Herman Helmers Bakery Namche Bazar

High in the Himalaya mountains on the dirt footpath that leads to mount Everest is the town of Namche Bazar (नाम्चे बजार). The town sits around 12,000 feet above sea level, and although you could fly in by helicopter, you and everything else will arrive by foot or on the backs of pack animals.

Which brings us to this bakery... Big heavy ovens and mixers carried by porters for days from the airstrip at Lukla, around 10,000 feet ASL and several kilometres along a winding narrow dirt track. Nothing arrives by truck, or plane, or helicopter - most travellers arrive here short of breath and a little bit dizzy.

So these guys get up every morning before the sun peeks into the valley, and by the light of one bulb they make bread, rolls, cakes, and pies.

Here is a morning's worth of baking at Herman Helmers bakery in Namche, sit back and enjoy.
If you are ever in the neighbourhood, stop in for a snack.

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