Travel

THE JONOLOGUE – THE BEST TEAM MEETING EVER

We have finally made it to Khorog! It has been four long years since Marie was here and it is the first time for me and the boys. Tonight was team meeting, and as it was our first, it was a social get-to-know-you. We went down to KFC and picked up pizzas!

MARIE’S CORNER

Our washing machine is working, yay! I’m very glad to be back in my old home with my host family. I’ll write something more next month.

THE AIR UP HERE

Awoke really early to find a blanket of cloud everywhere.

I drifted in and out of sleep but the clouds drifted nowhere. Eventually Govinda called me for breakfast (twice). After breakfast we headed down the way we had come. Down hill is harder than up, not as far as being strenuous but in the jarring to the knees.

We hiked at a good pace and made good time heading towards Namche Bazar. We had to pass a train of yaks going the same way as us and it felt a bit scary. Those yaks were unladen heading down hill rather quickly and being rather free with their horns. We then saw lots of yak and jopki heaidn the other way and I got some video footage of them passing each other. They can go anywhere without losing their footing.

We made it to Namche Bazar by about 10:30 and Ratzkumar my porter had gone on well ahead of us. I think he was herding me back for beating him up the hill yesterday. So the idea I had of stopping and getting some internet coverage was no good cause my tablet was miles ahead of me by then.

Its 4:45 pm and I feel like it has been a long and great day already.

After totally wiping the battery on the tablet last night reading in bed, I had no alarm to wake me, but I woke at 5:10 anyhow and quickly headed up the hill to the viewing area. I was the only one there for ages. And if yesterday was perfect, then today no word in the English language affords describing the view and the weather. I met a Nepalese who said it was so unusual to have weather like this at this time of year. Thank you Lord I echo. This time armed with a full battery in the camera I snapped off dozens of photos and a couple of panoramic sweeps using the video function.

With the exception of a small amount of cloud in front of Lotche there wasn't a cloud to be seen and none coming for a while either. So I hurried back for breakfast so we could leave just after seven. We headed up and over the rise that divides Namche  from the villages of Khumjung and Khunde. As we hit the top we had spectacular views of Taboche, Everest, Lotche, Ama Dablam, Kangtega, Thamserku, Kusum Khangkaru and many more.

Its 20 past two in the arvo and I'm showered and sitting in my room in Namche Bazar. We have climbed to height of 3440 metres. I guess that's the highest I've ever been before.

My guide forgot my sleeping bag and thought I didn't want walking poles. Well blankets will suffice and he found a walking stick for me and I am quite appreciative of it.

Breakfast was rather meagre this morning. We headed out about 7:30 and continued along the Dudh Koshi River crossing it a number of times on suspension bridges. The sides of the valley are very steep and well forested with pines and some rhododendrons. All along the way are porters carrying huge loads. Where ever I go now I am becoming more and more aware that everything built here was carried in. Sheets of glass, timber, iron roofing, pool tables. Watching these porters I am impressed with what they carry and how they do it. They have basket on their back with a rope over their forehead. The basket can be loaded to 70+ kgs!