Tuesday 29 December 2009

BuildAfrica TrekEverest.....

Dr Nizar Ali Mhani

On the 3rd of November, 2009, some colleagues and I embarked on a 15 day hike to Everest Base Camp - 5656m above sea level





We did this for BuildAfrica, raising over £2000 and counting. BuildAfrica is a charity involved with building schools and communities for some of the most impoverished parts of the continent....

This is my photo blog.............



DAY ONE.........


Day one. A late arrival into Kathmandu and some dinner before an early night.......

(click the photos to enlarge)


DAY TWO..........



Day two involved an early start at Kathmandu and a crazy flight to Lukla, our start point, where we met our guide and porters and started on our 15 day trek. We ended up in the village of Phakding for our first nights stop and spent the rest of the day chilling by the river ......



The chaos of check in at Kathmandu....


Kathmandu airport....


A nervous Ffion waits for the flight.


Our plane........!

An excited Chan waits for take off!





Lukla!





My Team....

Tek, our guide, and Cadi... probably discussing Nepali jurisprudence!!?!


The group...

A well needed breather!


Yak? No, just a regular cow!!


The river ... by our lodge in Phakding!














Phakding........

DAY THREE .......



Phakding village to the first acclimatisation point and Sherpa capital - Namche Bazaar


The porters make a start with all of Cadi's "kit".......








Prayer flags.....









Apparently a "sacred hidden valley" that's "world renowned" !!?






Sagarmartha National Park
Tek, Cadi and Ffion












The Bazaar at night!!


DAY FOUR........


Day four was our rest day to explore Namche Bazaar and to acclimatise to the altitude.
Spent the day exploring a local monastery, Sherpa art galleries, the market and , of course, our first sight of Everest in the distance.


View from our lodge.....



School holiday.... kids playing football


The view across Khumbu

Mount Everest with the whisp of snow coming off the summit which is constantly battered by the jet stream.






From left: Lhotsu our porter, Ffion, Kumar our other porter, Tek Bhadur our guide, Cadi.

Bhuddist Stupa


A Tibetan market trader at the Bazaar

Tibeten market. The traders walk for 4 days across the mountains from Tibet to sell their goods at Namche.


Our lodge...

Plenty to write home about...


Ffion chilling




Yak!









Monk School!!




Tired and starting to feel the altitude!