Tomorrow we fly to Lukla and from the airport set out on foot for day 1 of Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek. We spent most of the day shopping again for last minute "necessary" items. Here's my comprehensive itemised list which will go into the backpack: 3 trekking t-shirts 2 trekking pants 1 trekking shorts 1 set trekking poles 1 pair hiking boots 1 pair Chaco sandals 3 pairs socks 2 thermal tops and bottoms 1 fleece pants 1 fleece jacket 1 pair fleece bo...

If anyone has ever read my mom's newsletters she often writes when abroad you'd know all she ever talks about is food. Unlike in Italy, culture isn't centered around food. It's centered around religion (Hindu or Buddhist). But I tell you, the food is pretty darn good, and cheap. We've learned to avoid the touristy places, ones advertising their roof top bar and happy hour. It's kind of like how certain type of men drive big cars...a need to compensate for someth...

Today we visited Swayambhunath, known as Monkey Temple to the locals. We soon found out why. We were thieved by monkeys. More details below. Getting to this temple was a journey along dusty, narrow, polluted streets, full of busy motorcycles, cars and young children. (Why aren't they in school?) We had to pass a cesspool river that made any enema I ever gave smell like the sweetest rose. Luckily Damian had purchased me a cute face mask which I initially balked a...

I arrived to Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday. Like all third world metropolitan cities it's loud, hot, polluted, stinky, trash-laden, and unbelievably chaotic. But it's also vibrant, colourful, energetic and full of culture, and spirituality. For those of you who don't know I'm here in Nepal to embark on approximately nineteen days of hiking, to Everest Base Camp. Why? I feel a need to get back to basics and return to the simplicity of nature. Where staying warm and...