Mt Everest from the mountain flight this morning

More Himalaya pictures from below  

I took my early morming flight to see the Himalayas..impressive for sure...now 9 hours till I head to the airport to start the long "trek" home.

We had our farewell dinner tonight at an authentic Nelalese restaraunt..a great variety of foods were  put before us. Also there were numerous dances representing the culture of Nepal.....see the various pictures of the evening with guide Roj and fellow trekker Maiju.

I am amazed at the amount of physical difficulties incurred during this Everest Base Camp trek...with no or little sleep, a stomach bug, and high blood pressure/pulse, I knew the risks were too much..infact, cost me two days in the hospital.  Others incurred a lung infection, resulting in two days in the hospital after being helicoptered out, a broken/sprained ankle resulting in a flight out and casting....a flight out due to breathing difficulties. .....others who made it, some have respiratory difficulties after coming back down......and there are others who have no residual effects.

If I were to do it again..don't think I will...I would come much earlier,  to rest prior to the trek and adjust for being half way around the world...to sleep a lot...take meds ahead of time for possible digestive system bugs.....consider taking Diamox, which enables the blood to carry more oxygen..

Or I could just stay on level ground.,...

Some more pics from today described below

What a day...first we went shopping...Maiju from London...Tony from Australia and Dave from Oregon...

It was serious business..lot of bargaining and combining purchases to lower the price further...I got some prayer flags and a very nice scarf for my sweetie.

Then..after a break...we took a cab to Swoyambhu...west of town...a Buddhist temple...also called the Monkey Temple...of course.....being Saturday...the place was packed.

Pictures covet the activities..we are back at the hotel...Maiju and I have the farewell dinner tonight with Roj, our guide and Prem, owner of the company.