mountain village with an elevation of
approximately 12,000 feet.
I had heard there was a great view
of Mount Everest just above the vil-
lage and made that my goal. Dawa
Jangbu Sherpa was my guide, and
the four-day trek was no walk in the
park. We would climb up a moun-
tain, then down to the Dudh Kosi
River and cross the river on beautiful
swinging bridges, only to go back up
another mountain and down again to
cross the river again. To Dawa Jangbu
Sherpa, it was nothing. Like I said,
they are super humans.
To support that claim, I learned
that many porters and guides can
take you on the two-week trek to base
camp, but only Sherpas can guide you
to the summit of Everest. A license
for the climb costs $15,000 and the
total expedition costs about $75,000,
and takes three months. Needless to
say, the view of Everest from Namche
Bazaar was enough for me.
Alone With Majesty
One day, three girls invited me
to meet their families homes in
Pahkding, where each family offered
me tea and one gave me fruit. I felt so
welcomed by these families.
Feeling energized by their refresh-
ments, I walked back to my adopted
home by myself. It felt really good to
be alone with the Himalayas for the
first time on my journey. As much as
I loved the cultural immersion, some-
times it was just as special to be alone
with the mountains.
At times like this, I was able to
reflect upon the many steps I had
taken on this journey. Often they
were difficult, but I knew I would
miss the place as soon as I left. The
unique environment of the Himalayas
was now a part of me. The natural
beauty, high altitude, difficult ter-
rain and the resilience of the Sherpa
people will remain with me forever.
At the end of my two weeks, there
was a celebration at the school. They
gave speeches of appreciation, and the
students and teachers gave me scarves
for health and a long life.
At home, Ang Dali gave me a neck-
lace that has been in her family for a
long time and has a lot of sentimental
value to her. I will cherish it for the
rest of my life. Dawa Jangbu Sherpa
gave me a scarf to signify a long life,
good health and a continuation of our
friendship. The bond we built in two
weeks has left an indelible mark on
my soul. ❑
By Kenny the Car Guy
Kenny Walters owns Mufflers and More, kenny@mufflersandmore.net
We may love the warmth
of summer, but our cars, if
they could feel an emotion,
would not call summer their
favorite season.
That's because our cars
struggle more in the summer
than any other time —
unfortunately, the season we
drive the most.
On a 90-degree day, the
interior temperature in a
car can rise as high as 133
degrees in 60 minutes. It gets even hotter under the hood. So hot, that metal parts
can actually fuse together.
Here are several things to do to keep our cars from failing in dog-day heat.
dehydrate. Fluids work harder and evaporate faster in summer as
0 we Don't rack let up your more car miles
due to frequent road trips. Fluids work harder on hot days,
and levels drop faster. Top off fluids whenever possible.
Driving on dusty roads? Through frequent construction zones? Pay particular
0 attention
to your oil — dusty road conditions gunk up oil quicker, so check your
dipstick periodically to make sure your oil runs clean.
0
Speaking of fluids, coolant is your car's favorite summer cocktail. Watch for
contamination! Over time, particles build up in antifreeze. If coolant is not fresh and
clean, it can eat away at aluminum parts and destroy the engine. Water pumps can
fail from contaminated coolant. Flushing your system every two years will avoid that
mess. Hoses also deteriorate over time, as hot weather expedites their demise, so
watch for cracks, kinks and wear.
Heat can cause battery fluid to evaporate, or trigger malfunctions that overcharge
0 your
battery, leading to shorter battery life. Have your mechanic check the charge,
just to be safe.
prevent serious transmission problems, continuously check transmission fluid
0 To levels.
The fluid has a reddish hue, but if it's dark and has a burning smell, then it's
time to take your car to the shop. Monitoring your transmission can lead to a longer
life of the car and prevent unexpected breakdowns. A"healthy" transmission can
save money and time, as well as give a sense of ease and comfort while driving.
Make sure your radiator cap is not cracked, broken or missing altogether.That little
O cap plays a big role in keeping your engine from overheating.
Eyeball your fan belt to make sure it's in good shape.This is an integral part of the
O cooling
system, so you want to keep it in tiptop shape.
O
Look over your air conditioning condenser- the grate in the front of your engine -
and clear away debris so the system flows properly.
puddle under your car? Usually it's condensation from your air conditioner, but
0 That
you might want to give it a sniff to make sure it's not coolant, transmission fluid, oil,
power-steering or break fluid. (If it has any smell at all, it could be one of these.)
traffic jams (including 1-75 south on a Sunday) or construction zones. YEAH
0 Avoid
RIGHT! Since that's impossible, be aware that idling engines overheat quickly, as
movement cools the engine. If you're stuck, and it's a hot day, shut off the car and
roll down the windows.
Since her trip, Dawa Jangbu Sherpa has
been working to bring volunteer doctors
and an agricultural specialist to Ghat.
Anyone interested, should contact RCDP
Nepal or Suzi Colman at suzijon@gmail.
corn.
an
FFLERS
Full Service Auto Repair & Maintenance
Kenny Walters,
a Temple Israel member,
owns award-winning
Mufflers and More
490 N. Pontiac Trail
in Walled Lake
248-668-1200
www.mufflersandmore.net
July 18 • 2013
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