On Toilet Paper and Other Issues

You don't have to have a map or altimeter. You know you have reached and surpassed 5000m when the price of the toilet paper roll has gone up to 4USD.

The Everest trek trails are the dustiest trails I've ever walked on. Now that I'm done with these trails I think my camera is ready for the desert. All possible holes and orifices are by now clogged and filled up with dust and sand. Nothing more to worry about.

I don't think yaks are particularly intelligent animals. Their most amazing skill - I think - is energy preservation. They would hardly move unless yelled at, hit by stones or kicked. They are quite shy, I would say, and don't like cameras.
They are extremely useful though as they are perfectly adapted to high altitude conditions. They carry huge loads, provide milk, meat and wool. What else to ask for?

I don't think I've ever had legs like this before :-) Life without mirrors - what a blessing!

Some people are fearless. I must think back of the Japanese women that made it up Kala Patthar hand-held by their guides. The porters carried their expensive cameras and tripods. Once up there they had to scramble up the last 6 meters of rock to the very top for the summit pictures.
If I depended on somebody to take me by hand to go anywhere I'd be scared.

Today I bought the heaviest and cheapest 2 kg of oranges (30Rs/kg). You see, the oranges for tourists are much lighter and much more expensive (100-150Rs/kg). The ones for the locals are heavy and cheap. It's all proportional to the personal income. Nonetheless, the most expensive orange I acquired on the Everest trek for 40Rs/piece.

I'm back in Kathmandu fighting a nasty cold. My nose-sores have upgraded to wounds but I hope to get them under control. Otherwise I'll put them to freeze in Tibet :-)

Last, but not least, I'm working on posts (please look back/down for Annapurna trek). I've also added a few pictures to the Pokhara and Kathmandu albums. There's a new album Sarangkot.