Flying out to Lukla

Katmandu; 1,235 metres; 15 celcius

We're leaving on the trek tomorrow. More shopping done today and, of course, most of it with the help of our shopping assistants. We're in Thamel, the tourist area of Katmandu, where there's an incredible variety of eating places.

For me personally, Katmandu is now the current favourite South Asian city. Last year I was in Bombay and New Delhi but neither of those cities can beat Katmandu for picturesqueness, atmosphere, and places to go out to.

I wouldn't mind staying here for a few months or even an year.

Yesterday Shaaxu told Muha when he rang her that Hilath went on stage with Abhijeet. Shaaxu herself had earlier said she wouldn't bother going to the show because Abhijeet looked like a guard at the resort she worked in.

Meanwhile Shanu yesterday commented on what an emotional person Hilath was. "I don't know him that well", she admitted, adding, "I don't know him at all."

Muha and I now want to go to Tibet when we finish the Everest Trek, but we need to get money out here. Muha reckons we should do Tibet while we're out here, so we're trying to get the money sent here.

Shopping assistants

Katmandu; 1,235 metres; approx. 19 celcius

We were helped enourmously today by Shanu and her friends in our shopping for warm clothing. They bargained and made sure we got good deals and quality stuff. They are medical students here in Katmandu and if their medical skills are as good as their shopping skills, the health of the Maldives has a bright future.

Later on, they treated us to a steak lunch on a roof top where we could see the hills around Katmandu and a few snow peaks.

In Katmandu

Katmandu 1,234 metres; 28 celcius

Muha and I are well resting after travelling for 4 days by train and bus a distance of about 4,000 kilometres.

Crossing the border was interesting: the Indian side was a bit grubby because they couldnt understand why didn't have visas stamped on our passport, but the Nepalese side was very friendly and welcoming.

In North India we saw a village called Bijgirsharif, so Sharif will be pleased to hear that. In Gorakphur we went to our hotel in a jeep called Shazia which reminded Muha of Shaz (normally we don't remember Maldivians or Maldives).

The scenery on the way from the border to Katmandu was breathtaking, and Muha said even this bus trip was worth it. Muha is also enjoying the winter chill, he now needs it even when he's having his dinner, so we have to sit out in the cold to eat.

One of the best bits of the trip was stopping at a roadside foodstall and eating freshly roasted maize. They also sold alchoholic beverages along with horlicks, chips, and crisps.

Towards sunset, yesterday, the light was great, the misty hills fading into different shades of grey.

Temperatures dropped to 13 celcius during the night, but we're enjoying the cold, and so far there hasn't been any problem due to it.

We hope to start our trek on the 14th.

This is a short post, so we're not planning to insult our friends this time.

The journey begins

Trivandrum, 10metres, 34celcius.

I'm back at Trivandrum in less than an year. Bit cloudy today and, towards evening a haze hung in the air. We got caught in the rush hour and it never ceases to amaze me that the millions of people milling about on the roads, not to mention the buses and the rickshaws suggest an order of sorts that is lacking on the streets of Male. Here, everyone seems busy, to have a sense of purpose.

We've got train tickets to Gorakhpur, near the border with Nepal. It takes three days to get there and we're lucky to have got a contact in Trivandrum prior to our arrival. We have a flight to catch in Nepal on 14 November and the less time we spend in India the better. Moreover, winter is fast setting in in Nepal---it's already 5 degrees celcius in Lukla, where we start the trek.

Earlier today Narco was very helpful, transporting me on my last minute errands providing upbeat anacdotes on the way and, finally, dropping me off at the airport ferry.

Hilath and Saffah (Saffalhey as he was known in a previous post) came to the airport to see us off. Muha said he thought they were more emotional than we were about our departure. But Saffalhey said he'd only come for Muha's promised tea which, sadly, didn't materialise because there really wasn't enough time.

On the way to the airport, Hilath was saying surfboard surfers like Shaaxu (known as Shaaziyya in an earlier post) wouldn't have as nice ankles as bodysurf surfers like himself (to verify, see hilath's ankles in previous post---he's on the left with a suspicious looking bottle).

Although Hilath and Saffah was gossiping all the time they were at the airport, it was nice of them to take the trouble to come.

Muha's bag is just under 10kg, but I'm over a few kilos over our 10kg-limit. We'll have to dump some of our stuff in Katmandu before we head off on the trek.

Off to Trivandrum

Location: Male; Altitude: 0 metres; Temperature:33 Celcius

That's Hilath and Vishu in Hulhumale breaking fast with us after walking round it.

The nice Shaaxu (also known as Shaaziyya) gave Muha and me a chocolate cake as a going away present. Of course, she ate most of it herself, but it's the thought that counts, so she is forgiven.

We're packed and ready, but I've still got a few last minute work stuff to sort out.

Yesterday we were on Hulhumale for the last training, and Hilath, Eagan and Shareef joined us. I think it was the best day yet and the benefits of the training were evident.

This is a short post really, just to say goodbye to all our friends in the Maldives, and to thank them for supporting us in their own ways.

5 more days...

In 5 days, we'll be off. Everything seems to be going well: the training, the planning, and the various preparations.

However, it should be said that the behaviour of some of the people who're not going to Nepal, leaves much to be desired. Last night, a former life-guard colleague Ali/Abbas, rightly called Elvis "Findi Elvis".

We caught Elvis (in the picture) on Hulhumale' with his "kite". As Muha remarked, some of us will spend their entire life at sea-level on a little board between Hulhumale and Club Med. Sad, really.

It seems Elvis, Shaaziya and Saffalhey are more than a little pissed off with us for taking action to achieve our Himalayan dreams, and are in close contact with each other to joke about our trip. Meanwhile, Saffalhey reportedly told Shaaziyya that Muha and I sabotaged our previously planned expedition to sneak off by ourselves this year.

Not that this bothers us in the least; any publicity is good publicity, especially as I might now take my video camera along, to film the expedition. Who knows, we might end up with a documentary starring Muha and entitled "A Maldivian on a Mountain". Any buyers?

It's not the aim of this blog to stir trouble, but Elvis and co should be supporting us as we approach the end of our training. A cheesecake costs 50 Rufiyaa which, divided among them, would be just over 15 Rufiyaa each. Of course if they expect to share it, they'll have to buy two!

Meanwhile, not a word from Thumma. This is worse than being made fun of.

Other friends have been more encouraging. Eagan, Hilath, Sharif, and even Vishu have at different times joined in our training.

We've got two great backpacks, loaned to us by a friend of Muha's. We've also got ourselves warm clothing, thanks to Shareef and Narco. Incidently, Shareef claims the photo in the first post was taken by him. This is not my recollection; I think I took the image on his Mavica. It's true that Shareef did take a picture, but his had Muha on the rock (Muha was a model back then and not the photographer he is now). To complicate things further, Muha has also been hinting that neither Shareef nor me, but HE took the picture!

Back to the trek, we're in the final stages of preparation. All we need to do now is pack our cameras, bags, and the medical kit.