"""""" Namche """""""

Many steps, suspension bridges and teas later, we excitedly walk through the front gates of Namche Bazar and wearily spin the prayer wheels. This place is at 3450m and I for one just want to sit down for a while and be still. I just need take some time to take in and not just pass the scenery. We spent two nights here to acclimatize. Unfortunately, as we are here midweek we missed the weekend market. Despite our unfortunate timing, there are lots of stalls with colorful wares lining the main street. The range is from toilet paper through socks, scarves, prayer flags to hiking gear. The trick to getting good hiking gear is to be able to find the real item - so many are imitations, now if you get the real item for an imitation price then you've got a bargain. But the locals are onto us. While you haggle they also exchange a few words with the merchant up the street whom also happens to be where you last were. Funny that. So I suspect they make sure they don't undercut them selves. Well good luck to them, after all this is their living and nobody can say that they have it easy. There's even a pool hall and bar. Guys have a go at the pool but on second thoughts the bar is relegated for the return trip. At the guest house we get our rooms which for some reason are on the top floor. Must have been that peanut butter incident. Just climbing up there is agony on the legs. I mean this is three steep flights of stairs. As is the tradition in Nepalese houses, the doorways are built small and low. Alex just climbed up dropped his pack and on his way out almost knocked himself out by walking straight into a doorway and headbutting the top of the frame. He hit it so hard his body continued forward and knocked him self flat on his back. It was so loud it sounded like he used a bit of 4x2 wood. Ouch, but as the real trooper that he is, he gets up and after a whinge is getting on with it. Albeit rubbing his forehead... There is a returning party at the guest house celebrating their trip, which from memory was cut short at Gorek Shep due to heavy snow falls. Still, that is a respectable height to attain and especially so in wind and heavy snow. Ron, our guide, tells us to buy waterproof gaiters and thick down jackets as the news of heavy snow is not so good. We set out to find some gear and bounce into David the Dimox Doc and sometime later Sonne whom is trying to find a good torch for next to nothing. (I tried). On the other hand David is trying to complete this trip on the smell of an oily rag and Dimox sales (and commissions perhaps). He did really well and explained the ins and outs to us all at some point in time. On our "rest" day we visit the lookout point high above the township and oooh and ahhh at the fantastic views of Nuptse (just to the right of Everest). Unfortunately Everest eludes us as it's peak is obscured by a patch of cloud which despite out patience refuses to go. After many photos and much waiting we visit the adjacent museum. It is absolutely chock of information on previous expeditions. Hillary and Tseng feature prominently as does early expedition equipment and flora and fauna. Another glance at Everest and the peak is still hiding so we make our way down to Namche. We returned by a slightly different path, taking us past the local monastery but I'll save that for another post. ------------------------------------ P.S. Some of these images were shot by members of our group, Alex, Amy & Sonne - Thank You P.P.S. Alex introduced a new concept for Namche. According to him it should be said with both hands up with palm facing forward slightly moving from side to side Hawaiian style in synch with you saying Namche like you would on Love Boat. Don't ask me, it was a drinking game.... Thanks Alex.