Bangkok

We have made it to Bangkok. Nepal Airlines actually flew within an hour of what the schedule was. We were greatful. It was sad to leave Nepal and our guides whom we had spent that last 2 weeks with, although we are all excited to be closer to home. Today we spent the day touring Bangkok and it's sites via bus and water taxi, with authentic Thai food for lunch. Tonight we will attend a Thai show and dinner. I have attached photos of leaving Lukla for Kathmandu, our Sherpa Guides, a shot of Everest from Kala Patar, lunch in Bangkok, and riding the river taxi.

JSM

Back in Kathmandu

We are all back in Kathmandu safe and sound.  The flight from Lukla was uneventful, other than it was a few hours late, which seems to be the norm for those flights.  Tomorrow morning we are scheduled to do an Everest flight at 6:45 am.  This is an in country flight.  Immediately after we are to get on a plane with Royal Nepal Airlines to fly to Bangkok.  As has been the case with all of our Royal Nepal Airlines flights, who knows.  We are hoping for the best.  So hopefully the next post will be from Bangkok.

JSM

Back to Namche Bazzar

We are all back in Namche Bazzar. Internet is cheaper, everything is cheaper. We are only one day away from reaching Kathmandu if the weather cooperates. We are all excited for a change in food. The trek has been incredible, although when you spend a week above 14,000 feet it can be unconfortable. I have attached a photo from base camp as well as Khala Patar, one (no gorey) of me being stiched up with all of Gorek shep looking on. One of our dinner camp last night. I will try to put up a few more photos soon. I am limited to internet speed and software to reduce the photos. We are all well.
JSM

Temboche

We are finnally back at Temboche. We all reached Gorak Shep, some
with alitude sickness. But all in all we are all back down to 12,000
feet feeling well but tired. A few of us were able to make it to base
camp, and a few to Khala Patar. Views were incredible,and there were
3 expeditions at base camp. The on problem was yours truly near the
summit of Khala Patar slipped on a snowy rock and split my chin.
Thanks to Dr Swen Swensen of the group and a lot of walking I am all
stiched up. I will up date soon. Internet is very expensive this
high.

Tengboche

Yesterday we arrived at Tengboche, just in time to beat a snow storm.  After the storm the views of Everest and Lotse and
Ama Dablam were incredible.  Today we leave for Dingboche.  There we will spend an extra day for acclimatization.  I believe this is the last email stop.  So no more posts until we are on our way down.  The monastery here in tengboche was fun to visit.  We were able to watch their daily chanting.  All is well.

JSM

Day 2 at Namche Bazzar

Today was our acclimatization day in Namche.  We did a day hike to the Everest view Hotel that is about 13,000.  On the hike we were able to see Ama Dablam. I have attached a photo.  Mount everest was covered by clouds.  Yesterday on our hike to Namche we were able to see Mount everest. I have attached a photo.  Amazingly Boyd and Brits luggage showed up today.  It was carried in by porters.  We are all well and having a great time.  We were all able to have a shower as well today.  Namche is quite a village with lots going on.  Traders from tibet bring in all the knock of products from china to sell to the merchants in Namche. So there is Mountain Hardware and North Face gear everywhere.  I am off to dinner.

JSM

Namche Bazzar

We have made it to Namche Bazzar.  Yesterday we were able to get to Lukla and then hike to Phakding.  This morning we got up and started for Namche Bazzar.  It took us about 6 hours to reach it and about 2500 feet of elevation gain.  Namche sits at 11,300 feet.  We will be here for 2 nights, it is an acclimatazation day here tomorrow.  Everyone is well, and we even got word that Brit and Boyds bags are on the way.  I will try to work out some pictures, but internet is expensive up here.

JSM

Wating

Okay, here is the story, yesterday we did not get out of Kathmandu, due to the weather in Lukla. We spent one more night in Kathmandu. The domestic terminal here in Kathmandu is a zoo. You can see the picture I have attached. On the way back to the hotel yesterday we were able to visit one more temple here in Kathmandu. It is the largest in the world, and was very cool to see. That being said we are all very anxious to get to Lukla. Onto today, this morning we got up very early to get to the airport for our flight. Things went well until we got out on the tarmac just about to get on the plane. "Lukla is closed due to weather". Back to the terminal to wait. Mark Hamilton has informed us all that "patience is a mild for of misery thinly disguised a virtue". Even with all the frustration we should get there today considering our position in line. Sorry for the ruff draft no time to proof read.

JSM

Lukla

We are now on are way to the airport to fly to Lukla, the beginning of the trek.  The weather in Lukla is notoriously bad, so flights in and out are dependent on good weather.  We are hoping to get out today.  Yesterday we toured Kathmandu, we visited a sacred Hindu site and visited the ancient part of Kathmandu.  It dates back to the 15th century.  Sorry no pictures today I am on a dial up connection and a slow one at that.  Perhaps at the airport I will be able to upload some.  So far so good, everyone is anxious to get to Lukla.  Boyd and Brit's bags are yet to arrive.  We have all pooled together to get enough clothing ready for them to go.

JSM

Kathmandu Day 1

Yesterday the five of us that were in Kathmandu, walked to the Monkey Temple and took lots of pictures and shopped along the way. It was a great day. We met Tsedo our trek cooridinator, and if everyone got here last night we can stay on schedule. It is 6 am here so we are not sure if everyone made it or not. We will find out shortly. Today our guide will be Harsha, he guided Boyd and Kit on there last trek to Nepal. We will be seeing some other temples here in Kathmandu. These are a couple of pictures from Kathmandu and the Monkey Temple Yesterday. UPDATE: Everyone is here, except for Boyd and Brit's bags. Were still hoping. We are all excited to go to the Lukla and the Khumbu region.

JSM



v

Kathmandu

This is a very long story that I have to give you the short version. Last night in Hong Kong, we were able to secure bookings through Bangkok for 12 of us. That left yours truly out, they were able to get me straight to Kathmandu by myself right then. Well in the end they were able to get first 9 then 6 and finally 5 of us out on that flight. Boyd, Kit, Terry, Brit, and I were able to get to Kathmandu. And here we sit. The plan for the rest of the group was to leave for Bangkok this morning, and then on to Kathmandu by 8pm tonight. We can only hope that will be the reality. To top all of it off Brit and Boyd's luggage did not make it. The five of us are on our way out to see Kathmandu. Kit and I were talking that the plane ride from on Nepal Airlines reminded us of a 3rd world bus ride, it was interesting to say the least. We also met with Tsedo this morning and if the others get here tonight or the next day were should be able to stay on our original schedule with a few omissions here in Kathmandu. I will post when I know more.
JSM

Hong Kong

Today we spent the day in Hong Kong.  We all enjoyed seeing the city.  For the most part is clean and we felt very safe.  That being said were are all anxious to get to Kathmandu.  We should know by 4:30pm our time when we will make it.  We may have to split up and some of us go tonight and the rest of us tommorrow.  The pictures are of the market in Hong Kong, it was crowded but fun to see the live fish markets and all the fresh produce.  But for the most part we walked around Hong Kong.  Some of us had ice cream from hagendaz and others bought watches.

Tuesday Morning in Hong Kong

When we arrived last night in Hong Kong we were greeted by an employee of China Airlines. We were told that we had missed our connection to Guangzhou and Kathmandu. So they put us up for the night here in Hong Kong in what I am sure will be the nicest hotel of your trip. We were also told that we will have to go on standby tonight to Kathmandu. Good news is we can spend the day here in Hong Kong. Bad news is we will be another day late getting to Kathmandu. There is also the possibility that we may not make it to Kathmandu until Wednesday night. Well we are off to see the sights of Hong Kong. I will post when we know more.
JSM

Taipei

We are in Taipei waiting for our plane to Hong Kong. It is about 8pm here and it is dark, so we can't see what it looks like or if there is any damage from the taiphoon. As a
result of the taiphoon we have missed all our connections, however
China Airlines has been great to work with, they had our boarding
passes waiting for us. We should leave Taipei at 9:15 pm. I think we
are all a little tired because we didn't get to sleep much in the last
24 hours. We are now off to Hong Kong and where ever the next
internet connection is.

On our way to Taipei

We are finally at the gate. It looks like we will be on our way. The plane is at the gate, and there are no 'delayed' messages next to our flight. Hopefully we will make it to Kathmandu after all the delays and canceled flights.

Flight Delay

We are sitting here in San Francisco because our flight has been delayed. There is a Typhoon that is over Taipai. The flight has been delayed by 12 hours. China Airlines has told us that there are not any rooms available nearby. They may be able to get us a room in the East Bay. It would be nice to sleep a little and have shower.