Blogs from Gorak Shep, Nepal, Asia - page 5

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Asia » Nepal » Gorak Shep October 2nd 2007

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, 5:12am. 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! bin!(please)" I spit out in the groggiest of tones. Oooo, that's better. Man it's cold. As I exhale my breath looks as though I'm blowing out a big puff of smoke. Casually I reach my arm out toward the window. Dangling from its latch is my mini-REI thermometer. Let's see how cold it really is...28 degrees, damn....it is cold. There must be 6 inches of fresh snow outside ... read more
Sunrise in Gokyo
Osho's Flower
Everest and Nhuptse

Asia » Nepal » Gorak Shep May 23rd 2007

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 trek started in a very civilised manner with a traditional Nepalese meal and dancing which included a Nepali version of Emu, a dressed up Peacock, and some mad dancer dressed up as the infamous Yeti. The next morning was an early start to catch a flight to Lukla where we were to commence our trek. We should not have bothered getting up so early as ... read more
Holy Man
Looking down to Periche
At the Everest View 5 star hotel.

Asia » Nepal » Gorak Shep May 8th 2007

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, tree-lined avenues of Souther Delhi were almost deserted. I felt sad to be leaving, as though I was sneaking away without saying goodbye properly to my slumbering host. Back in Delhi International Airport, over an incredibly strong coffee in the Ashok Lounge, I reflected that this travelling lark is actually like big holiday, so far. The waiter amused himself between taking orders by walking round with a ... read more
Lukla's Runway
Gokyo Lake
Yak

Asia » Nepal » Gorak Shep April 27th 2007

Hopefully you all read days 1-6 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. The mountains and views become more and more spectacular the higher you are. My blisters are not improving at all. After several hours I start feeling sorry for myself, that is until I see a porter with about 300 lbs of plywood on his back as he climbs a 60 degree slippery incline in rubber sandals....these guys are as ... read more
Everest Beer
Helicopter Down
Trying not to die

Asia » Nepal » Gorak Shep April 26th 2007

My husband, Tim, and I just returned from a month-long 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 18,000 feet, where we spent the night (in below-freezing tents!) and hung out with the climbers! We'll start with Kathmandu (pronounced Katmandu). Kathmandu was a wonderful, crazy place! Broken pavement, cars with no emission testing required spewing black smoke, entire Nepali families riding on a small motorbike (babies feet flapping as she sits on the gas tank), sacred cows roaming around as they please, no semblance of travel laws of any kind, Buddhists worshipping at Hindu temples and vice versa, and ... read more
Thamel
Thamel
Tibetan Refugee Camp

Asia » Nepal » Gorak Shep April 7th 2007

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, I dunno how anyone manages to have children here. It's so cold I have perefcted the art of getting ready for bed without exposing any skin whatsover. The lack of hygiene is also a major turnoff, even if I didn't suddenly appear to be married to a tramp in a beard. Mind you, the Scots guys we met ... read more
Simon and Jimmy Carter

Asia » Nepal » Gorak Shep April 6th 2007

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 thing I've ever done. We walked up to Gorak Shep, a desolate, rocky places with 4 or 5 lodges huddled againts the constant bitterly cold wind. We had some lunch then set out for Base Camp. The going was not good, really rocky and you had to watch you fooring the whole time. We crawled up and own countless ridges and then began to ... read more
Miyolangsangma peeks out to say hello
Crashed helicopter
I've done it!

Asia » Nepal » Gorak Shep November 21st 2006

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 9"x9" 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 comforted by the option of choosiung a dish of the menu. Most elected for cheese omelete and chips. with hindsight this was problably not a good idea. I think I have lost weight. Many of us fantacise about being at home and eating a good steak or another favorite dish. ============== **Completed entry 28 Nov** 20-30 steps head pounding, feeling sick ... read more
Show me the way to Base Camp
Sign at the lodge
Khumbu Glacier Ice Cave

Asia » Nepal » Gorak Shep November 20th 2006

** 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 went up to the edge of the Khumbu Glacier. Most of it was grey glacial till (rock debris). Now and again we caught a glimpse of grey/blue ice. We lost Gavin. The silly sod buggered off without telling us. The cloud moved in and he was gone for a few minutes we floundered around calling his name with no ... read more

Asia » Nepal » Gorak Shep October 29th 2006

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 wanted to go there because technically we were already at base camp. Everybody agreed that we'd already come this far & what was another half hour to say we reached the 'current base camp'! It was a fantastic feeling to finally make it & Ashok broke out the Whiskey & chocolate biscuits to celebrate. Everybody got a group photograph & souvenired a rock ... read more
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