Dec 3, 2011 - Back to Nepal

Here we go again.... Heading back to Nepal at the end of March for a three week journey including a trek to Everest Base Camp. My travel companion is my sister-in-law Barbara. Keep an eye out here for my trip journal to be resurrected. Join the journey....

Oct 25, 2010 - Xigatse

Ein entspannter Tag unter der brennenden Sonne Tibets und dem knallblauen Himmel inmitten einer der schoensten Landschaften der Welt, ueber hohe Paesse, vorbei an Yakherden, der Wueste des tibetischen Hochplateaus, rein ins Kloster nach Xigatse, dem Sitz des (leider von China vorgegebenen und daher neu besetzten) Panchen Lama, nachdem dieser in Peking seine Hirnwaesche abbekommen hat –erschreckend. Zu Mittag bestellten wir mit Hilfe der beiden gemuetlichen Japaner unsrer Gruppe, welche die chinesischen Schriftzeichen zwar lesen konnten...

Apr 28, 2010 - Everest Base Camp and Puja Memories

Mount Everest, the very name conjures up images of hardship, majesty, awe inspiring vistas, bitterly cold temperatures accompanied by hurricane force winds and man attempting to reckon with the forces of Mother Nature in this very sacred place. Since the days of George Mallory, and before Everest has captivated mans emotions with her siren song, ever beckoning. I for one recall my first encounter with the very notion of climbing this 8800+ peak. It was with awe and profound respect; I would even consider myself capable of such a feat. In...

Mar 30, 2008 - Matt's 31st Birthday - Mt. Everest

I spent my entire 30th year traveling. Not a bad way to break into my thirties. We had to spend part of my birthday taking care of flight arrangements to go to Turkey on the 15th of April, but I also bought a flight to see Mt. Everest for my birthday present. After we finished our errands, I relaxed for a few hours and then we had a nice dinner. We had previously checked out several restaurants in the area and narrowed the list down to one. The meal was excellent and I had a few glasses of white wine to top it off. I flew over Mt. Everest...

Mar 23, 2007 - Rohgphu monastery

A long day on the road with just the smallest interlude as we rounded a corner to the next high pass on our route and were rewarded with a view of Everest and it's accomanying mountain range ( i sopose that'll be the himalayas then) we jumped out of the Land Cruiser and took lots of photos. us jumping, us smiling, us pointing , us doing lots of generally silly things. A few locals appeared from nowhere, as is cusomary in these parts, by which time we decided to get back in the car and head down into the valley. At 5000 mts above sea level,...

Mar 22, 2007 - Shigatse to Shegar

We left Gyantse and headed straight for Shigatse, with an elevation of 3900mts. Here we stopped for Tashilumpo monastery. Tashilumpo is the seat of the Panchen Lama , built in 1447. It once housed over 4000 monks, but now there are around 600. we milled around with the visiting pilgrims and Chinese tour groups, and got some amazing views. We even got to go right into this beautiful chamber where the monks were saying their prayers and chanting and clanging symbols and so on. It was really mesmerizing. The sun streamed in from the roof...

Mar 18, 2007 - Everest Base Camp

From Shigatse we continued along the Friendship Highway towards Tingri, another remote village near to the border of Nepal, but during the road trip the weather became extremely good and a decision was made to take us straight to Everest Base Camp, making the most of the fabulous weather forecast. During his time we climbed over 2 passes of 4950m at Tropu-la and then later 5220m at Gyatso-la, stopping for a few moments, out of the car and looking at stunning panoramic views of Everest and the Himalaya. It was the most breathtaking and...

Nov 8, 2006 - Everest Base Camp Trek: Namche to Tengboche

After the rest day we headed on the longest day of the trek yet. We began early by walking up the steep, varied stone steps of the narrow Namche streets. Often times the paths between the many guest houses are shared with yaks, trekkers, goats, Tibetans, or locals. The day was specatularly clear as we reached the first view of the big mountains. Off in the distance, above the ridge that was our destination, we could clearly see Everest peering over the massive ramparts of Nuptse. The dusty route today followed the contours of the foothills...

Nov 6, 2006 - Everest Base Camp Trek: Phakding to Namche Bazar

We woke at 7 am and after a breakfast of pancakes we began our hike at 8:30am. The hike brought us through many small Sherpa villages all with multiple Guest House options. The weather was clear with a hot sun. We were hiking in shorts and long-sleeved, base-layer tops. We stopped for a leisurely lunch at the village of Monzo (sp?). At this point we were still deep in a steep, lush valley. Views of two or three, 6000m+ snowcapped peaks could be seen at any moment. We were seated on a sun-soaked patio when a tall british man named Bobby sat...

Nov 5, 2006 - Everest Base Camp Trek - Kathmandu to Phakding via Lukla

A week prior to our arrival in Kathmandu the trekking regulation committee (or something like that) passed a rule that requires tourists to hire a Nepali to accompany them on their trek. Our first thought was to ignore the rule and act stupid when needed. After researching the cost and logistics of hiring a guide or porter we decided to hire guide. The trekking company we chose to go with was the only company who had guides and porters flowing in and out of the office with pleased, tired tourists in tow. While negotiating the cost and...

Oct 31, 2006 - Everest Base Camp and the Rongbuck Monestary

It took us about 2 hours to reach Everest Base Camp from Bemba. Because it was late in the season and horse-drawn transportation had ended, we were allowed to drive up the final few miles from the Rongbuck Monastery to base camp. I think we were all feeling the effects of altitude...a bit dizzy...easily tired when walking. The camp wasn't really what I was expecting. Just a field of rock scree...brown and barren. But behind it...was Everest. We were fortunate. A clear day. The sky was an amazing surreal blue. What's interesting, is that...

Oct 23, 2006 - Himalaya!

"It is a noble experience to look at the Himalaya; it humbles a man at first and then raises him to new heights. It fills him with awe and wonder; it prompts him to meditate in silence" Kesar Lall in "Nepal - Off the Beaten Path." I trekked for ten days to acclimatize; of witch I have much to say later. Again I am in Namche Bazzar, headed down to see the world and especially my girl! So this will be just a short spot on the mountains and my climb. What Mountains!! I have climbed all over the world, and this is something special. Something...