Wow, I really liked trying Nepali food. So many different flavor combinations, and each one my stomach responded to uniquely. Apparently virus stew was the last straw. In Dingboche my stomach said it had had enough. So, after not keeping any food down two days later, I called off the Island Peak attempt. It was either a three day's walk (for a healthy person) to Lukla plus flight out or a $8k helicopter ride to the KTM hospital if conditions worsened. Not sure how, but Phurba was able to get me to Lukla alive and walking, although I do need to give a shout out to the Spanish doctor who saw me yakking and gave me those awesome pills. Don't know what they were, but they got me to civilization. I'm better now, but wow, there were moments where I wondered if there could be any less any me than 5 min before...
Of course the sick time did allow me to set a few new hiking records:
- Most yaks in a hike
- Most breaks in a day
- Shortest time between breaks (My personal best here was taking a break immediately after taking a break. Only managed to stand up before sitting back down).
- And my favorite - taking a break on a downhill. Who knew that could be taxing
Best surprise during sickness:
Phurba look of disbelief when I ordered a Sprite and Snicker's bar (Sneaker Bar on the menu) for lunch on a long day. Could also have been the best meal ever, if I hadn't already designated the Sour Cream Pringles and bottled water as that the night before. That signaled the end of my Nepali food experiment on the hike. Processed, western food from then on out.
Still trying to post pics... Seems the Internet can't work well enough here to upload files....
So, in the days I have b'n the scheduled end of my hike and the Habitat build I decided to hit Chitwan National Park for a couple days and then Pokhara.
How to describe Chitwan: They say it was the first national park in Nepal. It's 'like' a wildlife preserve and boasts the home of the Bengal tiger, Rhino, wild Asian elephants, couple kinds of crocs, monkeys, etc. Kinda makes me think of a national park in Arkansas. Think about that one for a minute. So far I've seen all but the elusive tiger. Oh the stories I can boast about this 'resort' when I get home, but I'll just say cold showers in the dark set the tone. Glad I brought the headlamp. Poor French suckers in the 'cottage' next to me. Makes me miss the Yak fired stoves and Dal Bhat in the Himalayas.
In the spirit of the holiday season, I am releasing my first single when I return:
"Dal Bhat roasting on the Yak Dung Fire"
and to replace Jingle Bells I've got ""YakCow Bells"
Foreigners (including me):
I've met my fair share on this trip and tried to be friends with all (succeeded a few times), though the generalizations are fun:
- Canadian's - No, Americans don't want people to think we are Canadian. If it means a terrorist is going to kill me, then fine, but we will not bow to the queen and say "Don't Ya Know" outside of the Dakotas
- French - STOP COMPLAINING
- Germans - cool so far. It took a few Germans to warm up to us, but the younger generations are cool and like Americans.
- Aussies - Fun. Suck at Scrabble, now matter what version of English we use
- Brits - No, I don't care that you think I am a weenie for hiring a porter and yes, I do get less vacation than you. What's that, you can't see a point to going Everest Base Camp since you can't see the mountain? Wow, I can't even respond to how that comment came out.
Fins - Sorry, just can't understand you
Russians - Put some pants on. It's not a game to see who can wear the shortest shorts with their Teva's and tanktops and high tech walkie talkies. Walk together, then you don't need those very expensive walkies.
Americans - GET OUT MORE. We don't travel enough, if at all. Did have a guy from San Fran comment that he couldn't believe someone from Georgia left the US, let alone the South, to vacation. We American's are pathetic at vacationing, period. However, to the French guy that only works 5 months per year and then has trouble coming back after his 7 month vacations, "Boo Hoo".
Dutch - Cool. I never knew the Dutch could be so tall.
Israeli - Stop being so serious and acting like you are being constantly persecuted, even amongst allys.
Irish - Nice accent
And lastly, to the Japanese: I don't know where to start here. Share the trail, hike faster, respect trail ettiquite, yes, Americans do know Japanese. When I am nice enough to say Kenichiwa, don't laugh at me and walk on. Japs do have the nicest cameras.
Largest group award: Goes to the Japanese - to the group of 70 that booked up all the hotel rooms in Gokyo and left the rest of us out in the cold. Thanks alot.
Still loving the vacation. All of this has made this the awesome trip it has been so far!
RE: Golden Corral - last time I yakked.
If you see my friend, Bob. Tell him, Hey from me!
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