I slept!!!! I feel like that woman on the commercial who is putting up signs in her yard telling the world she slept! What a difference a drop in elevation makes . And the temperature was warmer also. Up to a balmy 3 degrees celcius last night in the room so no frozen water. AND I could sleep on my side instead of lying prostrate on the bed. Had a great breakfast and although it started out cold we soon warmed up in the sun.
The mountain paths were awash with yak trains this morning . The paths are quite narrow and from the first day we were warned to always stay on the mountain side of the path, as the yaks are burdened heavily with their loads and if you are on the cliff side and they make a side step....well it's a long way down . Of course you can get pushed up against the side of the mountain easily also but that option is preferable to catapulting over the cliff. Anyway, there was a lot of traffic on the old yak highway this morning. I would get stuck behind some and plod along and then grab a chance to pass. Every once in a while you would hit double yak jeopardy, where there was a bunch coming each way and then you had to make a decision, where am I the least likely to get stomped on. They are really quite amazing really . Their handlers carry a stick with them but seem to rarely have to use it. They have a series of whistle noises they use that steer them in the right direction . Every once in a while one will veer off the path and then someone will run off and bring it back in line.
An easier day today as mostly downhill. We were able to stop in Namche Bazaar on the way down for lunch and could get to an internet place also. It's always so great to be able to have a little contact with home and I really appreciate all the kind comments everyone has left for me. Mom and Dad, if all goes well will try to call you once I get back to Kathmandu, likely early morning as that might be the only time I might catch you at home.
Got to our tea house this afternoon and some children came to perform to raise money for books for their school. This, unfortunately , sparked a little debate between an older member of the group who had been a teacher, and who had invited them in, and a younger outspoken member of the group who thought we were treating them like "trained monkeys ". Regardless, they danced and sang a bit and some of us gave them money.
One more day of hiking . Seems impossible. We will be back in Lukla tomorrow and then early the next morning we leave on our small little plane back to Kathmandu.
The mountain paths were awash with yak trains this morning . The paths are quite narrow and from the first day we were warned to always stay on the mountain side of the path, as the yaks are burdened heavily with their loads and if you are on the cliff side and they make a side step....well it's a long way down . Of course you can get pushed up against the side of the mountain easily also but that option is preferable to catapulting over the cliff. Anyway, there was a lot of traffic on the old yak highway this morning. I would get stuck behind some and plod along and then grab a chance to pass. Every once in a while you would hit double yak jeopardy, where there was a bunch coming each way and then you had to make a decision, where am I the least likely to get stomped on. They are really quite amazing really . Their handlers carry a stick with them but seem to rarely have to use it. They have a series of whistle noises they use that steer them in the right direction . Every once in a while one will veer off the path and then someone will run off and bring it back in line.
An easier day today as mostly downhill. We were able to stop in Namche Bazaar on the way down for lunch and could get to an internet place also. It's always so great to be able to have a little contact with home and I really appreciate all the kind comments everyone has left for me. Mom and Dad, if all goes well will try to call you once I get back to Kathmandu, likely early morning as that might be the only time I might catch you at home.
Got to our tea house this afternoon and some children came to perform to raise money for books for their school. This, unfortunately , sparked a little debate between an older member of the group who had been a teacher, and who had invited them in, and a younger outspoken member of the group who thought we were treating them like "trained monkeys ". Regardless, they danced and sang a bit and some of us gave them money.
One more day of hiking . Seems impossible. We will be back in Lukla tomorrow and then early the next morning we leave on our small little plane back to Kathmandu.
It sounds like you have a very idealistic person in your group. However, students have put on shows to raise money for their schools for time immemorial. Would they have donated anything if the school had not been made visible to them in this way? I am sure they were very proud of their performance and what they were doing to help their school. Annny waaay! So glad you SLEPT! May this be one of many restful nights to come!!
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