The hotel we stayed at Shigatse did not have any hot water and they were not concerned about it either, the rooms were cool as ever. Everyone on the tour was pissed off we could not shower. So the tour company will put us in another one when we come back. The bus took 9.5 hours to get to Base Camp with stops on the way for photos and toilet stops mainly for the females onboard. Three passport check points, the last police check point they had a basket ball court would have to be the highest in the world.
When we entered in to Mt Qomolahsma National Reserve the land was barren with farmers and their stock, I am sure when it is warmer they will grow crops too, Barley is the main one they grow. Some areas it is like a dust bowl as the strong Himalayan winds appear. The road is now 3/4 lane each way and going over the mountain passes and down see some spectacular scenery. We completed 2 mountain passes 4600 m and 5448 m to reach our bothy type accommodation at Base Camp. When we reached the 2nd mountain pass we could see alot of the majestic Mt Everest. Unfortunately it was blowing 100 mph winds tried to take 2 videos but the strong winds did not allow for smooth recording. The temperature was -17 C and with the wind chill factor it was -38 C. Got to the bothy at Base Camp luxurious no way, there were 4 of us in one room the window joinery allowed wind to whistle through making the curtains billow out. There were blankets and an electric blanket for each bed all the wiring in the room looked dodgy. We all went out side and looked at Everest and took photos it was a pity about the clouds and the strong winds, but we waited an hour hoping to get some clear shots.The blanket gave a little heat, we all crawled into our beds about 20:00 hours feeling bloody cold except Penny. My thermometer was showing -5 C in the room and my bed was next to the leaky window. We had to take our own food as there were no restaurants I was so cold I just at a Snickers Bar, they provided a large flask of hot water. We were given 4 oxygen bottles with masks, Penny had to try her one out, the other two woman sucked on the bottle during the night. I have had no issues with being at altitude.The toilets were outside and 4 cubicles or dividers no privacy the one at the far right was the main one used as the shit was stacked the highest. No was happy to use it, during the night it was -26 C 50 mph winds wind chill factor it was -47 C. The coldest part of my body was my feet. I went to the toilet at midnight and the stars were out no light pollution and they all looked magnified. The big dipper just appeared like I have never seen before, will never forget it.
Penny slept the best in our room I must have got about 4 hours of sleep. The other 2 were cold and talked alot which was a bit inconsiderate, got to hear about past relationships and sex. No one could have sex with the cold we were experiencing. We were told to be up and ready at 07:00 to go but no one had passed on to us that some of them wanted to stay until 09:30 when it was sunrise, which pissed us off. I went out a few times to look at Everest but it was cloudy at times and very windy. The temperature in the room was -7 C and the water bottles had all frozen. There was no WiFi working they needed a heater in each room and all the drafts fixed, this was the coldest I have ever experienced sleeping at night and the same for the other 2 woman. At 09:00 the mountain was showing signs we might get a clear picture as the clouds were moving fast, but unfortunately it did not happen.
Maurice's Travel 