by Phill Michael
The
Bustling Metropolis of Loboche
(Click here to view the video "Clearing off in Loboche")
Today was a day of
acclimatization in Loboche. We
needed it. I woke up feeling great,
but did have the first headache of
my life last night. I finally know
what a headache feels like.
Unpleasant. If it doesn't kill
us...it makes us stronger. Right?!
I'm so glad I spent time in the
Altitudetech Hypershere before
coming on this trip. I am certain it
really helped my body prepare for
this adventure.
Phill
pre-acclimatizing in the
Altitudetech Hypersphere
It had been a wet day on the 13th,
so we all took advantage of the
light breeze and intense sunlight to
dry things out. Dawa was good enough
to haul out his transistor
radio...and we listened to some
Tibetan rock and roll.
(Click here to view the video
"Tibetan Rock and Roll")
managed to talk to Chris via the sat
phone this afternoon. He is resting
comfortably in Namche Bazar. He
said the pony ride from Dingboche
was pretty cool, but his rear end
has been permanently altered. He has
a slight headache and still feels
pretty tired, but is getting better.
Joy! I asked him to keep Gelu with
him in case anything goes wrong or
he just needs someone to act as
translator...or whatever. He is in
good hands.
It's amazing how the effects of
altitude can attack very strong
people. Dawa keeps saying, 'Altitude
sickness...very complicated'. Indeed
it is. There is a sign on the wall
of this tea house that reminds of
this.
Words from the Wise
I'm sure Chris will be chomping at
the bit to get to these altitudes on
our next trip over here. He'll do
it...with a smile.
Arbin Rai and Phill
Another of our porters, Arbin Rai,
was feeling quite sick today too. He
had a wicked headache and was
vomiting. It's a shame as he was
'Mr. Smiley' from Day 1...a real
pleasure to have along. He left
Loboche this afternoon and will walk
all the way to Lukla.
While I mashed away at this
keyboard...Alex was showing the Boyz
some Nepali music videos on the Mac.
One of the videos is particularly
popular and has a 20 minute video of
a woman and a man happily arguing
about their respective wares. The
woman is berating the man for
putting water in the milk he is
selling...while the man complains
that the woman's food is bad. You
can hear this song EVERYWHERE in
Nepal right now. Too funny.
Alex and the Boyz Watch Nepali Music
Videos
It's 11pm right now and I know I
am the only person awake in this
entire town. It's pitch black
outside and foggy. All I hear is the
low drone of our little generator,
our yak tender snoring about 15 feet
away from me...and all kinds of
coughing from the sleeping chambers
of this tea house. The Khumbu
cough?! I haven't contracted
it...yet.
I
should connect to the sat modem...do
all the updates...send and receive
email...pack for tomorrow...and then
start thinking about sleeeeeeeep.
It's going to be 'bed tea' at
6:30am...breakfast at 7am...then
onwards to Everest Base
Camp(5345m/17531ft)!
Hopefully all our communications
equipment continues to work
beautifully up there...and I can
continue to upload updates. I'll try
and upload a video from there too!
Time will tell...well...you know the
rest...%^)
