Conclusion of an Extraordinary Journey

May 24 – May 30: Conclusion of an extraordinary journey

On May 24 a Jeep arrived around 8:00am and we got ready to leave Base Camp. It has been a good feeling to know that we are now moving back to Nepal. The drive did bring us across the beautiful dry Tibetan highland, passing some remote villages before we finally stopped in Tingri for lunch. The road, a so called short cut from Base Camp to Tingri, was a very bad dirt road, but then, I told myself, we were in Tibet and I just tried to enjoy the unique landscape. After lunch we drove on the Friendship Highway down to the town of Jangmo, near the Tibet-Nepal border. This road had been rebuild by the Chinese in 2008 for the Olympic Games and was in an excellent condition. It took us less than five hours from Tingri to Jangmo. What a difference in terms of weather and vegetation: It was green again and all this after having stayed almost two months above 5’400m/17,820ft. However, the nicest thing was to take a very long hot shower and to sleep in a bed again after 40 nights (!!!) in a tent.

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
Still in Tibet – A long and slow way back to Nepal…

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
Last stop in the highland of Tibet for our lunch break. Menu: Chinese Food…

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
Passing over the Thong La, 5,153m/17,005ft – From now on it goes all downhill…

The next morning, on May 25, we walked across the border into the Nepali town of Kodari. A minibus was waiting for us and drove us back to Kathmandu. It was long drive on a bad road, but but it was nice and warm and we arrived in Kathmandu in the afternoon. What a feeling to be back in a nice hotel, taking again long showers, changing to normal “street” clothes and starting to enjoy this exciting city. And it was warm here…

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
Back in Nepal: What a feeling to see and smell all these beautiful landscapes and flowers!

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
Back in the hotel – Time to relax and reflect on the journey…

The expedition had ended well and I was happy to be back in Kathmandu healthy with all the positive feelings and extraordinary experiences I was allowed to make. What an amazing journey it was for me: I experienced unforgettable landscapes, from the green valleys in Nepal, to the dry Tibetan Highland and further on to the high altitudes of Everest; I met extraordinary people in Nepal, in Tibet, and of course on the mountain. I had the privilege to learn more about the life of the Sherpas, while they were working at the mountain. I spent months with them traveling, hiking, climbing, eating, living, enjoyed weeks in the kitchen tent with them, listened to their many languages (Sherpa, Nepali and sometimes Tibetan) and learned much how the think and feel. The too, suffer on this mountain, just like we do, but they look at life differently while there are there, they have more patience and especially respect for the mountain.

Finally, I enjoyed for a few more days the electrifying city of Kathmandu, visited some of the markets, temples and historical sides and left Nepal on a flight home on May 30. It was a sad and good feeling at the same time and deep insight I felt that I may come back again one day.

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
Hanuam-dhoka Durbar Square in the center of Kathmandu: Kal Bhairab, was used by the government as a place for people to swear the truth.

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
Fresh vegetables and flowers – What a nice pictures after two months in the cold…

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
Flowers for the gods…

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
Maju Dega: An impressive temple built in late seventeenth century.

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
May the eyes watch over you and protect your life…

This is the last update of my Mount Everest blog and I would like to thank all the people who supported and prayed for me while I was at the mountain: My family and friends, the Lamas who gave me the blessings, and especially the Sherpas Lhakpa, Passang, Ramos und Phururu who made sure that I returned safe and healthy from the high altitude. Special thanks goes also to Fur Geljen Sherpa, Managing Director of World Records Expeditions for his excellent work behind the scene. He was the one who organized and managed the complicated logistics for this long expedition. Without him, our material and food would never have made it to Tibet and back. Also, at that point I would like to thank the three sponsors, Coach Source, Syserco and SKO for their support. It was a great life experience!

The question that many of you may ask: Will there be another attempt? Well, I know today that climbing additional 250m/825ft seems to be possible. We also know that the mountain will always be there… And, Chomolungma has been good to me. So there are some chances that we will meet again…

Once again my key believes for this journey:

IT IS THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION!

REACHING THE SUMMIT IS OPTIONAL. COMING DOWN IS MANDATORY. – Ed Vestures

And finally I would like to end with some quotes which summarize many of my deep believes in a nice way:

“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

Christopher Columbus

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

Ernest Hemingway

“A good life isn’t something you wait for, or chase after, or try to possess; it’s something you must create, moment by moment, on the foundation of your dreams.”

Bill Strickland

THANK YOU!!

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
Lhakpa in his office with a picture when he was honored by the King for his Everest speed world record.

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
“Garden of Dreams”, Kathmandu – What a nice place to relax after a long journey in the cold…

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
Phunuru’s daughter: What a wonderful smile… and what a nice way to end this journey.

Conclusion of an extraordinary journey - May 24 - May 30
I wish all of you a wonderful journey and many opportunities to fulfill your dreams – THANK YOU!!!

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