Breaking Paradise

I have other blogs to update when I get a chance. However I will probably be updating them in Seattle this week.

4 days ago I returned to my mountain paradise of Sonapani where I spent three montsh last year teaching english and learning Hindi and wehre I was planning on spending the next two months until after Christmas of this year.

3 days ago my paradise was broken because of a trivial-sounding problem. Laura and I broke up, which to put lightly I was not expecting. First I thought I would leave immediately, having no reason to stay. Then I thought I would stay a month or two after takling to the head of the NGO, a very respectable man, Madhavan-ji. But yesterday I freaked and snuck out of the resort so as to avoid the awkward confession that I was going home (its still for me an incredible sin of the lonely traveler to run home- which i dont really have anyway in a strict sense- when faced with a problem). I was caught leaving by my host family of course but instead of trying to talk me into staying again they were very supportive and I promised to return to them soon.

I feel very alone now, moreso than I've felt in a long time. I'm not sure what my next step is and I really have no idea why I'm going home. Lack of a better answer when I am searching for answers I guess.

I think Ill spend a cuople days with my parents, maybe see a couple friends who have moved to san francisco and then I dont know. Maybe hit the road and visit friends in Montana or DC or something. I dont want to work but I dont have much money. Im uncertain about everything.



Ill update the blog with the rest of my stories of trekking and visiting Sonapani soon btu this will be the last post from Asia for awhile. I bought a ticket an hour ago and I leave in 7 hours. I had to get out of Delhi even though I'm staying wtih a good friend here. Even he can't make Delhi tolerable. I love you all and I'll see you soon.

EBC Trek Day 2

Travel Journal 9/23/07

Two days ago I met my dad at the airport in Kathmandu, showed him around the city and had a more expensive dinner that I was used to. We bought supplies, nuts, candy, toilet paper and batteries which I then left in the small shop where we called me mom for a few minutes to say we were OK and that we loved her.

The next morning, early, we rose and caught a cab back to the airport for the first flight to Lukla, the start of our trek. In the airport I saw a young man I thought I recognized as a French guy who I had exchanged a few words with while in line for a visa at the Indian embassy the day before.

I smiled and nodded to him, but in the dark I missed the Italian flag on his arm. So when he came over, I mistook him for French. Luckily he forgave me right away.

Tall, light skinned, with shaggy hair and big round eyes, Giuseppe is from Milan and soon became the unofficial third member of our party.

The flight to Lukla is short and utterly fantastic. Our maximum altitude had to have been less than 15,000 ft in our little duo prop airplane, capacity for 14. The significance of our low crusing altitude is appreciated only when realizing that the Kathmandu valley- the low point of our flight is around 4,000 ft, Lukla is above 9,000 ft and the jagged high Himalayan peaks waving down to us through out tiny windows soar around 25,000 ft or higher.

Weaving through the forested ridges and valleys up to Lukla gave us a new perspective on the amount of habitation those remote regions actually have. All over, the green forested hillsides are dotted with white buildings or give way to terraced fields. No roads were visible between most settlements which fits the descriptions of people we've met in KTM who say they take a bus, then walk a few hours to go home to visit their family.

In Lukla we stopped in a German Bakery for breakfast and were soon chatting with another group of six volunteers from Kathmandu. Joe is a young writer from London who recently had a play he wrote receive good reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Lucy is a Polish woman living in the UK about to move to Australia. Her prior trekking experience, knack for negotiating and strength on the trail and Alpha Female attitude left us to half jokingly call her our leader.

Marian is a physical therapist from Johanesburg. Her short stature is counteracted by the huge smile always across her face, her positive attitude, and her riddle solving ability. She is a steady walker and enjoys socializing on the traila. For these reasons we've become trail partners, chatting, singing, teashin and otherwise enjoying ourselves between deep gasps of thin air.

Lastly is the Beck family from Utah. Aubrey is 15, although no one would be faulted for mistaking her for a college underclassman. Her parents, Mark and Laura "dragged" her to Nepal hopin to change her debaucherous behavior. Although Aubrey puts on a front, the rest of the group believes she is enjoying herself more than she lets on.

An international, trans continental group of 9 trekkers. Different backgrounds, different futures. All united by one goal, to reach Everest Base Camp without succumbing to the cold, alitutde, or social abrasions common in a group dynamic.



Stay tuned to find out the outcome and who might have reached the goal. Ill give a clue. We did.

Back in KTM

OK.

So I didn't have time to tell everyone by blog that I would be with my dad, AKA Papa Murphy, AKA The Jer Bear, trekking to Everest Base Camp for 3 weeks. We have lots of stories to tell and pictures to share and they will be told and shared in days to coem. Actually pictures will waite months most likely. INternet here in KTM SUCKS WITH 29 X's. (SUXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX). Count em. I'll update soon. But know this: we are ok. My dad missed his flight home cus of bad weather keeping us in the mountains without a way out. I smell bad. I need a shower. Ill shower tomorrow. I miss you all.

Austin I apologize.

E