JACK & VERA RETURN TO EVEREST

Ram at the Mustang Holiday Inn Kathmandu, during Tihar

Westerns preferred early morning location, Indra Chowk in Kathmandu, always something going on

Sisters applying tikka's at for Bai Tihar festival

Ell hanging out with the young offenders of Bhaktapur

La Petite Generale has purchased a new pair of questionable quality walking boots, and has reinforced the adhesive around the sunglasses because...yes, the temptation of the world's most glorious mountains have once again proved too much, and tomorrow we take a 45 minute flight to Lukla, where we start a 2 week trek to set our sights on Everest, this time from Gokyo, the next valley over from base camp and reputedly offerinng much better views. We had made plans to spend 2 weeks in the kathmandu valley, enjoying warmer climes and village life, which at the moment is particularly interesting as its harvesting time. But once we questioned ourselves about what we REALLY wanted to do, and confirmed that we could get a last minute flight...well we dont know when we will be back here and to be honest there was only one decision - s0 we will be off limits until Nov 10th, when hopefully we return with more high altitude tales of miserable trekkers, one dimensional food, stupendous views and fingers crossed walking boots still intact.

The last 2 weeks has seen us enjoying Kathmandu, its been new year here...Tihar is a great festival. On the first day, the crow is worshipped, on the 2nd its the dog, on the 3rd, its the cow and the biggest day is sister brother worship. If you dont have one, you can go to various public places, and the women administer the tikka (red dot on forehead!) to men without sisters, great stuff. Western picked up a big foreheadful of red paste with rice stuck on it.

Kathmandu has served up great food, authentic wood fired pizza and pasta, quality curries - both local style, Indian and Thai, superb cakes and coffee, all gratefully consumed after the demands of the Langtang trek. After 14 days of indulgence, tomorrow we return to a diet of potatoes/noodle soups and hot lemon drinks....bring it on.

We have hired quality cold weather gear...4 seasons sleeping bags, and down jackets. Weather should be hot high altitude sun in the day, though very very cold as soon as you put one foot in the shade, and -10 nights - the fact that none of the lodges have heating, will mean us going to bed wearing all our clothes. The beaches of Thailand back half of November will be truly appreciated! Namaste.