Everest Trek Day 4

Its 4:45 pm and I feel like it has been a long and great day already.

After totally wiping the battery on the tablet last night reading in bed, I had no alarm to wake me, but I woke at 5:10 anyhow and quickly headed up the hill to the viewing area. I was the only one there for ages. And if yesterday was perfect, then today no word in the English language affords describing the view and the weather. I met a Nepalese who said it was so unusual to have weather like this at this time of year. Thank you Lord I echo. This time armed with a full battery in the camera I snapped off dozens of photos and a couple of panoramic sweeps using the video function.

With the exception of a small amount of cloud in front of Lotche there wasn't a cloud to be seen and none coming for a while either. So I hurried back for breakfast so we could leave just after seven. We headed up and over the rise that divides Namche  from the villages of Khumjung and Khunde. As we hit the top we had spectacular views of Taboche, Everest, Lotche, Ama Dablam, Kangtega, Thamserku, Kusum Khangkaru and many more.

We stopped at the highest hotel in the world, the Everest View Hotel, and took a lot more pics. Everest clouded over and that was the last we saw of her today. We climbed to a height of 3880 metres which is higher than the top of Mt Cook.

We descended to the amazing village of Khumjung where we are staying.  It is the village where Hilary and many others have invested a lot in helping the Sherpa people of Nepal. It is laid out in an amazing maze of stone walls portioning off little plots for potatoes, hay, buckwheat and other crops. It is harvest season and people are out working hard in the fields.

The weather remained fine all day. After lunch and a shower (48 hours since the last one) I had a short rest and then we set off to Khunde to visit the Hilary hospital. It services about 8000 Nepalese living 1-2 days walk away as well as many trekkers. Foreigners pay $50 plus medicine costs and this helps fund the hospital. Many other funds come from NZ, Canada and other beneficiaries.

The hospital gives tours every day except Saturday. Today is a Saturday. :-(
The next stop was the Hilary school, also being a Saturday I couldnt talk to any teachers but we wandered around the grounds none the less.

Along the way an old lady talked animatedly to us, well to my guide. She had no teeth but a cool smile and stuck her tongue out as a smile goodbye. My type of old lady :-)

As I type the clouds are now rolling in and I can't even see the other side of the valley any more. Tomorrow we head to Tengboche which is as far as I go before turning round and heading back.
I'm not sure if seeing Everest has crossed one thing off my bucket list, or merely whetted my appetite for more.