Snow Capped

We came very close to Mt Everest, traditionally and widely known this side of Himalayas as Mt Qomolangma. We were at 5300m asl some 300km away(very close by Tibetan measures) from Mt Qomolangma, at similar altitude as the base camp of climbers challenging Mt Qomolangma. The hotel we stayed in Xigaze had English speaking Nepalese staff and many western tourists heading that direction. I had a long chat with the hotel manager, born of Nepalese father and Chinese mother, who complained about his inability to get his chinese passport after 10 long years. I stirred him on the lack of internet access from the privacy of guest rooms (internet available from hotel Biz Ctr), he begged for forgiveness as he joined the hotel just 3 mths ago. He spoke Hindi, Nepalese, Chinese and English, wishing to be a tour guide to Indian tourists who frequent West Tibet.

The higher altitude knocked me out cold after taking a few photos with Grace by the snow mountain. 100m walk away from our Landcruiser, a few photos and then back to the vehicle left me breathless. I slept inside the car all through the afternoon. At each tourist stop, my brain wanted me to get off the car but my body said no. Would probably have fallen into a coma had I rushed for Mt Qomolangma......