Everest Base Camp Trek, Day 0: Back to Kathmandu

Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung

Mount Everest, it was called "Peak XV" when it haven't being identify as the highest mountian in the wourld. EBC, Everest Base Camp, there are currently 2 base camps. North bace camp is located at Tibet, China at elevation 5150 meters, able to access by Jeep. Where south base camp is located at Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal at elevation 5364 meters, there is no road, can only be access by trekking or helicopter. This round in Nepal is to trek to Peak XV Base Camp, though did not dreaming years about it, heard about this place only about 2 years ago, the determination to come to this place was only about 3 mounths. Though knowing that Mount Everest can't be seen from the base camp, but still like others, just want to set the feet on Khumbu Glacier, get a glimpse of the icefall and serac.



Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung

19-Oct-2012, decided to depart to airport and spend a night over there, not only avoided to wake up 3, 4am in the morning, but still able to save the money for the taxi, though the flight is tomorrow morning 8:55am. Prepared for 3 months, finally departed to airport with the backpacks to night, a big backpack on my back, small one at the front, still there is one bag for camera on my hand. Not sure whether is the backpacks or the excitement on the face has cought people attention, a westerner sitting at the side on KLIA Transit eyes on the 18kg backpack and ask "Going somewhere?", then started a conversation. He said he has been to Nepal for Annapurna Circuit 20 years ago, and he would like to bring his son, a ten-plus years old boy sat beside him, and revisit Nepal one day. His son asked him how big is Himalaya? How beautiful is it? The father said, I can't describe it, you have to be there and see it with your own eyes.

Tonight, found a place at the food court of the 4th floor of KLIA, WiFi is available here, the 1st thing to do is to inform few of my friends "in airport now, tomorrow morning flight". People were busy in KLIA before 12am, right below the food court is the arriving hall of international flight, people were call the name of their guest. It's became quiet after 1am, the security guard in the airport not only didn't stop people from sleeping at the food court, but sleep togather at one of the corner. It's difficult to sleep without bed, occationally open eyes to check are the bags still around, went to toilet to brush at about 5am, then went to 5th floor to check whether the check-in counter has open. It seems has been opened for quite sometime, went to McDonald's after checked in the big backpack, then shop for Whisky that promised the tour agent to get him one. Though he was making joke about this while chatting on Facebook, but since it is Dashain festival in Nepal now, a Black Label would be a nice gift for the festival. Every year, Dashain and Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Malaysia fall on the same period, but in Nepal, people would celebrate until the night of full moon, where else for Nine Emperor Gods Festival will only be celebrated for 9 days. The biggest difference between these 2 festival is that during Dashain, people in Nepal will sacrifice thousand of livestock, but for Nine Emperor Gods Festival, Chinese in Malaysia will take only vegetarian for nine days. Dashain is a big festival in Nepal, school holiday will be until the end of Tihar festival, which is about a month. Tihar festival is the Deepavali festival in Nepal, they will celebrate for 5 days, thus Dashain and Tihar is also the festival where Nepali family members will gathered around to celebrate, this year the festivals fall on the busiest tourism month of October, it is lively in Kathmandu.

This time flying with Malaysia Airlines, it is full. Compare with last year in Nepal Airlines, more are tourist than those Nepali who flying home after working years in Malaysia. The breakfast on Malaysia Airlines is not as good as the Biryani Rice on Nepal Airlines, there are only 2 washroom in the economy class, one have to queue for minutes for it. Booked the window side seat at the right hand side with RM20 extra pay, because one can see Himalaya when the flight pass by Himalayan range. 



Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung

On the left, the pitched roof shape mountain is Peak XV, right in front of her is the long east-west ridge of Nuptse with seven peaks, and Lhotse is on their right. Mount Makalu is on the right of the picture, world 1st, 4th, and 5th highest mountain are here.

Himalaya appear after 4 hours the flight take off, just realized that it is possible to see Peak XV from the flight. Peak XV, will be at your foot a week later, hope everything goes well.

20-Oct-2012 11:25am Nepal Time
Managed to talk two Chinese sitting beside, they are also Johorian, also work in IT field, but now they are Singapore resistance. They've been trek in Langtang last year, and now they are going to ABC (Annapurna Base Camp), they asked the cost to EBC and felt that they are paying too much for their trek, but they are hiring a Jeep to Pokhara, of course it would be much expensive, but the difference between the price could allow them to take domestic flight. They said taking bus in Nepal is very dangerous, hence they hiring a Jeep, but the route to Pokhara is unlike going to Syabru Besi, taking bus is not risky, they don't really need to hire a Jeep. Thought that it wouldn't be many people applying VISA on arrival at the airport like last year, surprisingly, there are already long queueing at the counter. But for those who already have VISA were queueing there too, the progress for both counter are about the same.

Taking the Whisky and photo album of last year Jomsom Muktinath Trek for tour agency's boss, and also the flee jacket that bought for Sushil, then walk to the office of tour agency to meet the boss - Babu. After paying the tour fees, Babu asked Sushil to arrange a Welcome Dinner, it is weird to have dinner at 3pm, then followed Sushil to Electric Pagoda Bar & Cafe and ordered a spaghetti. Walk around in Thamel after the meal, changed RM800 * 27 rupees, bought a silk liner, wool hat, and Diamox then sleep after a shower, it's about 6, 7pm by that time. 

20-Oct-2012 17:15pm Nepal Time
Beautiful Lokta paper lantern, Lokta Paper or Nepali Paper, is a Nepali hand made paper. But I didn't buy one for my self.


Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung