Thursday, December 3, 2009

Everest Base Camp - An eventful 14 days..!!








This wasn't the first time I was venturing to Everest Base Camp and it wasn't definitely the last. The vivid images of my previous trip were running through my mind as we were waiting for the flights to take off to Lukla where we would start the trek. For some, the 35 minutes flight was scary as hell but for me it was yet another 35 minutes of excitement.

We reached Lukla at 0945hrs exactly. In the past, the airport in Lukla consisted of old gravel landing strip and notoriety which is now replaced with impressive new tarmac and there is also a modern stone-built terminal building. I asked my group to meet me at the exit as I went into receive the baggage. Our 14 days journey to one of the highest place had started, officially and I was only hoping everyone in my group would reach base camp safely because the last time I was there I could not go to Kala Patthar because one of my client had problems in Lobuche with his back and had to come back to Kathmandu.

First day of walk from Lukla to Phakding wasn't that bad considering the amount of walk we would be doing in the next 2 weeks of time. 45 minutes of walk and we were into the Dudh Koshi Valley. After couple of hours of walk we arrived to Phakding where we spent a night. Day one went well and I had hoped this would continue for the rest of the trip.

But a lot of problems were actually waiting for us along the way. First it was in Dingboche (day 5), where I received an urgent and rather sad message from my office. One of our team member, SANJAY’s father-in-law had passed away and needed to get back to India ASAP. He left to Kathmandu the next day. Next day while on our way to Lobuche, another member PAUL got high altitude sickness and had to be rushed down to Pheriche hospital. We were lucky we were not further uphill. After an half an hour later, another member IAN started having problem with his health and he was rushed to Pheriche Hospital. Paul's oxygen level had gone down drastically. However he felt better with one night of oxygen of supply of oxygen but he was rescued from Pheriche along with IAN. It was in Gorak Shepe, where another member NARESH had problems breathing after reaching Gorak Shepe which is just below Everest Base Camp. Next day, instead of heading to Base Camp I had to take Naresh to Pheriche leaving the whole group at Gorak Shepe.

When I reached Pheriche hospital, I found out PAUL and IAN had just left to Kathmandu. Naresh was given oxygen for a night as I waited for my groups to arrive the next day. They arrived at around 5 pm next day. Naresh was feeling better and we were checking on him if he would be able to walk down to Lukla with us or needed helicopter rescue. He decided to walk back with us and everyone was fine after that until we arrived to Lukla. In Lukla I got sick. It must have been the lot of butter along with Chamba (Sherpa food) that my aunt fed me in the morning at Phakding so while I slept like a baby while my group was having fun in a pub below enjoying the last day of the trek. It was ironic situation for me but I was happy - happy that I was going back home to my mom and my dogs and happy at least 6 out of the 10 made to base camp and Kala Patther. As for me, Kala Patthar isn't going anywhere and I am definitely coming back again.

PS... more photos coming up..!!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Where is the Love??




Today, I am not sharing anything that feels good or beautiful to the eyes but I am trying to show a harsh reality that the street dogs of Kathmandu faces in one way or the other.

Everyday, I see little calf separated from their mother just because it would drink its mothers milk that the humans can sell and earn some money from it. Everyday I see old cows throw away into the busy hustle and bustle of the street because it would stop giving milk. Everyday I see harmless dogs lying on a corner being kicked by humans for no reason at all Is there any humanity left inside us? Is this why human civilization have reached its peak so that we can treat those poor, weak and helpless animals like they feel no pain??

The picture I am sharing here is of a dog that I used to see everyday along the side of the road waiting for death which came slowly killing it every second of its life. She was in awful lot of pain, hungry with no shelter and maggots crawling all over its body and if she was a human, would've killed herself not being able to tolerate the amount pain she was going through every single day.

I saw her for couple of days hoping somebody from the community would help the dog but nobody stood up for the poor thing. Finally I decided something was to be done for this dog. One evening I was returning home from office when I saw her lying at a corner of a street and I was so depressed with the situation she was going through. My wife knew what I felt that evening and she told me that we should go and put some medicines on the would. We bought some "betadine" and "nesporine" powder. But when I saw the dog it was much worse than what it actually seemed. with maggots crawling all over its body. I felt it needed instant medical assistance and decided it was useless waiting and expecting for anybody to help. I called Lucia who is also a founder of Animal Nepal that works for animal rights. She then sent me a number of Andreas, who I believe works to help such street animal and I sent her a message about the situation.

It was 10pm already and I was thinking about the dog when I got a call from "Kate", who works with Andrea and she informed me that she would come to pick the dog up in 7 am in the morning.

In the morning I was up at 6 and went searching for the dog and praying I would find it . Luckily, she was lying there beside the road and all soaked up due to the heavy rain last night. I immediately called Kate and asked her. She said she would come in a taxi to receive the dog. We met at around 8 and Kat was the one who took the dog with three other dogs from Baudha in similar situation to the veterinary clinic.

At Kathmandu Vetenary Clinic, in Chakapath, I had no hope this dog would survive but the doctor there said she would. Now she is undergoing treatment and hopefully she will live. Kate asked me what I would like to name the dog since I found it, I replied instantly "Lucky". Because she is indeed "lucky" to have found someone like Kate to help her. But some street animals in Nepal face worse situation and die every seconds of their life "SLOWLY".

When will we stand up and do something for such street animals that suffer and when will the government wake up from its "cockfight" and start thinking about such animals? I am proud to be a Nepali but I am feel ashamed when I say there is no animal rights in Nepal. How can we call ourselves human if we cannot display a pinch of humanity to the speechless and poor animals?

There are handful of organization that works to help these poor animals but that is not enough. Everyone should join hands to try and help this poor and suffering animal because pain is always a pain.. whether it is us or these animals and we can only call ourselves human if we can understand their pain and it is only the matter of time and fate. Tomorrow, we might be going through the same situation wishing somebody would understand what we are going through.

UPDATED:
6th October: 7:40 pm: I received a phone call from Kate saying Lucky died. For a moment I did not know what do say except feel sorry. Sorry because I should have done something as soon as I saw Lucky.

Next day I received as email from Kate:

Dear Mingma,

Thank you for referring me to your blog site and for taking the photos.

I am so sorry the dog died. Though the vets thought she should survive, she remained very passive, taking only water when I brought her back. She wouldn't eat Sunday mid-day, nor in the evening when I tried to feed her again. Then Monday morning when I went to pick her up, she was dead. She is now buried in our garden.

Anyway, we don't give up. And I expect a call from you whenever you meet a dog in trouble.

I think your blog item is so good, and certainly worthy of being published, if you agree. And maybe in Nepali also? Let's talk about it.

I look forward to meeting you soon - please let me know when it's suitable.

Kind regards,
Kate

I was hoping I could update this story with the recovery of Lucky but sadly.. the story of Lucky comes to and end..!!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Monday, September 7, 2009

Shanti Lukau Kaha

Shanti Lukau Kaha

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Shanti Lukau Kaha..!!









Shanti Lukau Kaha,
Shanti Lukau Kaha,
Thorai Matra Bacheko yo
Santi Lukau Kaha.

Nature..!!



... everything in nature is lyrical in its ideal essence, tragic in its fate, and comic in its existence.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Silhouette



The world is a playground, and life is pushing my swing..!!

I am here with you..!!



"If you should die before me, ask if you could bring a friend."

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Paragliding..!!

Paragliding is one hell of an experience. You feel like a bird and view the city and realize how tiny the cars, buildings, trees, humans look from up above the sky.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Lights..!!


“That's how the light gets in.”

Sunset..!!


“I didn't ask for it to be over, but then again, I never asked for it to begin. For that's the way it is with life, as some of the most beautiful days come completely by chance. But even the most beautiful days eventually have their sunsets.”

Innocence..!!


“The innocent and the beautiful have no enemy but time”

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Friends..!!



Yesterday brought the beginning, tomorrow brings the end, but somewhere in the middle we've become best of friends.

Ghandruk and back..!!

Here I wish to share few moments that I was able to capture on my short trip to Ghandruk with my friends. For those who do not know Ghandruk, Ghandruk is a small Village in the Gandaki Zone of northern-central Nepal.