October 30, 2012

 Day 20.  Sanasa (11,811'/3600m) to Chumoa (~9,235'/2815m)

I had a very productive start to the day.  Washed my hair and bought some earrings and a pendant - all before 7am!  It turns out they did in fact have the earrings that I was looking for yesterday, and the matching pendant as well - 1500 rupees.  We were on the trail by 7:35am.  It took a while to find the sun, but so lovely once we were in the sunshine.  It was an easy 1.5 hours to Namche, and after some hot juice we were on our own until lunch at noon.  Helen and Steve had a bad experience with their rental gear provider; they got almost none of their deposit back and Sangye was not able to negotiate anything on their behalf.

Namche

Apparently my appetite is back.  I ate a Toblerone bar and some "butterfly cookies" at the German bakery while shopping before lunch.  I bought some slippers, a hat, and a DVD.  We were on our way again shortly after 1, and got to Chumoa about 3:45.  I had forgotten just how much uphill there had been going to Namche.  OMG; no wonder I was wiped by the time I got there!  Halfway down the hill from Namche we had our last view of Everest.  Bye-bye....  We are gradually losing the high Himalayas and into more of the interlocking big hills.  Along the way today we had to "check-out" at a couple of National Park checkpoints.  

Last sighting of Mount Everest

We are staying at the same place at Chumoa as we did on the way in.  I'm making up for lost pounds - I ate lots of cookies at tea and am now raiding the M&Ms.  I don't think the pants are going to be any looser by the time we get to Kathmandu.  

It might be shorts weather tomorrow!  Dinner was amazing - real chicken, dal bhat, potatoes, radish/carrot/tomato appie, green veggies, and cake for dessert.  Liba handed out the tips to all our guides and porters and thanked them all.  The chang (rice beer) and jumping tea (rum) started to flow, followed by much dancing until about 11:30.  Yawn!  It was a very fun evening for all.    

Sangye (L) and his beautiful granddaughter

Dawa, Dandi, Liba, Sangye, Geljen