Wilderness Medicine Conference at Everest Base Camp Dispatch
October 8, 2009 – Our First Trekking Days, Course Work and Our Life in the Khumbu – Part 2
Shopping is acclimatization. We spent two nights in a rainy Namche Bazar at 11,400 feet. This gave our bodies an excellent opportunity to adapt to the lower air pressure and to get started on our curriculum.
Maybe monsoon has not ended. Namche was cloudy and rainy throughout the day
We used a gompa or prayer room for our lectures and discussions today
Eric is appropriately next to a ‘Buddha of life and death’ as he is teaching
None of us can remember a classroom as nice as this
Our question, answer and discussion sessions are animated. Bill, Shelley and Luke participating
Luanne likes to throw candy treats out as rewards for correct answers. We have noticed that although Teva is quiet, she gets the most correct answers
Let the shopping begin. On our first break Christine and Amanda wasted no time
Cash in hand, Johanna and Christine are ready to go
Bill and Eric examine Yak bells
Our friend Rita Sherpa has one of our favorite shops; pharmacy, internet and handicrafts, she has it all!
We took a break at the “Everest Bakery”
Amanda preparing to enjoy a cappuccino
Left: Early in the day Luanne was seen with a satisfied smile, “Christmas shopping is done!”
Right: Out on the street Wouter was still at it – the shopping continued
Left: Christine needed no break
Right: Did we say something about color coordinated?
Another of our favorite shops is run by Tsedam Sherpa.
Mark will keep warm. We saw him hiking back to our lodge with additional clothing he had hired