11 May, 09 -23:24

Post Op Phuri is A-OK! =^)

It was a very stormy day in Kathmandu today...so it was a good day to commune with the computator at the Kathmandu Guest House...and stay off the Mini Time Machine. Too bad the Internet was down for most of the day! =^|

It's fitting that I am doing a retro dispatch about THE Monastery right now. Phuri (Dawa's nephew) is a Buddhist Monk...and we discharged him from the Shahid Gangalal Nation Heart Center on Saturday. I walked into the waiting room for people leaving the hospital, and a huge smile was attached to Phuri. He looked happy and healthy...and complained that he was in a bit of pain(due to his sternum being cut in half)...but said he felt wonderful. A new lease on life...what will likely be a long life.

Thanx to a modern heart therapy and Dr Rabindra Tamala, he no longer has to worry about immediately expiring...and can look forward to one day visiting THE Monastery as well. His options are limitless now! =^]

Let's go back to the Piket Pass for a moment and re-live the day we went to THE Monastery...

(I hand wrote the following at Xangbu's Magic Castle at Peekay Peak...and now I'm typing it...and will upload some images and video to accompany the text.)

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It's been like this since Time Immemorial. Man battles the weather...and the weather always wins. Fortunately, we know better than to work against nature!

Snow capped peaks and Rhododendron blooms dominated our trek to THE Monastery!

At 5am, this May 3rd, the sky was relatively clear...actually it was clear when we went to sleep last night...for those of us who were above the clouds.

I referred to the 'Battle of the Gods' in the clouds in my May 2nd dispatch. We had theater seating for that spectacle. The view from this amphitheater was to die for! Lightning bolts raked the sea of clouds as the thunder rolled. It was exhilarating and euphoric...all at once. B^]

By 7am it was foggy and raining. We had become part of those clouds in less than a few hours. By 10am it was snowing! =^o
I suppose I should expect this sort of thing at 13000ft?!?

Download | Duration: 00:00:33

Video of stormy weather at Peekay Pass.

Ensconced at Xangbu's Magic Castle we are! It's pure and simple here...and not nearly as 'debaucherous' as Mr. Tashi's magic Castle in Gorak Shep. You can surf over to www.secretspoteverest.com and click on the '2007 Treks' button to get a feel for that madness. I believe Mr. Tashi has since been deported to anywhere by Nepal. Nepal's Everest circuit was not ready for his avant garde hospitality...=^]

Xangbu is another matter. His peaceful smile and continuously tasty and never ending kettle of Chang is heavenly. Hold on! I don't like Chang?! it is similar to beer...and I have a strong dislike for beer?!?! Hmmmm...well...Chang is organic...so why panic?! =^]

There are worse ways to wait out a snow storm...especially since Xangbu makes a mean Dahl Bhat! =^P

We aren't on the Everest Circuit...thank God, Shiva and Buddha...but we are within view of the Big E! B^]

When the weather clears, we will head over to THE Monastery,,,then back here to march up Peekay Peak. (4065m/13333ft)

I am constantly reminded that:

"It is in the Wilderness that we find our true Hearts."

I remember publishing that sentiment in my July 15th SecretSpotBaja.com newsletter (http://www.secretspotbaja.com/newsletters/julynewsletter.html) ...and it rings true each time I find myself in these Secret Spots that I love.
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Well...eventually the weather broke and we cruised to THE Monastery in the late afternoon on May 3rd. I was so pleased to be back at that special place. B^]

I re-connected with the Lamas there...and enjoyed the hospitality of Phurwa and Xangbu's wife. It was quite clear that evening...and even more spectacular on the morning of May 4th. I managed to connect with Eric at the SatellitePhoneStore.com...and you can see evidence of that in the May 9th entry at the Secret Spot Seven Summits blog (www.phillmichael.com).

(top) A nice clear morning at THE Monastery (middle) Phurwa is was my 430am alarm clock (bottom) I flew prayer flags at THE Monastery

I flew some prayer flags as well. I encourage YOU to leave a comment for this blog entry and I will pool the comments...randomly draw one...then send those same prayer flags to the lucky individual. The winner has to be a blog subscriber as well...so SUBSCRIBE! =^]

We've got subscribers on six continents...so it will be interesting to see what path these flags take?!?! I'll let YOU know in later May.

Their path could end at YOUR house...if you leave a comment for this entry...=^]

Dawa and I have a bunch of running around Kathmandu over the next two days...and then my 7.5 month stay in Nepal will draw to a close.

Onwards and upwards! B^]

Until Soon
Phill =^)

PHILL MICHAEL | Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
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