In Darchen, the author was feeling lonely, ill, and unsure how to manage the kora alone, especially without anyone who spoke good English. In a dark little cafe, he met Norbu, a Tibetan scholar from Beijing, who also wanted to do the Kailash kora, and they happily decided to go together, giving the author companionship, confidence, and practical support.
\[ \text{Before meeting Norbu}: \text{Loneliness} + \text{Ill health} + \text{No companion for kora} \] \[ \text{Meeting in cafe}: \text{Common language (English)} + \text{Shared goal (Kailash kora)} \] \[ \text{After meeting Norbu}: \text{Companionship} + \text{Support} \Rightarrow \text{Renewed hope and motivation} \]
Thus, the chance meeting with Norbu transformed the author’s situation and made the demanding pilgrimage seem possible and less frightening.