18-23-DEC-2007 The Starbucks China Green Tips green tea from home is giving me some serious cubicle nostalgia, since I used to have at least 2 cups a day every day back in cubicle land. Oh, those were the days... If a cabbie only asks for 100 Rs ($1.67) to go the 4-5km from Thamel to my placement, he has absolutely no idea where he's going. But I give him the 150 Rs anyway because I'm in the Christmas spirit. The office is freezing as always, and we have another Wed consisting of a health talk and meeting. We hold a Secret Santa drawing and I burst out laughing uncontrollably at mine. Perfect. Provided the rare chance he Googles my name and reads this, I dare not disclose. But Secret Santa shopping is so cut out for ... read more

10-11-DEC-2007 We rise extremely early so we could make it to Everest for sunrise. Nobody else seems to realize the significance of my statement that the sun rises in the east. But alas, I go along with it because it's easier than arguing. On the way to base camp from the village, we are confronted with ice sheets on the road and large snow hunks (or very white rocks) along the steep roadside. It is most definitely a four-wheeling adventure the entire way. We finally arrive, but do not realize it because we do not see Everest or the heaps of people camping in tents sipping tea from lounge chairs. Apparently no one else is stupid enough to trek out here this time of year. And unfortunately for us, it is cold, blustery, and cloudy, with ... read more

08-DEC-2007 Once again, I cannot move. It appears as though breakfast is not happening again today. And I will be staying in the same hotel, because I really cannot be bothered to pack up my things. Since I had wanted to switch hotels, Steve is shocked with how agreeable I now am to stay put. Me, agreeable? Haha, doesn't happen much, does it? We trek over to the Yak Hotel in the center of town with the others, which ends up being much nicer than where we're staying. Bummer. Jeep 2 heads to the outdoor food on a stick cafe- risky for my fickle belly, but ends up being absolutely amazing. I have fried tofu, mushrooms, green beans and potatoes, all on sticks. It's so salty and spicy, bordering too salty. Did I just admit that? ... read more

06-DEC-2007 The first thing I hear from beneath the covers in the morning is Tahmeena mentioning something about Oliver and I getting on pretty well and all I could say was "Apparently I'm dizzy". I sit up too quickly. Hate it when that happens. I did NOT want to move and really couldn't be bothered with breakfast. I finally managed to crawl out of bed 5m before we had to be downstairs to go the Potala (most famous monastery in Tibet). My stomach and head are in such pain, but I am now used to it. It appears as though my supposed 'altitude issues' have conditioned me for drinking in Lhasa. Everything happens for a reason people! The Potala was absolutely amazing and elaborate, but we couldn't wait to get outside and into the sunshine. You ... read more

04-DEC-2007 I wake up with the worst headache of all time and my stomach hates me. I've not had a drop to drink. But to be completely fair, Xigatse is at 3900m (12,870ft) and my home in Delaware is at about 2m (6.6ft). Big difference. And we've surely not had much time to adjust. But I do not have altitude sickness- ha! I can't get out of bed, but once I manage to do so, my sleeping bag takes a good 1/2 hour to roll up. We're treated to a nice breakfast with sweet bread and jam, but my hard boiled egg is green and tastes a bit off. So I eat mine as well as my neighbors- why not. All the other jeeps have left, and mine is waiting for me to return from the ... read more