Monjo men

Hey everybody, well yesterday we did the big walk from
Monjo to Namche. The walk starts with a fairly easy trek for about 1.5 hours or so then we hit the big hill. The biggest issue with walking up hill at altitude is walking at a slow steady pace. It doesnt take much to over exert and before you know it you are puffing with this horrible feeling that you just cant get enough oxygen..
Our pulse rates are up at about 130 and even at rest remain around 95 / 100. Anyway, after at least 2 hrs up we were getting close.. the jopkoy cows with horns go up amazing terrain with 60kgs on thier backs.
Namche is a cool town / heaps of stalls to peruse and the lodge is clean and the food is ok. I have been living on variations of fried rice, omellettess and hot chips. So far Herwin and i have avoided the dreaded trots with lots of hand sanitising..
Yesterday we also came across the worlds most disgusting squat toilet.. high on top of a hill in an old block building was this thing..words can not describe it. We are still undecided wether to post a piccy of it..
Today we are going for another 6/7 hr stroll up to check out the views of Everest and get some more altitude training.

My impressions so far are of a very friendly and willing people living in incredibly basic conditions which of course they find normal. The scenery is HUGE. you just cant capture it on film. There have been some physical challenges so far but the altitude is the big thing, being  puffed, slight headaches, tiredness from only getting 5 hrs sleep a night or so. The Diamox we are taking for this makes me pee twice through the night, and big ones too.. Ive been practising using the pee bottle in bed and havent had any failures yet but Herwin had a funny story to tell this morning... We are having a great time, lots of laughs over our typical basic bloke issues / read farting burping etc.

Yesterday we treked a little higher for a view of Everest and came across the worlds worst squat toilet. I rivals even Scotlands worst toilet from the movie train spotting. Words fail us so only a picture can truely show what we mean.........
To all of you at home we are thinking of you / love you lots..

Now the journey has taken us deep into the heart of StewGer habitat. Airport security was a little dubious in exactly what was being searched for when hands patted down parts which it was hard to determine how a dangerous device could be pack in those regions!!!!! We've all subsequently put in job applications for security positions with the Nepalese airport police. Flying a seriously dodgey route slotting between the tightly layered cloud with the odd mountain goat appearing above us. The landing at Lukla, an airstrip which holds any winter Olympic ski jumper to shame, can only be experienced in the flesh. The arrival was necessarily firm as the rock face at the end gives a little urgency to stop in time. 6 hours of trekking through some of the most amazing scenery over vast swing bridges, all the while avoiding yak trains and German tourists. Although Al with his day trekking attire was nick named Gunther for his Teutonic appearance.
Finally at the Guest House in Monjo despite continuous searching no further sightings of the beast were confirmed. More to follow.

Searching, Shopping and Sweating in Kathmandu

 So the intrepid search for the elusive StewGer continues. A false lead took us to Singapore. But we found that reports had mis-identified an obnoxious South American Rodent as the culprit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZLBY3lYtsQ
After the excitement, a sojourn to Raffles bar for a Singapore slinger was the order.

So further investigations have taken us to the foothills  of the Himalayas to the very heart of mystery and intrigue, Kathmandu.

Of course no trip would be complete without the obligatory rickshaw race. After a collisions, cacophonous horns and corrupt practices (including bribery of drivers, to taking over control of the power train) the winners come to a screeching halt outside the hotel.StewGers are rumored to possibly be found lurking in the depths of hotel pools, so a search was mounted with a specialised synchonised dive team. The practice only being perfected with the imbibing of Everest summit beer

Ed gets a flash on the spot shoe repair and is

The local police holding cell could do with a spot of redecorating, and is certainly missing the underfloor heating option.

Mike has been totally busted mixing his drinks. By choosing lemonade and beer he has lost all creditability as a hardened mountain guide.

Retail therapy is still pursued with vigor and zeal before total withdrawal for 14days  

T minus-1 Sleep

Well it seems like it's been a small lifetime since the trip went live, but here we are the night before we head off. The team of intrepid journiers meets up tomorrow and we fly to Singapore for gin and tonic at Raffles just to set the tone for our quest of discovery.

No more worrying whether all the gear is here, just time to focus on the trip.
Wish us well.

StewGers sighted in Roto-Vegas

"Follow in the steps of Tenz and Hillary"

My that's a large volcanic column

Sunrise over the Pinnacles