Day 197: Journey to Everest
Today was another driving day – it took us about 9hrs from Shigatse to the tiny town of New Tingri, within the Mt. Qomolangma National Park. “Qomolangma” (actually pronounced Chomolungma) is the Tibetan name for Mount Everest. We got our first glimpse of the mighty mountain this afternoon – tomorrow we go to Base Camp!
We are 5,000KM from Beijing, on the Friendship Highway in Tibet – “The Most Beautiful Landscape Road in China.” Of course, Chinese tourists want to capture the moment by taking a picture of themselves lying down in the road. Weirdos.
Such beautiful landscape! We are quickly climbing in elevation – we’re at 4,530m (14,680ft – over 6,000ft higher than Vail, Colorado and 200ft higher than the peak of Mt. Elbert – the highest point in the Rocky Mountains) on our way to 5,200m at EBC!
Stopping for a roadside lunch – veggie fried rice and pineapple-flavored TANG
The toilets here are just awful! Two stinky slots in the ground (covered by the piss of people who can’t aim their shit) – oh, and guess where the waste goes? DIRECTLY INTO THE RIVER. Always, always, ALWAYS boil the tapwater in China. I don’t care how remote it is, or if the water is from a “fresh mountain stream” – there is probably Chinese poop in it.
A wave of prayer flags crash upon the entrance to the Mt. Qomolangma National Park
Mt. Qomolangma National Park – Tibet
Our first view of Mount Everest!!!
We are staying overnight in the two-horse town of New Tingri – not much here. No views of Everest, no ATMs (the vestibule is empty – not even an electrical socket!) – just lots of stray dogs, so we bought about 10 sausages and had fun feeding them
Our hotel may not be much to look at, but their restaurant was unexpectedly tasty! Veggie fried rice again, but made with *basmati* – YUM!
Our expectations for the 2-star Snowland Hotel were really low, so we were pleasantly surprised by the restaurant and room – true, there was no heat, the TV screen was smashed, there was no hot water shower and there was an unexplained gas canister in the corner of the room, but the beds had heated pads! Plus, since we were *literally* the only guests in the hotel, we were spared the annoying racket of Chinese tourists shouting / smoking in the hallway at 11PM.
Awesome you guys are having the most interesting time of your lives and so gracious and sharing it with everybody keep safe and keep enjoying