When we finished our shopping we flew to Lukla. We afraid of paying for over weight - so we took all our heavy equipment and wore it or put it in our small bags. We wore Plastic boots (a combination of skiing boots and walking boots), our heavy jackets (it was very hot) filled with things in our pockets. My small carry on bag weighed more than 15 k"g! The flight was beautiful with amazing views.
Lukla is a village that has an airport and electricity but no road to it - so there is no cars or roads in it (or even paved sidewalks). A mixer of modern and old.
On the way we had a dilemma if to hire a porter or not. I had a problem hiring one, but after realizing the weight that we had to carry - I was convinced to hire one. Each one of us had a bag of about 20 k"g and we gave the porter a bag of about 30 k"g. When we asked if it is too heavy - he picked it up on his head and said, with relief, that it isn't heavy. By the laws of the 'federation of porters of Nepal', you are allowed to give each porter up to 45 k"g - even though we saw them carrying 80 k"g (on there head!). We hired a nice, 18 year old kid named Prem that doesn't speak English. We agreed on just under $5 a day (there were cheaper porters!).
Our first days were easy days. Not because the climb wasn't hard, but because we decided to do full acclimatization - walk up only about 400 meters (vertically) and stop. Every about 1000 meters (vertically) we stopped for two days. That means that we did only 2-5 hours of walking every day - but with the height and lack of oxygen - it was hard. We saw a lot of beautiful views, and sights on the way. One of the strangest sights we saw was a rooster that caught a mouse and all the roosters were fighting over it. 
The path crossed a lot of bridges and I loved them.
I took a lot of pictures of use crossing bridges - here are some more
On our acclimatization days we did short walks and from Namche Bazaar we saw our first view of 'The Big E' - Everest.
Ama Dablam - a mountain that I fell in love with.
On a peak next to Namche Bazaar.
I took a lot of pictures of use crossing bridges - here are some more On our acclimatization days we did short walks and from Namche Bazaar we saw our first view of 'The Big E' - Everest. Ama Dablam - a mountain that I fell in love with. On a peak next to Namche Bazaar.
The locals are usually Buddhist and there are a lot of Mani praying wheels along the way. Some of them are huge and you go around them and turn them and some are turned by the flow of water. 
At Tengboche we visited a monastery. While they were praying they play huge drums, huge flutes, etc. It could have been a good jam session if they knew how to keep tune. The walls were filled with paintings of stories from there religious scripts: some were interesting and some were horrifying: beheading, boiling humans in a big pot, women drowning in a river, etc. I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside - so you are saved from seeing the pictures.
On our acclimatization day in Dingboche we walked to a lake next to Ama Dablam. A beautiful mountain (I think I mentioned it already) and a beautiful lake at the bottom. We had tea next to the lake and saw a huge snow avalanche.
Musa - a mountain mouse
Ama Dablam in the morning. (all the pictures are in there natural colors)
The houses are low and dug into the ground - to keep warm. The houses are warmed with a stove and a chimney that is heated by Yak dung!
Musa - a mountain mouse Ama Dablam in the morning. (all the pictures are in there natural colors) The houses are low and dug into the ground - to keep warm. The houses are warmed with a stove and a chimney that is heated by Yak dung!
The next day was Yom-Kipur and we fasted, so we stayed all day in the vicinity of the lodge and got prepared for starting our climb.
Me in full gear! It was hot.
Me in full gear! It was hot.
