November 6, 2019, Kathmandu
After a wonderful sleep in a cozy bed with clean sheets and blankets, Fred and I woke to a beautiful sunny day in Kathmandu. Given that we lost a day to explore this city at the onset of our travels due to our Air Canada fiasco, we were both eager to head out and explore the Thamel region of Kathmandu. We went outside and across the courtyard to enjoy a buffet breakfast before wandering the little shops for possible souvenirs for loved ones.
There were so many of the same kind of shops – all with wonderful wool items, prayer flags, little intricate carvings, books, posters, etc. I admit I was struggling because there was a sense of desperation from the shop owners to sell such that they would approach you in the street and “beg” you to come into their store. Having a sale early in the day is incredibly important to them because it means good fortune for the day. It wasn’t too long before we had bought what we wanted and were heading back to the hotel.
We opted to relax with a beer and wine in the beautiful courtyard rather than head back to our room. As we were sitting just enjoying our surroundings, it became apparent we were sitting beside some famous people. We were not intending to overhear their conversation but proximity to the table beside us left us hearing their plans for an upcoming Everest Expedition. One of the one at the table was Joyce Azzam, the first Lebanese women to complete the seven summits – climb the highest mountain on each continent – she successfully climbed Everest, her last mountain to complete this challenge, on May 23, 2019. Sitting beside her was Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa, the author of the book “Forty Years in the Mountains.” She was the Deputy Team Leader of the first Nepalese Women Expedition to the Everest. She is also the first Sherpa woman author to be published and the first Sherpa woman to assume a senior position in the Government. And finally, also sitting at the table was David Durkan, an mountaineer and Everest climber, who has written a book called “Penguins on Everest” and who has done a ton of work supporting the Nepali people. All in all, a very cool experience!
