11 June - Everest Base Camp to Zhangmu We are awoken with hot water & pancakes for breakfast & then the walkers set off. R said it was a tough 4 kilometres as the road is inclining all the time. I baled out & took the bus as wanted to see the base camp as was so near, but felt too terrible to walk. The views are great but I must say that because we are already at 4000 m above sea level the mountain does not appear that grand. We take our pho...

10 June - Shigatse to Rongupuk ( near Everest base camp)(ECB) We leave the hotel at 8.00 am & start the trip to ECB. It's a stunning day, about 15 degrees & not a cloud to be seen. We have our thermals at the ready for later. The barren plateau is covered with a blue heather like shrubbery which is picked & dried for burning in the temples/monasteries. As we go west the villages become increasingly traditional & again, it's like taking a step ba...