It's been awhile since I have been one with the computer. We hiked in 2 hours to the work site, had tea, moved some tula dunga, that's big rock, then hiked down to the home we stayed in the last couple of weeks.. In the mornings we again hike up the mountain, 15 minutes the first time, got it down to about 7 minutes before we left. Moved rock, crushed rock, some moved lumber, moved dirt, plastered walls with a mud mixture and really could see a difference in how the place looked by the time we left.
The Nepal people we worked with are very inventive. If they come to an obstacle, like a really big boulder where they want to be digging a hole, they don't resort to dynamite, they use the "how do you eat an elephant" technique. They used a sledge hammer and chisel to break it into small pieces, which were then moved by baskets on the backs of one woman and one young man to another area. They are so strong, yet fine and slender, I'm convinced, able to solve an problem and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. They had us, Jerry and I, convinced we could indeed climb the mountain on our final day. We had the option of staying at a Tibetan monastery instead of going all the way to the top, but we went and made it. We had a picnic and then hiked back down. 2 hours up, 1 1/2 hours down. Had tea, went to our homes, got out gear, Sherpas carried the heavy packs, then hiked 2 hours to Phaphlu to spend the night in order to catch the plane this morning.
Although Kathmandu is definitely interesting, the mountains would be my preference any day. We were able to see Mt. Number on our walk to work in the morning, and as we left Phaphlu this morning we saw the tip of the big one, Mt. Everest.
Tomorrow Jerry and I are taking the mountain flight at 7 AM to tour the front of the range, including Mt Everest. We are excited.
So much left unsaid. More later,
Susan
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