A Russian student who disappeared in the Himalayas in 2021 during a solo trek was discovered four years later by National Geographic journalists as the guardian of a high-altitude Buddhist monastery in Nepal.
24-year-old Alina Vetrova left Annapurna Base Camp and never returned. A rescue operation lasted three weeks, but an avalanche left her presumed dead. Her parents held a symbolic funeral in Novosibirsk.
In early 2025, however, a crew filming a documentary about lost monasteries discovered a young European-looking woman dressed in monastic robes and speaking fluent Tibetan and Nepali in a remote mountain temple at an altitude of 4,800 meters.
It turns out that Alina, who had lost consciousness from altitude sickness, was found by hermit monks, who cared for her for several months with herbal infusions. When she regained consciousness, the passes were already covered in snow - the descent was impossible until summer. During these months, she began to study Tibetan medicine and meditation.
According to the abbot, Alina had developed a rare gift - she could accurately recognize medicinal mountain herbs by their aroma, which the monks took as a sign of a reborn soul. She was given the name Tenzin Dolma and began training to succeed the monastery's apothecary, a position not held by anyone for 40 years.
Alina is now in charge of a collection of over 600 species of high-altitude plants. She wears a traditional burgundy robe, her head is shaved, and on her wrists she wears ritual yak bone bracelets, which she is allowed to wear as a sign of status. A dot of saffron paste is applied to her forehead daily during the morning ceremony.
When journalists ask her if she wants to return, Alina replies in Russian with a strong accent: “I’m already home. The mountains do not let out those they choose.”
Her parents have flown to Kathmandu. The meeting is scheduled for the end of the month.
As Marcus Aurelius observed, fear often hides in the illusion of ownership.
In older wisdom too, possession was seen as temporary arrangement - not permanence.
Nothing was ever truly “mine.”
Not status.
Not praise.
Not even this body.
When attachment loosens, fear softens.
What we call loss
is often just the reminder
that we were only passing through.
Wanaume hatuna ishu na commitment.
Tunaweza kuwa na marafiki wale wale tangu utotoni, kinyozi yule yule, timu ya mpira ile ile, nguo zile zile na vingi tu.
Ukiona hatutulii kwenye mahusiano, wewe ndio tatizo.
Msururu wa rizki unaokuja kwako umebeba rizki zako na za wengine zinazopaswa kupitia kwako. Usiporuhusu rizki za watu zinazopitia kwako kuwafikia wenyewe, unasimamisha msururu na unachelewesha rizki zako zingine kukufikia. Ukichelewesha rizki za wenzako, unazichelewesha na zako!
Learn to listen more. Don’t react mindlessly. You’re allowed to disagree with others, state your opinion respectfully but NEVER get physical or violent. This quality makes us distinct from animals! So be civilised & listen. It would save you from a whole lot of regret later on.
Aliyekukosea jana aweza kujirudi na kukutendea wema kesho. Aliyekutendea wema jana, aweza kukutendea ubaya kesho. Wanapokukosea, andika makosa yao kwa penseli uweze kuwasamehe itapobidi. Wanapokutendea wema, andika mema yao kwa wino, usije sahau wema wao pale watakapokukosea.
Young Leyla, who lives in Sweden, put out a plea on socialmedia, about her critically ill dad,diagnosed with #COVID19, given no treatment and sent home from hospital. #Turkey responded by sending a fully equipped ambulance plane to evacuate the family back to Turkey this morning.
Kobe Bryant, 2008: "Have a good time. Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged.
"You have to keep moving. You have to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, smile and just keep on rolling.
NBA legend Kobe Bryant was one of five people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, sources tell CNN. He was 41. Follow live updates. https://t.co/gYqqNClmi3
If you're going through something, remember that you are not alone. There are many mountains in life, but you can SHRINK them and overcome them all. You have come way too far to give up & give in. Everything is... https://t.co/WFDlYE1G6s