I have to apologize. I haven’t been around for a few weeks. The Chinese version of the flu and my firmly American immune system got into a cage match. The Chinese flu won in what will go down as one of my immune systems weakest performances. After 17 solid days of being sick and a few interesting visits to a Chinese hospital I’m happy to say I’m mostly alive… and not so happy to say I have piles of emails just waiting for me.
Nonetheless, today we get a glimpse of days six through eight on our last Lhasa, Nepal, Everest Overland tour.
For a quick look at the previous days, check these out:
Days 4 & 5 – On the Friendship Highway
Day 3 – Monk Debates at Sera Monastery
Days 2 – Postcard from the endless alleyways of Lhasa
Days 1 – The art of observation
Days six through eight saw us cover a significant portion of the Friendship Highway and land right outside of Everest – we even got our first glimpses of the giant from some of the highest passes on earth. We were able to visit the largest stupa in Tibet residing in Gyantse and then travel on to Tashi Lumpo monastery while passing over the Pang La at just over 16,000 ft to get a sweeping view of Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Gyachung Kang and Cho Oyu – 5 of the worlds highest mountains in one view. Day eight ended with us staying in a guest house just a few kilometers outside of EBC, now firmly in the Himalaya, watching the sun set over a barely visible Everest – setting the stage for our next days travel to Everest Base Camp.
2011 – Lhasa, Nepal, Everest Tour: Days 7 & 8 – Images by Brian Hirschy