Namche Bazar

We arrieved Namche Bazar, 3470m. For acclimatization we sleep here twice. Even climbers spend here an extra day. Thus this is a bigger village, with shops (bazars:)), restaurants and any type of accommodation, even a camp.

Fortunately everybody from us is ok, there is even no trace of high altitude sickness: I have appetite, no headache, not feeling dizzy. Zuzmoka is ok as well and enjoys the beautiful view.

Himalaya

1st day in the Himalayas.

It was a strange to realise that we had spent only a single day in the Himalaya as so many things had happened.

Arrived to Lukla, the starting point of our hike, with a small airplane for 20 passenger, 2 pilots and a stewardess. We had some delay because of the weather but we had better luck than the guys next day when no plane fly at all.

We saw stupas, Mani wheels, prayer flags and mani stones. Mani stones are rocks or rocky surfaces that are covered with painted letters of the mantra 'om mani padme hum'.

We crossed suspended bridges and gave way to jokpas. Jokoa is a crossing of jak and cow. They said (and experienced) to be tranquil but too big and strong to feel comfortable beside them.

Mani stone

Nepalese new year

Nepalese new year is during our hike, on the 14th of April. But we will not notice too much of it. First because they do not celebrate on the streets but with family: They get together and eat and drink. Second because the porters in the Himalayan region migrated from Tibet and they use different calendar with different time for new year.

Arrieved to Kathmandu

Our way to Kathmandu was quite smooth though there was some delay in our flight. First we took off later to avoid the early morning fog in Kathmandu and before landing we were delayed because of the lack of free parking slots. We landed around 9 am local time and left the airport about 11 am. The time is here CET + 3:45.

It turned out that because some construction work at the Kathmandu airport the flight to Lukla does not set off from here but from Ramechap city 5 hours ride from here. So Raj, our guide suggested to sleep in Mulkot city in between, 3-4 hours ride from here and 1 hour to Lukla. So we just run around Katmandu, bought missing clothes and water sanitiser. And around 4 pm we hit the road again.

Tomorrow set off at 5 am to be st the airport by 7 and take off at 8. I plan is sleep for the next 2 days...

"Because it's there."

Hitting the road again. This time we hike the Everest Base Camp Trek. Er..., I mean we try.

I know Csilla from our travel in Australia. Csilla was on the Everest Base Camp Trek some years ago in autumn. She loved the area and wanted to see in spring as well. Plus that time she was not able to reach the Base Camp because of some light illness and the time she lost by going down to a village with a doctor. So she was determined to return and she succeed to 'recruit' a team of 4 to do it in this spring. So out team is: Csilla, Reni, Patricia and myself: Aniko.

Reni will climb the Island Peak (6 189m) as well. This is a 'real' climbing with ropes and crampons and ice tools. Pretty exciting. ;)
As I am also a trained and experienced climber, Reni asked me if I join her in Island Peak. My answer was definitely negative as I have never been even close to this altitude, and has no idea how can my body cope with it.

I was only once over 4000m (Lyskamm Occidentale 4480m, Alps, Europe) and a couple of times between 3500 and 4000m (Orlter, Midi, Grossglockner x2, Grossvenediger; all in the Alps, Europe). And my experience was that I acclimatised slower than my mates. So I am curious how will it be this time. Fortunately Csilla planned an extra aclimatisation day around 4200m (comparing to the 'standard' base camp track) so I really hope that I will manage it.

I am quite excited about this travel and hike. I have never been to Asia (except of the Asian part of Turkey: Cappadocia) so I am curious about the atmosphere and feeling of the whole. I have never seen such a high mountains in real so I am interested in a feeling being among them. I am interested in the culture, the habits of the locals, the beliefs and stories, and the churches and monasteries. And I am interested in the stories of my fellow travelers.

Zuzmóka is just saying good-bye to my crampons and ice axe: we will not need them.

Animals / Reptiles

"I was particularly attracted to all those things that might hurt me, which in an Australian context is practically everything. ...my guidebook blandly observed that 'only' fourteen species of Australian snakes are seriously lethal, among them the western brown, desert death adder, tiger snake, taipan and yellow-bellied sea snake. The taipan is one to watch out for. It is the most poisonous snake on earth, with a lunge so shift and a venom so potent that your last mortal utterance is likely to be: 'i say, is that a sn--'"

from 'Down Under' by Bill Bryson

What could I add? :)

For my relief we saw only 2 snakes though the second one was in the see and was yellow (cf.: yellow-bellied sea snake).

Though some sign indicated that the presence of reptiles is just normal:

Well, when you sitting down to the toilet you really need to hope that everybody has closed the lid before you... Fortunately only a cute gecko was all that we have found in a bathroom. 

Just to talk about more likable reptiles:

We have met a frog in a quite unusual place.

And we have seen lizards in surprising colors.

And look at this guy. It is the thorny devil of Australia.

This lizard (i.e. the devil below) was indicated by a sudden break of our camper van. Fortunately the vehicle behind us kept quite a decent safety gap -- about 100 km. :D

This strange creature might be a scincidae:

Ah, and talking about reptiles, I have almost forgot the crocodiles.

One day we looked for a hot spring and asked the direction from some lady. She told us the path and also added that she loved the place and also that we could swim there. For some seconds I found it strange that she emphasized the swimming option that is a kind of obvious in case of spring / river / lake. Only after that I realized: not in Austria. In Australia you better to anticipate crocodiles in any 'free' water. Written warnings are also remind you. 

Animals / Birds

Pelican chase away dolphin.

Cockatoos (and other parrots) are as common as sparrows in Europe.

Even the pigeons differ from the European ones.

And lots of other, never seen, colorful birds. (Er..., I mean: never seen by me.)

Oh, And did I mention the emus that could be dangerous if you go too close...