Friday 26th March 2010 - Acclimatising in Namche, rest day?

Friday 26th March 2010 - Acclimatising in Namche, rest day?

Today has been dubbed a rest day on my travel documents. Perhaps they meant "not as long a day as a walking day" but it is certainly not a rest day. Like yesterday we are woken at 07.00am but I have been bright eyed since 06.00am. The major benefit today is that we do not have to pack a rucksack. I have learned to take pleasure in such small mercies. I try to take as heavy a day pack as I can today though. I will have to carry one tomorrow so my logic is to carry a heavier one today making tomorrow a little easier. I load up three liters of water along with all my rain gear, first aid kit, camera, spare batteries etc. until the bag is wedged. Things are starting to look up too, I manage to have my first proper toilet visit in days and I load up on calories and carbohydrates for breakfast. Porridge, toast and coffee. I am beginning to enjoy this trip again.

I feel great today and as we start walking I feel like my energy levels have doubled since yesterday. I try to go at a slow pace as advised but when you feel so rejuvenated the temptation to go for it and plough on is so strong. I get my first view of a Yak today, I have read so much about them before coming here and its nice to finally rub noses with one. We are only walking for about fifteen minutes when we come to our first destination for the day, The Sherpa Cultural Museum and the Military barracks. From here we were meant to get our first views of Mt. Everest but alas it was not to be. Mt. Everest only reveals itself to those who deserve it and it seems we have not yet earned that honour. From here we walked to Syangboche Panorama Hotel at approximately 3800m, the ground up was quite steep in places and took about ninety minutes to ascend. Again we were meant to see Mt. Everest from here but as before cloud scuppered our efforts. We did however manage to see Ama Dablam & Lhotse which in themselves are more impressive mountains visually, but they are not Everest. I cannot wait to see it for the first time but I will have to wait for the gods to allow it. Lhotse at 8516m is the world's 4th highest mountain and an impressive peak.

The walk back to Namche takes longer than expected but is easy ground to cover, downhill all the way. When I get back to the lodge for lunch I order garlic soup and some potato & mushroom Momo, a type of dumpling native to the Himalayas. I have my appetite back again and I love it. The food here has been excellent so far, hot and spicy which is just the way I like it. The garlic soup is purely medicinal but the Momo makes up for it. We meet two solo trekkers also staying in our lodge and we get chatting. This is something I love about this holiday, you get to meet people who have similar interests yet are from all over the world. Michael is from the US and Liz is from the UK but has been travelling all over Europe for the last few months. Between them they are good fun and have some excellent stories.

I head out after lunch to my internet cafe and check in on emails from home. You never know if you will have internet connection up higher on the mountains so I try to use it as often as I can to catch up on the news from home. Reading emails of how Laura is doing brings a smile to my face. We had a teary farewell in Dublin and I know she misses me as much as I her. Its only 3.30pm and most of the gang are sleeping. I am feeling great so I am not one bit tired. I take the chance while its quiet to have another shower, then head down to the restaurant where I get chatting to some other trekkers. Myself, Jamie, Kris and Scott head out for a walk around Namche. We stock up on energy food, glucose biscuits, Mars bars etc. The man who owns the store must have loved us afterwards. We wander into the Paradise bar & restaurant for some pool. We indulge in a couple of San Miguel and are quickly nabbed by Prackash. He laughs but says keep it at two beers only, alcohol and altitude do not go well together. The pool is free as long as you buy a drink. We just about get back to the lodge on time for dinner, Spag Bol and more garlic soup (if I get altitude sickness after all this garlic soup I will be pretty upset). After dinner we were just chatting for ages before turning in at 10.00pm for another days trekking. Onwards and upwards.