Hi everyone, Liz here,
Rest day in Namche Bazaar
Today was our late-start lazy morning with the promise of hot showers. Sadly, the hot water was also having a rest day so instead, we hoed in to breakfast of porridge, poached eggs and toast with jam.
Today’s Exercise
Next we headed off to climb to the top of the village (but without Julia who had a sudden urge to read her magazine) where we had a fantastic view over the village. From there we went to the visitors centre for the National Park, saw images of the regional flora and fauna, geological maps and rock samples with our resident geologist, Beck, providing the interpretation for us. As the clouds came in we missed our chance to see Ama Dablam and Mt Everest so went back towards town.
Sherpa house
This house was typical of the traditional houses in the area with a ground level storage area with dried yak dung for fuel and protection for their animals. Upstairs cooking, buttermaking and sleeping all happen together and next door is an ornate prayer room. The house provides a sharp contrast between the traditional and modern influences with a crashed Chinnook helicopter a few metres away and the army zone surrounded with barbed wire.
World class medical research
We then had an impromptu tour of the ‘Xtreme Everest’ research labs, organised by Cas, where we saw trekkers doing stress tests on stationary bikes as Monty Mythen explained the collection of data, blood samples and nerve responses from the same trekkers from sea level to Base Camp measuring their adaptation to altitude. As well, the ‘climbing doctors’ will be doing the same tests at BC, Camp 2 and Camp 4 before and after their summit bid, including taking their own blood samples at the summit (Fiona had a look of disbelief on her face during most of Monty’s explanations). More info on the website www.Smith-Medical.com
Everest View to Khumjung
Tomorrow we have a 2.5 – 3 hour walk to Khumjung via the Everest View Hotel where if we are lucky we will see Mt Everest for the last time until Base Camp. This is the home village of our guides Ang Nima Sherpa and Pemba Sherpa so we will be able to see where they live and also have a tour of the Hillary School and the local monastery.
Now it’s time to hit the bakeries. The cinnamon buns with a hot chocolate are hard to beat.
Bye for now.
Liz
Gavan and chimplins – Yes, I’m taking plenty of photos and thanks for your camera Barls. I hear there is a message from you but haven’t read it yet and it was just coincidence that it was me posting tonight. Looking forward to your messages. L.
Mira – both Paul and I receive all messages so it doesn’t matter which one you post a message to. Fiona
Hi Cas.. How are the Boots. Guess your coping well without a shower.. I am monitoring the site when I am in front of the pc. Played Shite at the Berkshire to many puddings. You OK .. no problems I hope.. Spoke to Gratz today she is OK..She says the Milkman is getting better looking by the day.. you had best get back soon. Hope all is well..
Marc.
Hi Cas its Joel .
How high up are you..are you cold..what food are you eating.. ICE CREAM !
Daddy says .. can you ski.. (You know the awnser ) Joel..
Hi LPO (ladies plus one) I thought I would come up with a standard greeting for Fiona and co.
Well, the trek sounds fantastic! I would say “be sure to enjoy the bakeries because soon you will be at BC” but as you know, this year there is a bakery at BC!!! What is next, a night club and maybe a Salon & Spa???
It is nice that you will get a chance to see where Ang Nima Sherpa and Pemba Sherpa live.
By the time you read this, hopefully you were able to see Mt. Everest from the Everest View Hotel. I remember the photo from last year; breathtaking!
Enjoy,
MC
Hi Denise,
Enjoying all the updates very much. The photos are all fantastic. Another thing about the footy is that Collingwood are now above you on the ladder! Everything is OK here in Perth, fortunately we are starting to get some rain having above average rainfall so far this year. Hope this continues. How are you finding the climbing? Has all your training been a help? Richard sends his regards.
Good health and continued safe journey to all.
Love,
Anne
Hi Liz
Thanks for the email, and great posting. I’ve printed them out & put them on the tea table. Everyone thinks you are fantastic, but you need to wash your hair! Nev has a wobbly bottom bracket, but should be okay. 23 today in Melb, and 8 bikes in. Very admirable that you shared Big Gav’s chocolate. We look forward to lots of photos when you get back.
Cheers Frank
The ladies plus one hey. Well done Cas for finally getting there. Good to see you reached Namche without hitch. Enjoy those views and the loos. Hope you’ve perfected the art of cleaning yourself with wet wipes – unless things are different now. Enjoy the trek to Tengboche and dont forget to visit the monastery at Pangboche and see the Yeti head – look forward to seeing the photos when you get back. All the best. Gary
Hi Liz, Gavan told me about your adventure. Well done. Look forward in tracking your progress. Neighbor’s #7 (Kata)
Hi Beck, I got your email re the Comm card, I am on to it! I have a Commonwealth Visa of yours in my bpay list so I think you are in luck. The last time I put money in there it was $10 which would make sense, cos I think I paid you $10 for those soaps recently. The only thing is it starts with 4940 (you said it started with 4574) do you think this is the right one? I just sent and email to Dame & Meals to check with them and if we all have the same number then it must be correct! I just don’t want to muck it up cos if I get it wrong then I lose my money! Hopefully I have an answer from them tomorrow and I can let you know tomorrow night where I am at!
Hope you are all going well and enjoying yourselves.
Lou xx
hello fiona
nothing against nobody, but we are not seeig many pictures of you this year, are you hiding behind the camera this year? . And like i said , nothing aginst nobody, i’m just saying…hehe 🙂
Dear Lizzie,
What FUN! – for me that is, accessing all this. For all of you `fun’ is far from an adequate description.Your reports sound so interesting. Sorry I rang too late to wish you `bon voyage’ on Anzac day. I had to fly to Canberra on Sunday for a meeting on Monday. On the flight back to Melbourne I had my head buried in a book (well, closed eyes buried in a book is more accurate) but glanced up at one stage to see pictures of Mt Everest on the in-flight monitor!!
No particular news from here, except that drought has finally been declared in some areas of Tassie and we have had a liitle rain here. The night temps have been high – between 10 and 14 degrees over the last few weeks. And we have passionfruit coming out of our ears – YUM! What have you been eating? (apart from chocolate – was it a very special sort?). Keep well.
Love,
Rozzie.
Chelsea lost against Liverpool 1-0 and it went to penalty shoot outs. Uncle Mauro let us stay up to watch the whole thing. But it means Chelsea are out of the Champions league. Not Good!!
From Stefano
ps miss u
Davis here. Some great photos up on the site and nice to read your posting! It all brings back many fond memories and sounds much more fun than going to my applied partial differential equations and probability lectures with a cold (just came down sick yesterday 🙁 ). We had a win in the 2nds on Saturday (4-1 against Melb Uni) and the showband had its first rehearsal for ages tonight. Apart from that, not much to report! Hope your legs are holding up and I wish I was getting a glimpse of Everest too!
Lots of love,
D.