K MO

Pictures are of visit to Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology and up to Kopan Monastery for a few days .................................................................................................................................................................. Back in the lap of luxury....well civilisation at least....I heart Hotel Tibet. Where the doorman takes your big bag, not the monk who announces that he will take your small bag... Where they have a doorman.... Where they call you ma'am Where they bring you a cup of tea at check in (albeit undrinkable sweet milk tea) Where they ask you if you would like anything else for breakfast Where they clean the rooms Where the room has a SEPERATE shower and toilet, and where the toilets flush Where there is somewhere to sit other than your bed Where everyone knows your name.......... Anytime of year...... ... read more

Massive party last night.....sitting on my bed at 7pm drinking Litchi tea (bought from China) out of a plastic coke cup (bought frtom ther expo in Shanghai - AND worth its weight in gold), and eatiing bread (from my fav bakery in kathmandu - Pumpernickel - with Vegimite (bought from home). Sadfly Vegimite has just about run out.... ;( Bought kettle yesterday to make tea....but the possibilities are endless....what a great investment....porridge, noodles, tea, cofreeee...the list goes on...... ... read more

Went up to 5100 metres to aclimatise...felt alright when we began the truck up to the pass.... but once I had gotten off the truck I was so sick that I couldnt see straight. My mind would not work. I was trying to focus on how you say hello in Nepalese - Namaste - but i couldnt work it out... I kept thinking "hgow do I spell Namaste." nutter. Had a crazy headache and spewed in 2 bags on the truck, and more when we got back. I was a bit better when we went down again, and up for dinner by that time. Although i was sick, the pass was beauitful, drapped in prayer flags and nobody around but a few random monks. The dogs are alot cuter up here compared to Kathmandu. Been here ... read more

Got to BC last night, stayed at 'Everst Guest House' - well equipped tent owned by local 'Champi'. Havent had showers or toilets in days, and have another camp tonight. James, one of the guys in the group, and I are cooking dinner tonight....vegetable soup...yum Had a great view of the summit last night at about 9pm. So warm in the tents. Head hurts a lot! - Altitude Got up to go to the loo (rock) a bit later last night and was surprised when I walked to the door and it was dark out but all the local Tibetans had congragated and were chanting in a circle and dancing. It was cool that they were just doing it for themselves and not for tourists. Ill never forget that. At first I was a bit worried....well....it ... read more

People along the way are so friendly. As we pass through the vilages in our big orange truck, all the locals are so excited and waving. Hmmm big orange trucks with whiteys mustnt pass through here often! Stopped in the truck at Nepal-Tibetan border. Headed for Zhangmu. The roads here are crazy - narrow muddy and rocky with no sides. Crossed the border - took awhile. Dan and I looked after the bags and played cards while we were waiting for the otheers to have lunch.Then we had mixed noodles - so yum. Tibetan Prayer flags drapped all across the gorge. Its so cool. Makes everything so beauiful and colourful....and just cool. Going higher and higher. Went for walk in the afternoon in Zhangmu. Rooms are quite nice, but into squat toilet territory now....ones that dont ... read more