Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu is sensory overload- so many sights, sounds, smells, colors.  It's crazy!

It was founded in the 12th century AD, during the Malla Dynasty at the conflux of the Rivers Bagmati and Vishnumati as part of the trade route to Tibet.  

Our day started bright and early with our flight to see Everest.  Here is an interesting suggestion box in the airport-

This is taken out of the cockpit windshield.  Sagarmatha, or Everest (8848 meters, 29028 feet) is the left bump of the two, slightly to the right of center.  This is the south face of Everest.  We went to the north face base camp in Tibet.

More of the Himalayan mountain range.  One third of the mountain range is in Nepal and 10 of the world's 14 highest mountains are also here.  The latitude is similar to Florida so there is vegetation to 3500 to 4000 meters.

The airplane we went up in -

From here, we went to Monkey Temple, formally known as Swayambhunath, a jumble of Buddhist and HIndu iconography.  This is the stupa at the eastern entrance-

Arriving at the top, this stupa is the center piece of the area. Notice  Buddha's eyes at the top.  The nose like squiggle below the eyes is the Nepali number 'one' or 'ek' which signifies unity.  The third eye signifies the insight of Buddha.  The white dome represents the earth and the thirteen tiered beehive structure on top symbolizes the thirteen stages one must pass through to reach nirvana.  

The rest of the area is a sculpture garden of religious monuments-

Of course, I can't forget the star attractions - a mother macaque and her baby-

Corinne enjoyed a healing bowl treatment -

Here are Corinne and Marianne with prayer flags and Kathmandu in the background-

For supper, it was back to the Everest Steak House and then to a few other bars, always searching for live music and finally to Sam's.  Today was a good day!

Everest Base Camp

We had an early start today - on the road by 6 am because eight of us were meeting Land Cruisers in a village to go to Everest Base Camp.

Along the way-

How the Chinese detour-

We came across a traffic jam.  The only problem was the lead driver was too afraid (or too stupid) to know how to drive through these ruts.  With encouragement from fellow truck drivers, he got through and soon we too were on our way!

Yak tending.  Notice the tent on the right.  That's home for the summer!

We met the drivers in a small town and were on our way while the group headed to a bush camping spot.  This traffic jam slowed us down a while-

People watching the cows move through town-

A typical Tibetan home: grass on the roof, prayer flags, white washed walls, red decoration-

Our first sighting of the Himalayas-

Our driver was a madman!  The roads were atrocious and he drove the bag off the vehicle.  Coming home I was sitting in the back and hit my head on the roof!

Here I am at Base Camp which was 5150 meters.  It wasn't really cold, just windy and there isn't anything to do there but take pictures-

Everest is in the background!  Here's Greg, Dennis, Jill, Tim, Melissa, James and me!

We stopped at one of the 'hotels'  4 km from Base Camp for a beer-

Inside it was very cozy and warm!

Later, the sky cleared a little more.....

Dave and I were on cook group tonight and with Brenda's help, most was done by the time I returned from Base Camp.  Tomorrow, we're on our way to the Nepal/China border!  I will be glad to leave China.  The people don't think for themselves - they are so brain-washed and paranoid.  We had 6 - 7 police checks every day - checking for what? - who knows!  Passports please, then they'd only look at one or two.  Delay after delay, waiting, waiting, waiting.  It was crazy here!