http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Asia , Nepal , Gorak Shep en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:02:49 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:02:49 UTC Firstly apologies for more blogs so soon but I'm off again in 3 days time and so want to get this done before I disappear. Feel free to ignore them So Gorak Shep 5100m is a grotty little place which I would never dream of going to if it weren't for its spectacular location. Right next to the Western face of Nuptse truly one of the most beautiful mountains I've ever seen.What this place is http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-336779.html Somewhere along the way we realized that ideal trekking season was just beginning in Nepal so we decided to stretch our legs and wander up to Everest.From the Nepal side Everest is quite far away from the nearest road. We opted to flyin to Lukla from Kathmandu which cuts out a 10hour bus ride and several day hike up and down valleys through the forests.The Kathmandu airport experience is qui http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-334860.html Kathmandu I'll Be Seeing YouAn Ode to Cat Stevens We left Bangkok headed for Nepal via Bangladesh on an evening flightunfortunately Biman Bangladesh Airlines did not get the same memo so at 430 AM we finally left the Bangkok airport headed for Bangladesh. Upon arrival at 630 AM we found that due to no fault of their own our only having 6 hours between connecting flights instead of http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-317888.html We began our descent today. On the way to Loboche we met the Spanish guy the friend of Laura's. Apparently she had to go back down because of AMS but he was going to continue on as arranged. He said that she was okay. On the way we went passed some of the moments to people who died during an attempt to summit Everest. One is to a Sherpa who hold a few world records. He summitted Everest 1 http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-291932.html I woke up with a headache and felt a bit nauseous so I decided to take Diamax 125mcg. I told my guide about this and although he didn't seem too happy about it that was my decision. It was definitely the right thing to do because these are symtoms of AMS and I felt so much better having taken the medication. We made our way to Gorak Shep which is the last village. This is 5140m16863ft abov http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-291921.html Tengboche Debuche Pengboche Dingboche Lobuche. The days and villages began to blur together in a single image of short stone walls dusty pastures alpine scrub lodge kitchens squat toilets and frigid Himalaya mornings. Walking out at dawn to wash my face and teeth by the village stream sitting back on my haunches as the icy water rises steaming off my face and neck and I breathe hard into http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-289588.html Haha Ok so we didn't run up to base camp but we sure made it there The round trip took 15 days and now we are back in Kathmandu enjoying some more flavourful foods and not having to get up early to start the day off. This might be a long post so please be patientDay 1 Kathmandu to Lukla then Lukla to Phakding.We took a local flight on Yeti Airlines to Lukla from Kathmandu which was an http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-273042.html I'm almost to the top Just a few more blogs to write before the big day Hope you're all excited to hear about it Here's a sneak peek at the peak http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-234760.html We are only 10 days away from heading home finally. We're currently in Ko Lanta Thailand chilling on the beach drinking lassis. Simon's met up with a mate from his Swedish high school and we are going to go diving with her hopefully.Remember to leave us a comment we love them allAfter completing the Annapurna Sanctuary trek we only had 5 days to enjoy the sunshine before we took http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-219251.html A knock at the door....gradually one eye opens and then the other. Slowly I slide one arm out of the blissful warmth and comfort of my sleeping bag. Ohh the eyes need adjusting. I squint and look at my watch 512am. Ohh man that's early. The knock comes again. In that confusing dimension between being asleep and awake a momentary stroke of genius enters my mind black coffee binplease http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-207474.html After much persuasion I finally convinced Nick that is was a much better decision to hike for 16 days through the Himalayas experience altitude sickness and trek to the Everest Base Camp rather than going for the easy trekking option of flying to Jomsom trekking 5 days downhill and having no problems of getting back to Kathmandu We joined a group of 5 other trekkers and our Everest Base Camp http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-166589.html Delhi was waking up to a lazy hazy Sunday as the morning sun warmed me through the window of my Ambassador taxi making stars out of the dust particles that swirled out of the back seat as I sat down. A trip to the ATM to pay the Sikh behind the wheel took me through shady streets shining with stall upon stall of grapefruit orange and melon. The wide treelined avenues of Souther Delhi were al http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-157875.html My husband Tim and I just returned from a monthlong trip to Asia. One week in Bangkok followed by three weeks in Nepal a few days in Kathmandu its capital followed by a flight to Lukla and a long trek that took us all the way to Everest Base Camp at just under 18000 feet where we spent the night in belowfreezing tents and hung out with the climbers We'll start with Kathmandu pron http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-152446.html Hopefully you all read days 16 on the trek to Everest...if not go back and do it...NOW dont worry I'll wait for you. You cant see the whole world from the top of Everest....The view from there only reminds you how big the world is how much more there is to see learn. Tenzing Norgay spoken to his son who has now also summited Everest Day 7 Today was another long yet rewarding walk http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-151064.html Incredible day. Sleeping at five thousand 200 m having to write it as the five numeral isn't working is not a comfortable experience. You sleep very lightly aware of the bitter cold around your face and sucking at all the oxygen you can get. But at the same time it was a happy sleep as I had achieved my goal and knew that the next day we would be heading down. On the subject of cold nights http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-149115.html In a massive contrast to last year's Good Friday staying at mazing luxury Health Spa in foothills of Himalayas this year finds me freezing my bits off IN the Himalayas. While I may not be in the Death Zone quite I am definitely in the 'severely uncomfortable and blummin freezing' zone. However.... We did it We've done it And that final walk to base Camp and back was bloody hard. Hardest th http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-148473.html Had a super early start from Lobuche to get to Gorakshep 5140m for breakfast then onto Base Camp. The round trip took about five hours so in total we trekked for around eight or nine hours today. Everybody was absolutely stuffed by the end but it was totally worth it because we finally reached our goal. We got within a half hour of the currently pitched tents Ashok checked if we really want http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-108548.html I woke up a few times last night. It was the first time in my life I had felt claustrophobic. Our rooms were small and dark with 9x9 skylights. Felt scared by this window and wondered what my Grandad felt in his Japanese Prisoner War Camp managed some sleep.The morning was very cold put on my balaclava and goretex coat.When we arrived at Gorak Shep I already felt dizzy and sick. We were co http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-105350.html Entry completed 28 Nov 2006 There were no fleas in Lobuche thank god. Only rats.The group anticipates Base Camp tomorrow. It is obvious from everyoness face that people are worried. I feel ok and optimistic despite the 12 hour day ahead of me. We have been breifed that we will head out at 6am. Lobouche is very cold. The cloud is coming up the valley bringing with it the damp.A few of us http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-105345.html Dangima Sherpa The cheetah of alpine sprints Dangima Sherpa is a quintessential marathoner. A casual look at him and you will know that this man has something to do with athletics. His lean figure has long replaced the muscular physique of a karate player and his 5'7euro frame filled with 57 kgs is just about perfect for a long distance runner.Dangima has certainly made a name for himself in http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-86117.html There is no warmup when you leave Dughla. The very first part of the trek is a bastard of a climb. As we were leaving we saw some Korean climbers coming down. Most of them had huge beards and were so badly sunburned their faces looked like bacon. I guess theyrsquod been up there for awhile. Unlike other areas at lower altitude there are very few small villages and teahouses between the large http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-76521.html