Everest Base camp: Itinerary & Tips

Everest Base Camp Trekking

The legends of George Mallory, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Tenzing Norgay surround this region. Since the 1920’s, Everest Base Camp Trekking Route takes us there that has captivated adventurous men and women, where one can explore the rich diversity of the region, breathtaking natural scenery, and unique Sherpa culture. Join the company of like-minded adventurers who share the sheer pleasure of prayer wheels, prayer flags and swinging bridges during the day. Converse with your new-found friends around dining-room fire in the evening. Discover the quaint monasteries and museums along the trekking trail.  On Everest Base Camp Trekking route, iconic Kala Patthar (5545m) provides you breathtaking scenery of the Everest region while Namche Bazaar mesmerizes you with its history, culture, and diversity.

The Everest Base Camp Trekking Route begins in Kathmandu, a city alive and full of energy. Starting with the short and scenic flight to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, the trek begins through the trail marked with diversity through unique villages including Nurning, Phakding, Benkar, Monjo, Jorsale and others. Along the way, you will find several monasteries, chortens and prayer wheels. You will cross suspension bridges clad with prayer flags. Observe the wildlife and scenery of Sagarmatha National Park. Trek along the torrential Dudh Koshi River (the Milky River) until you reach the buzzing Namche Bazaar. Namche is a true Himalayan town with interesting shops, fabulous food, stunning views, and culture. Namche Bazaar is also a traditional trading hub that paves your way further up to the ancient monasteries in Tengboche and Dingboche.

After sufficient acclimatization at lower altitude, one head for the beautiful Gorak Shep and the iconic Kala Patthar for a surreal view of the Himalayas. Kala Patthar is famous for its breathtaking view of glittering peaks including the Everest, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Pumori, Mt. Lhotse, and Mt. Changtse. Not only can you see the stunning mountains, but you will also be able to view the majestic Khumbu Glacier, the famed Khumbu Icefall, the glacial rivers, and avalanche paths. Returning back from the high Himalayas, you shall explore the authentic lifestyle of the Sherpa community and get an insider insight of the rich cultural heritage of these legendary people. End the trekking in Lukla before returning to the medieval capital city of Kathmandu.

Everest Base Camp Trekking route is basically available year round with March to May and September to December is the best time of the year for this trek. The trip  can be fixed, as we have done earlier in the following ways:

Itinerary

• Day 01:Arrival in Kathmandu (1350m/4430ft )
• Day 02: Full day in Kathmandu
• Day 03: Flight to Lukla (2828m/9279ft) 35m and trek to Phakding (2780m/9121ft) 3-4 hrs walk
• Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m/11287ft) 5-6 hrs walk
• Day 05: Rest day at Namche Bazaar
• Day 06:Trek to Tengboche (3850m/12632ft) 4-5 hrs walk
• Day 07:Trek to Dingboche (4350m/14272ft) 4-5 hrs walk
• Day 08:Rest day Dingboche
• Day 09: Trek to Lobuche (4910m/16109ft) 4-5 hrs walk
• Day 10: Trek to Gorakshep (5180m/16995ft) 3-4 hrs walk and Everest Base Camp (5364m/17600ft) 2-3 hrs walk
• Day 11: Trek to Kala patthar (5545m/18193ft) 2-3 hrs walk and to Pheriche (4280m/14042ft) 5-6 hrs walk
• Day 12:Trek to Namche bazaar (3440m/11287ft) 4-5 hrs walk
• Day 13: Trek to Lukla (2828m/9279ft) 5-6 hrs walk
• Day 14: Fly back to Kathmandu (1350m/4430ft )
• Day 15: Final departure

Hope you find the article helpful, if so, please show your love hitting a like and please share your experience and views in the comment section too.

Signing off……

___Dev

US Gun Shot: My Open Letter

My Open Letter: US Gun Shot

My Open Letter to Everybody Effected by the Tragedy, Yes, even You, too….

 

Only yesterday morning, I realized that when my better half wakes up and goes to work, she always leaves before I get to say bye to her. She’s a middle school teacher for special education children–so she always gets there early. My son is 18, finishing up his senior year. He’s busy every day, and I realized that before he goes to school, I usually don’t get to say bye to him, either. And it didn’t hit me until yesterday that 17 families, living the same busy lives that we live, in a completely different state as me, may also have not said goodbye– only to never be able to say hello again. And yes, the pot will be stirred and the flag will be drawn at half point, people will change their statuses on social media and donate to the Go Fund me pages of families who didn’t plan on burying their 15 year olds. Their father, their sister, their brother– their classmates, their friends, and their teachers…

And all I can think about is how I didn’t say bye to my wife this morning. I didn’t say goodbye to my son. That my wife is the kind of teacher that would lay on the bodies of her students to protect them. That, I don’t know if my son would know where to run or what to do if there was an active shooter in his school.

Meanwhile, arguments are on high about how schools should be dressed as prisons with guards, metal detectors, armed military and guns, for teachers to protect themselves and their children. Meanwhile, you are arguing that if we take away guns, we must take away cars too, because accidents happen every day. Meanwhile you wear your patriotism like a glove and say “NOT ME– you will never take away MY rights. Even if it means ” another man taking away my child’s life in their classroom, I. Will. Own. A. Gun.” And as we have these arguments, another person is planning the next mass shooting. Planning the destruction of another 10, 15, 20, 50 families in America.

 

Dear teachers and educators,

 

Thank you. Thank you for protecting your children. For standing with them and for being on their side. For being brave when they cannot. Thank you for using your minds to fuel their futures, for believing in every child, despite how difficult they may be. Thank you for using your bodies to shield them. For using your hands to guide them into a safe place while you guard the door and pray that you don’t need to be the only thing between them and a chunk of lead flying through the air, being triggered by the hands of one man. Thank you for embodying the bravery of a real soldier, taking on a job that you never applied for. Thank you for being not only an educator, but a protector.

 

Dear students,

 

I am so sorry. Your lives are changed forever, your minds and your hearts are permanently damaged from an event that should not happen to any child. You should not be afraid to go to school, you should not be afraid to go to the movies, you should not be afraid to be a child. No amount of thoughts and prayers will ever be able to give you back your teachers, your classmates, or rid you of trauma. Your Valentine’s day will forever be different, your outlook on life as you know it will never be the same. I am so sorry on behalf of all the adults speaking out on this event, who have no idea what it is like to be you, to see what you saw, or feel the fear you felt. I am so sorry on behalf of the political leaders who are not on your side. And most importantly, I am so sorry on behalf of every individual blaming you for this horrific event. As you clean the blood off of your shoes, and sleep at night and hear the voices of your classmate’s screaming and crying, the constant rounds of bullets being fired down hallways of your school– know that this is not normal. This does not have to be your new normal. And there are people fighting for you. And the only prayer that I have is that in your time of healing, that we will win this fight.

Dear parents,

 

You should not have to fear for your child’s life. You should not have to have these conversations. It is not a normal thing for a parent to have to bury their child. I am so sorry that you not only have to live in fear for your own life, but for your children’s lives as well. For those of you who have lost children, there are no words. Nothing that will bring them back, nothing that will change their fate or heal your pain. All we can do is ignite change and hope that your pain is not wasted. To parents who have not lost their children to gun violence, be good to those who have. Tread lightly with your words and hug your child tighter. Be thankful that you have the privilege to do so. And if you can, fight to keep them safe, fight for their lives and for their safety.

 

Dear Law Abiding Gun Owner,

 

I hope you understand that no one is trying to destroy your rights. No one is trying to tyrannically punish you. But our children are dying, our teachers are dying to protect them. The glock hanging on your belt or the hand gun tucked away in your glove box cannot protect dozens of people in a mass shooting. And please, just remember, we aren’t asking to rid you of your rights (especially if you are a law abiding citizen), but we are asking for common sense gun laws– screening, tests, background checks, and yes, we want it to be difficult. Because buying a weapon designed to kill should not be an easy thing to do.

 

Before you go to bed tonight, think–Did you say it? “I love you.” “I miss you.” “I don’t want to live without you.” “You changed my life.” Go about your days. Follow through with your plans. But every now and then, stop and look around. Take it all in. Because at any given moment it can be gone. 

 

___Dev

GUNS ARE IN AMERICA’S DNA

Case Study 1: United Kingdom

Hungerford Massacre 1987: 16 people died by a lone gunman. Result: semi automatic and pump-action weapons banned. Registration mandatory for owning shotguns. And the bucks doesn’t  stops here:

Dunblane, Scotland 1996: One unspeakable coward bastard (sorry for my language) entered the gymnasium of a primary school (yea friends primary school) and  opened fire from his handgun resulting to the death of 15 children aged between five and six along with their teacher. Outcome: UK lawmakers, resulting in some of the toughest anti-gun legislation in the world, passed a ban on the private ownership of all handguns in mainland Britain. Though it took 18 months!

 

Case Study 2: Australia

Port Arthur massacre: After the tragic incident, former Australian President John Howard said, ” We have an opportunity in this country not to go down the American path.” And the opportunity was taken: weapons that can kill many people quickly _ semi automatic rifles and shotguns were banned. Though a waiting period of 28 days was implemented, for thorough background checks and authentic justification to own a gun. While gun violence did not end, Australia, cut off roughly half since 1996 and there has never been another Port Arthur since.

 

I will not focus on any further incidents, as it may divert my principle object of this article, making it a lengthy one. Let’s begin and go through the main issue.

 

But before I proceed, let me make a humble request to you all: I am not in a mood to give lectures neither I have the ability to do so, nor I am to suggest my American friends what to do and, I really, really do not want to hurt the sentiments of anyone alive under the sun. All my words are the outcome of the pain, that happened in Florida school recently, which could have happen anywhere, even in my country too.

Please treat this article as an open letter to all, even you, who are responsible directly or indirectly for the tragedy.

 

If you all, my friends agree to my statement written above, do read further, else quit, I swear, I would not mind. Wanna stay tuned? OK…

Read More…

 

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The United States: Facts & Figures

There has been 17 shooting incidents at schools in USA in the first month and half of 2018, some were intentional, some accidental, one was suicide and some resulted in no injury or death, but 22 people died and many more injured. There have been  290 school shootings since 2013, as of this writing. But the odds: Will United States ever ban the outright approach of Firearms?

 

My Odds: virtually nonexistent. From where I sit, there are two dominant reasons as I presume, which have the weight of history behind them.

 

The right to bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the  Constitution:

 

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

The interpretation of the scope of that statement, in the absence of the people who framed it, is being examined in courts on a continual basis.

 

Firearms are an integral part of our nation’s history.

For better or for worse, the nation’s history depended on firearms. The expanding frontier and the uncertainties of life in a lawless country made owning a firearm (or an armory) often meant the difference between survival and becoming a nameless skeleton on the prairie.

 

 

The fact that guns are written into America’s DNA, has allowed the NRA, to morph from an organization for sports enthusiasts into a powerful political entity – one which seems determined to preserve and expand its influence at all costs. And their “cold dead hands,” any weapon, any time, any caliber, any size, any magazine, any bump-stock philosophy has been adopted by a significant portion of the citizenry, including a significant number of the legislators, who take obscene amounts of money, all the while sending their “thoughts and prayers” to the victims without being willing to do anything about the carnage.

The recent shooting at Parkland left 17 people dead. I haven’t even mentioned other gun-related deaths, such as the one in Las Vegas that killed 58 people and injured 851.

 

It’s time for a change!!

 

Yes, the 2nd Amendment still guarantees citizenry the right to bear arms, but I do not believe, rather I will not believe, being a part of an another democratic country, that the writers of that amendment ever meant for a single individual to own something like this, unless the zombie apocalypse were a real possibility, Huh!!

I personally believe that the writers of the 2nd Amendment would be shocked if they saw how that little bit of the Constitution was being interpreted and argued and implemented today, especially if they viewed the daily carnage in a nation with between 270 million to 310 million firearms, depending on whose estimate you believe.

As long as the 2nd Amendment remains in force,  citizens of this country must balance a right to bear arms with an end to the daily death toll which has reached untenable proportions – indeed, has been unbearable for decades.

 

I have many gun-toting, sharpshooting, hunting, and reloading friends who will disagree with my opinions, but that’s how America works. This is a highly-charged issue that I debated about, but I will always support civil discourse on difficult issues. Ignorant and trollish comments will be ignored and deleted without ceremony.

 

The old monk has spoken…..

Wilderness backpacking: Essential Tips & tricks — Dev Blogs

Wilderness backpacking “ Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar Wanderer, there is no path, the path is made by walking ” —Antonio Machado, “Proverbios y cantares XXIX” Carrying everything you’ll need to get along for several days in the wilderness isn’t everyone’s idea of a “vacation”, but if you don’t mind including […]

via Wilderness backpacking: Essential Tips & tricks — Dev Blogs

Pack like a Pro: must read Travel Tips and Hacks

Mantra of ninja travelers: The less you carry, the farther you travel.

Wanna be one of them, then please pay attention. Sharing some hacks and tricks that will teach you how to pack like a pro and travel light.

WRITTEN LIST

No matter what kind of trip you are on- adventurous or leisurely you ought to check out the things you probably need on the trip. From your toiletries to your electronics everything should be on the list. A checklist is always important when you pack your bags.

STAGING ZONE

There is a rehearsal before the final performance- that is what you must do. Use a table and spread out all the things you need to pack- all your gear. Once you do that, then practice packing. It might sound weird,( what packing practice, duh?) But believe me it helps you to pack faster and smarter.

The more you pack, you know what you want and what you need in your backpack- see the difference? You want that extra pair of shorts, but you need that comfy shoes for your hike. That is why pack and unpack till you, filter out all the not needed things for your trip. Then you will master the art and Pack like a Pro!

SHADES OF FOLD

A bag has several kinds of species inside it if you know what I mean. Some items need careful folding; some need tying and some rolling. Your t-shirts, trousers, jeans, dresses, shorts, pajamas need folding. But jackets, blankets need rolling and after rolling them tie them tighter, so they hold their shape.

BAGS OF BAGS

After the major packing of clothes, come the toiletries and accessories. Use separate zip bags or pouches to set them apart. Use one for charger, earphone, batteries and other for passport and documents you need. Keep them on the top of your pack, so they are easily accessible.

THE GO-BAG

Above all, a go-bag is a must. You might ask what is a go-bag? Well, it is like a life-saving kit in times of emergency. It contains Your extra phone charger, extra earphone, copies of your documents, extra toiletries some snacks and change of clothing. It is like an overnight bag you pack when you do a sleepover. And is a must know if you are to pack like a pro.

LESS PRESSURE ON YOUR SHOULDERS 

Carrying a backpack with a load of your entire trip is sometimes tiring as all the weight rests on your shoulder. But here is how the pros cheat the weight- this packing formula is also one of the best and effective. It takes the load off your shoulder and rather than pulling you back puts the pressure on the center of your body.

PACK ACCORDING TO WEIGHT

Bottom of the Bag – Medium Heavy
Middle of the Bag – Heaviest
Top of the Bag – Lighter

These are the Ultimate hacks to make your packing smoother. Pack less, Travel More; because you never know what you might bring back with you. You need some space for the mementos as well as memories.

Happy Traveling!

Hit a like if you find this blog helpful.

Signing off

___ Dev

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton