8th April 2008

We were at the risk of beginning to sound like one of those 2nd World War SOS telegraphic machines...arrived at lukla airport stop...going onto Monjo stop...

Suddenly with some goading from Rajan and the youngest team member, Paribesh picking up energy we are getting more information through the dispatches.

Ram Narayan Raj his wife in a "doko" (traditional basket) is on his way from Sanasa to their village in Solu - a good seven days' walk. His wife has been in the hospital for a week, suffering from severe headache, constant vomiting, loss of appetite and is severely dehydrated. The team advises the man to give her "noon, chini, pani" (oral rehydration solution of salt, sugar and water).

A break in the journey to take in the sight of the Dudh Koshi River and Bhote Khosi River confluencing at Larje Dobhan.

At Jorsalle, the ICIMOD tough guys pose for a photo in front of the gate marking the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, dispatched by Birendra - but would not recommend the photographer for another shot...'

People use dzopkyo (male crossbreed between a yak and a cow) as a means to transport goods and other materials to Namche and beyond.

After a grueling 4 hours of steep climb from Monju (remember the hearts are still getting into the mode of pumping faster, with all the Kathmandu diet cholesterol clogs) Research Team 1 was greeted by the "grinning welcome committee" of two kids from Namche? must have been the team's state of mind after the climb, reflected in the dispatch: (welcomed) "with sheer jubilation and a little tease."

At Namche Bazar, the great minds meet - Dawa Steven Sherpa, his team and Alton Byers, the climbing team's technical coordinator Pertemba Sherpa (read more about him in www.EverestHistory.com) and of course the ICIMOD tough guys at the Danfe Lodge, sipping "a warm cup of tea at the misty camp site", note that some romanticism is creeping in ...perhaps it's the altitude

Dawa must have been relieved to meet the team as upon arrival at Phakding he was frantically heard, asking Bobby of Asian Trekking over the mobile "Where is the ICIMOD team?" It turns out Dawa had not heard about the cancelled Lukla flight as he got in on the first flight and had headed down to Phakding.