Nam he Bazaar, Nepal; Wednesday, 19 Oct

We have arrived this afternoon at Namche Bazaar, the commercial crossroads of this Khumbu region, following a seven hour trek from Phakding. We will lodge tonight at Hotel Tibet, perched on the central slope of Namche, directly above its bustling trade center, at an elevation of 11,200', nearly the same as the summit of Mt. Hood.

I sit now in the hotel's dining room, rapidly filling with hungry travelers, eager to place their orders for Dahl Bhat (rice and lentils) or mo mo's (pot stickers). The fire is lit to ward off the gathering chill of the approaching night. It is cloudy now, but we hope for clear skies in the morning for our very first views of Thomserku, Ama Dablam and, of course, Mt. Everest.

It is time to eat, and to enjoy the camaraderie of this international group; from where I sit I hear French, German and Australian accents, but right next to me, not 10' away, sit a group from Seattle.

It is truly a small world.

Namaste,
Jim Ronning