Namche Bazar from my deck,  Mt. Everest from the high ridge plus Lhotse and Lhotse Shar in their grandeur.

After leaving Lukla and trekking to Phakding, the Kumba Region opened up spectacular views of Sherpa Villages, suspension bridges, moutain ranges and raging rivers. At the lodge in Phakding, I met many Europeans and Asians all as excited as I am. The next day we trekked together in the morning with enough breath to talk. However, in the afternoon, as we started a four hour climb straight up hill to Namche Bazar, it was all business. Many groups left us in the dust as we were moving very slowly; however, by late afternoon, one step at a time we passed some of those eager legs collapsed on the side of the trail. One of the Russians from the Photo/Journalist group was very sick, as were others who tried to ascend too quickly. To make matters worse, a storm blew in and covered us with snow, sleet, hail and rain. Fortunately, I yanked out my wonderful rain gear and trudged on. We were so happy to finally make it.

Today, we climbed up to a high ridge to see the National Park Monument surrounded by all of the high mountains. I can't believe that I am really here looking Everest, Ama Dablam and the rest of the cast. I spent hours gazing at the Kumba Region that I have read and dreamed about my whole life. I am so happy!

The flight to Lukla

Only two flights left for Lukla yesterday morning before the clouds and the winds kicked up. They have a huge sign that says we don't fly in the clounds because our clouds have mountains in them. Some people had already waited two or three days, so we really had no hope of getting out that day. However, many people left the airport, so after waiting for eight hours, suddenly we were told that there was a break in the weather and we were rushed to the plane. A & L got scared and stayed, saying they would try today, but Linda G and I rushed to the plane with the rest of the holdovers. The flight into Lukla was just like the utube pics I had watched. It takes your breath away to skim over the mountain tops, head strait towards Mt. Everest and drop down to the short runway on the mountain side. The pilots look like they just rolled out of the cradle, but they are unbelievably brave and precise. Suddenly, we were there, swept up towards our tea house by our guide. Point of interest, five minutes into the hike up the hill, we saw the light and hired a porter. The beauty here takes my breath away; it is beyond description. Hopefully I'll get a chance to send pictures later.

Leisure time at the Kathmandu Airport

Since the airport was built in Lukla, every article and book that I have read talks about waiting hours and/or days for the clouds to life in Lukla so climbers, trekkers and gear can arrive safely on the mountain side. Sure enough, I am having a taste of history. The airport is packed with people who didn't get out yesterday and have now been grounded today. We spent three hours on the tarmac before we were bused back to wait inside. We should know in an hour if there is a chance of going this afternoon or if we are headed back to the hotel for another night. My guess is we will be sleeping in a bed again tonight. Hopefull we can get out early in the morning. This is all part of the package!

During the last ten years of civil war, the Maoist destroyed bridges, burned villages and killed many people; as a result, 35,000 t0 45,000 children became orphans; moreover, misplaced villagers poured into Kathmandu by the thousands. Slums grew up virutally overnight. Europeans and Asians have generously funded many orphanges, but there are still thousands of homeless children. Today, we visited "The Umbrella Foundation" which is providing homes for hundreds of children. I was amazed at the number of young international volunteers who have moved to Nepal to take care of these children. Also, thanks to those of you who contributed clothing; they were so appreciative of the donations.

Deepak took me to a couple of local monasteries supported by Europeans and Tibetans living out of the area.  Part of the monastery is a facility where Buddhist can come for months at a time to meditate and pray.  In each village, when the second son of a Buddhist family becomes six, he is sent to the monastery to become a monk.  I can't imagine Kelly in that custom!

We hiked up the hill to see the orphange built by the South Koreans.  It houses 750 orphans who were lost or displaced during the civil war.

This quote, on the bottom of a picture, hanging in the gathering room of Indira's nonprofit organization designed to help empower women, is the perfect touch to a warm, welcoming facility.  My mind is racing to comprehend all that I learned from her and from Deepak.  Their commitment to help improve the lives of the Nepali people is evident at every turn.  Deepak and I took a two mile uphill hike to visit a local village that is being displaced by the Maoist Army; note the little girl swinging the baby in the basket while her parents till the soil that will no longer be theirs in a couple of months.

The tenacity of the Nepali people continues to amaze me.  They pull out a living in the most marginal of ways, sharing with their families and loving their children.  Reread the quote above.

Flying into Kathmandu, the clouds opened and closed on sections of the Himalayas, giving peeks of peaks.  I arrived at the hotel to find out that the German Everest Expedition had taken over our hotel room and we were moved across town.  Long story short, I am now at Shangrila, a beautiful place.  The electricity is about to go off again, so the rest of the story will have to come later.

Deepak and Indira are on their way to pick me up for a day of sightseeing.  Pictures will come this evening.