The flight had great views of Mount Everest if you were sitting on the right hand side of the plane.. we were on the left. We saw a nice chunk of mountain though and are going to go for a Everest flight when we return from MEGAHIKE1.At 11 hundred hours this morning we'll be departing by jeep for Langtang national park in Northern Nepal for a nine day hike (don't expect much blogging). This area isn't as high as Annapurna or Everest Base Camp but also doesn't have so many hikers so it we won't be like walking along Oxford Street which those trails can be a bit like at times.
Yesterday was full of exciting preparations. We got off the plane and were assaulted by the usual array of philanthropic Nepalese offering their assistance in organising tours, buying permits etc. Having got this stuff sorted out we had a day in Kathmandu to buy essential trail snacks, medicaments and get ourselves prepared. Kitlines were completed and are presented here for your perusal. 
Wandering around Kathmandu is quite exciting. The Thamel district where we and most other Westerners are staying is basically a large market but in contrast to Lhasa the sales people can be a little more enthusiastic.
However nothing a firm 'no' and tap on the nose won't deter. There are also cars, motorbikes and rickshaws trying to wind their ways through the alleys. I'm not entirely certain why there isn't a permanent gridlock but the drivers seem to be able to communicate via a complex car horn morse code and everyone seems to get along OK.Ok, bye then. We'll be back in 9 days, probably shadows of our former selves... (this is a joke by the way mothers) ;-)
It is all very well, piles tea included but why did you call this chapter "nipple"? By the time you read this stupid question you will be telling us all about your fab-hike, the amazing views, flora and fauna,the fresh air, the clean blue sky. Brilliant! Enjoy & look after yourselves. XXXXXXXXXxxx
ReplyDeleteSo on my return to work from paternity leave, I thought I'd take a break from the plethora of Emails t catch up on Melorge's blog.
ReplyDeleteBut you've written far too much in the last 3 weeks, so I didn't get very far I'm afraid. Although from the skimmiest of skim readings, it seems like you're having fun (huge apologies if I missed some tragic event that I should be commiseratng you on).
But back to the matter in hand (alluded to in sentence one of this 'comment') - you'll doubtless be delighted to hear that Rachel gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on April 6. We decided to call her Mel Georgina Skelding in honour of you two*.
Lots of love
Matt
*that's actually a lie - we called her Polly Grace Skelding