10/04/2009
Naba picked me up and took me to breakfast around 7:30 this morning. We went to a place called Mikes Breakfast. I had a mushroom omelet and Milk Coffee. It was really great. Naba and I talked about me writing a review and posting it on several travel web sites, along with some pictures. I am committed to sending him as many customers as I can. HGT has been great to me and I would love to see them prosper as a result. He took me back to the “Encounter,” I got my things, and I moved back to the “Shanker.” Thank God. Prem walked me back to the Encounter, where I met Wolf. He had a tour booked. Pretty much the same stuff I had already done, but this time I could go and just shoot, already having heard all of the stories. Wolf is very deliberate in his shooting, and shoots, and shoots, and shoots. We started at Monkey Temple, and then to Boudanath, we fed off of each other and just clicked. I was having a great time just shooting faces. We had a blast. We were running out of time and so we stopped at the cremation site. We got some great shots of the Sadhu “Holy Men” (really they are just beggars, who dress up and smoke weed!) There were five cremations going, and five bodies waiting. Very Troubling! We talked about going to Nepali kitchen for dinner to see the traditional dancers, so we started walking over at 5:20 and when we got there, they told us they were booked for the night. That was fine. I just wanted something easy on the stomach. We decided to go to the Shanker for dinner and on the way over we came across an Irish Pub. Wolf had a couple of Guinness, and I had an Irish coffee, then he ordered two steaks! We talked about things like, family, travel, things we wanted to shoot in the future, things we have shot in the past etc… I really think Wolf is a good person with a huge heart, I know I have not known him long, but he is a true friend! We will stay in touch! He paid for our dinner and we went our separate ways! “Good Bye for now my Friend!”
Good Night!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sunday, October 3rd, 2010
Namaste,
My eye continues to be a problem! It is giving me severe headaches! I am going back to the eye doctor first thing in the morning! Got up and ready for church.... Had to put gas in the Rover, and saw my buddy Aubrey King at the gas station. Aubrey runs the parking lot ministry at church and is an awesome guy. I headed over to mom's to pick up Trey and then we worked the parking lot at church. I had taken the lawn trailer with me and Trey knew I didn't feel well, so he happily went with me to Midwest City. I was only going to do hedge work and clean up the parking lots, but the grass really needed to be cut. Brent reminded me it had been 9 days since we had mowed it! Trey went around cleaning the parking lots, and picking up down limbs, and Brent and I did our regular service. With the cold weather we are now having.... Thank God! The grass will begin to go dormant soon. I can't wait! After Brent and I finished our regular service we trimmed ALL of the hedges. This added a couple of extra hours but had to be done! We stopped at Pizza Inn to get a salad, and slice of pizza, then we dropped Brent off and headed home. I showered and laid down for an hour before heading back to Midwest City to screen Misty and Marshall's wedding pictures. I think they really like them. I was nervous, due to the lighting issues.... When Sherrie and I got home, I helped her with a Medical Terminology test. I think we got a 100 but the score showed 80%.... She is going to call today! Off to sleepy time! Thanks again to Brent, and Trey for their help today! It makes my life so much easier having good help!
All my love!
Mat
Sunday, October 3, 2010
October 3rd, 2009 Nepal Journal Entry
10/03/2009
I had breakfast with Wolf from Holland. Prem and Naba came by to check on us. Prem and I walked around Thamel to do my shopping. There is a climbing guide here from Canada, his name is Felix. He is very funny and he is waiting on his clients to arrive. Naba ask me to go to lunch, and we went to one of the oldest restaurants in Thamel. It is a Japanese restaurant, and as usual he ordered for us. What he ordered was Salted Mackerel, when it came to the table the fish was looking at me… A fish head, some rice, miso soup, and 3 green beans. After lunch (or what ever you want to call it) I went to a cyber café and called the airlines. They got my flight confirmed, so I leave Monday at 4:15pm from Kathmandu to Delhi, at 10:55pm I leave Delhi heading to Newark. I arrive in Newark at 4:35am and head to Houston at 9:00 am and head to OKC at 10:33! I prayed and made God a bunch of promises. I had to pay a $250.00 change fee but my hotel was $125.00 per night so it all works out the same. This trip has changed me. I know I have a full plate at home, but there is sooooo much more to life than just accumulating things. That afternoon I was on cloud nine. As Wolf, Felix, and I were sitting in the garden at Hotel Encounter, an Indian gentleman came and ask if he could join us. His name is Wolf! How ironic, two guy’s named Wolf. Wolf is Indian, but born and raised in the UK. He is super funny and is also a professional photographer. Wolf #2 is heading to Namche, and Shayngboche to do the Everest panoramic shot. We have a ton in common, and we hit it off immediately. Wolf is 45 and has two kids, and is disabled from injuries sustained while he was a police officer in the UK. The four of us decided to go to dinner at 5:30, after having the fish head stare at me earlier, I was ready for dinner. Wolf #2 suggested the Ambassador Garden Hotel; he had lunch there. He said that there was a nice outside patio area and that it was very Zen. We arrived and he was right, it was very cool. The ground was covered in a type of grass that we would love to have on a putting green here in the US. I ordered a coffee, and they all had drinks. We ordered our dinner, I took Wolf’s suggestion, spaghetti bolognaise. It had buffalo meat in it, and being the first meat I had eaten in weeks, it was filling! We had ordered some chips or French fries for an appetizer. The waiter brought us chili sauce instead of ketchup, and we all had a big mouthful of this stuff, and we laughed about that for a while. After dinner they had a few more drinks, and we continued to laugh, and have a blast. Funny thing is… We are all here for the same reason, we love the outdoors, living free, pushing our bodies to the extreme and enjoying life. It makes it easy to talk to people when you have so much in common. After a few cocktails, we heard some American rock-n-roll coming from a rooftop bar. We walked to the Shiska Bar and went in. The house band was playing 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s American rock. They were actually very good, but it was funny to hear the Nepali accent. Wolf #2 ended up ordering us all a large Jameson whiskey, and things started to get out of control. By this time Wolf had started calling Felix, John McEnroe as there is a slight resemblance. We stayed for a couple of hours, and then started walking back to our hotel. After dark, the streets of Thamel are no place to be….. “Hey Sir, you need girlfriend? You need hashish? You smoke weed?” Luckily Wolf having Indian heritage spoke very good Nepali. He told the pimps and drug dealers to leave us alone. We went back to the Encounter, and Felix had a big bottle of Glen Levit single malt scotch, and we toasted each other until it was empty. Wolf #1 made a few very mature statements…. “The people of Nepal show a roadmap of where they have been on their faces.” This is so true, and it came from a 19 year old boy! As we continued to talk late into the night, they were asking me several questions related to the trek. I was telling them about the two beautiful Sherpa girls, that were making yak dung patties, and smiling, laughing, and singing, as well as the 10, 11, and 12 year old porters carrying everything from beer and red bull, to kerosene (6 five gallon containers each), and 6 one inch sheets of plywood, from Lukla to Namche or even Gorek Shep. These people smile while doing this and even greet you with a solemn “Namaste.” Wolf #1 said something else very mature…. He said “Makes you wonder who is happier?” WOW! That is so true. Who is happier? The westerners with all of our hustle and bustle, trying to fit everything into our little box, accumulating “Things”, keeping up with the Joneses, so to speak… Or the two little 12 year old Sherpa girls who were making Yak dung patties with their bare hands, knowing that this winter their families will stay warm at night, knowing that their nasty, stinky, hard work has to be done. I guess they know nothing else, and it scares me to think about Western expansion in the Khumbu region. I know that tourism is the only revenue for these people, and the government is so inadequate. There are no public utilities or schools here and the economic impact of tourism is what they have to rely on. School is a minimum of $40.00 per month per student. Most trekking guides make a $100.00 per month salary. The Nepali Sherpa way has remained the same for thousands of years, and I pray it remains that way! Wolf #2 and I are going to meet at 10:00am in the morning to tour the city and take pictures. I am going to bed!
I had breakfast with Wolf from Holland. Prem and Naba came by to check on us. Prem and I walked around Thamel to do my shopping. There is a climbing guide here from Canada, his name is Felix. He is very funny and he is waiting on his clients to arrive. Naba ask me to go to lunch, and we went to one of the oldest restaurants in Thamel. It is a Japanese restaurant, and as usual he ordered for us. What he ordered was Salted Mackerel, when it came to the table the fish was looking at me… A fish head, some rice, miso soup, and 3 green beans. After lunch (or what ever you want to call it) I went to a cyber café and called the airlines. They got my flight confirmed, so I leave Monday at 4:15pm from Kathmandu to Delhi, at 10:55pm I leave Delhi heading to Newark. I arrive in Newark at 4:35am and head to Houston at 9:00 am and head to OKC at 10:33! I prayed and made God a bunch of promises. I had to pay a $250.00 change fee but my hotel was $125.00 per night so it all works out the same. This trip has changed me. I know I have a full plate at home, but there is sooooo much more to life than just accumulating things. That afternoon I was on cloud nine. As Wolf, Felix, and I were sitting in the garden at Hotel Encounter, an Indian gentleman came and ask if he could join us. His name is Wolf! How ironic, two guy’s named Wolf. Wolf is Indian, but born and raised in the UK. He is super funny and is also a professional photographer. Wolf #2 is heading to Namche, and Shayngboche to do the Everest panoramic shot. We have a ton in common, and we hit it off immediately. Wolf is 45 and has two kids, and is disabled from injuries sustained while he was a police officer in the UK. The four of us decided to go to dinner at 5:30, after having the fish head stare at me earlier, I was ready for dinner. Wolf #2 suggested the Ambassador Garden Hotel; he had lunch there. He said that there was a nice outside patio area and that it was very Zen. We arrived and he was right, it was very cool. The ground was covered in a type of grass that we would love to have on a putting green here in the US. I ordered a coffee, and they all had drinks. We ordered our dinner, I took Wolf’s suggestion, spaghetti bolognaise. It had buffalo meat in it, and being the first meat I had eaten in weeks, it was filling! We had ordered some chips or French fries for an appetizer. The waiter brought us chili sauce instead of ketchup, and we all had a big mouthful of this stuff, and we laughed about that for a while. After dinner they had a few more drinks, and we continued to laugh, and have a blast. Funny thing is… We are all here for the same reason, we love the outdoors, living free, pushing our bodies to the extreme and enjoying life. It makes it easy to talk to people when you have so much in common. After a few cocktails, we heard some American rock-n-roll coming from a rooftop bar. We walked to the Shiska Bar and went in. The house band was playing 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s American rock. They were actually very good, but it was funny to hear the Nepali accent. Wolf #2 ended up ordering us all a large Jameson whiskey, and things started to get out of control. By this time Wolf had started calling Felix, John McEnroe as there is a slight resemblance. We stayed for a couple of hours, and then started walking back to our hotel. After dark, the streets of Thamel are no place to be….. “Hey Sir, you need girlfriend? You need hashish? You smoke weed?” Luckily Wolf having Indian heritage spoke very good Nepali. He told the pimps and drug dealers to leave us alone. We went back to the Encounter, and Felix had a big bottle of Glen Levit single malt scotch, and we toasted each other until it was empty. Wolf #1 made a few very mature statements…. “The people of Nepal show a roadmap of where they have been on their faces.” This is so true, and it came from a 19 year old boy! As we continued to talk late into the night, they were asking me several questions related to the trek. I was telling them about the two beautiful Sherpa girls, that were making yak dung patties, and smiling, laughing, and singing, as well as the 10, 11, and 12 year old porters carrying everything from beer and red bull, to kerosene (6 five gallon containers each), and 6 one inch sheets of plywood, from Lukla to Namche or even Gorek Shep. These people smile while doing this and even greet you with a solemn “Namaste.” Wolf #1 said something else very mature…. He said “Makes you wonder who is happier?” WOW! That is so true. Who is happier? The westerners with all of our hustle and bustle, trying to fit everything into our little box, accumulating “Things”, keeping up with the Joneses, so to speak… Or the two little 12 year old Sherpa girls who were making Yak dung patties with their bare hands, knowing that this winter their families will stay warm at night, knowing that their nasty, stinky, hard work has to be done. I guess they know nothing else, and it scares me to think about Western expansion in the Khumbu region. I know that tourism is the only revenue for these people, and the government is so inadequate. There are no public utilities or schools here and the economic impact of tourism is what they have to rely on. School is a minimum of $40.00 per month per student. Most trekking guides make a $100.00 per month salary. The Nepali Sherpa way has remained the same for thousands of years, and I pray it remains that way! Wolf #2 and I are going to meet at 10:00am in the morning to tour the city and take pictures. I am going to bed!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Saturday, October 2nd, 2010
Namaste,
Oh Mylanta.... I woke up at 4:00am! I could not for the life of me go back to sleep! I got up at 5:30 and loaded my bike and headed to the lake. I had every intention of riding three laps or 30 miles, but the Oklahoma Landrunners were having a 1/2 Marathon at 7:00 so I did one lap and then cleared off the trail. I went and talked to some of the Landrunners organization about my "Quest" to see if they want to participate??? We will see. I came home and cleaned Trey's room. I got a whole bunch of stuff out for the garage sale, and he will never know! That kid has soooo much crap in his room, I could take half of everything he has and he would never know! I took a shower and Trey and I went to his buddy Herman's soccer game. I came home and did a few things then Sherrie and I went to Barry Franks house for the Bevo Bash. Bevo bash happens when the University of Oklahoma, plays the University of Texas! This is one of the biggest rivalry's in all of college football! We had a great time at the party. It made it so much better that OU won the game! We came home and have been entertaining Tommy, my friend Miriam's son! He is my little buddy! Full of energy! Pictures are of Herman at his soccer game!
Much Love!
Mat
October 2nd, 2009 Nepal Journal Entry
10/02/2009 11:10pm (KTM)
This morning started with a cup of milk coffee at 5:45 am, I had an egg and some hash for breakfast, then walked 100 yards to the end of the runway to watch the twin otters come and go into and out of Lukla. The runway at Lukla is on the side of a mountain, and it is called the world’s most dangerous airport. We caught our flight at 9:00am and landed in Kathmandu around 10:00. We caught a cab and it took us from the airport to the Shanker, to get my bags I had stored there. Then it took me to the Hotel Encounter. Let me tell you about this place…. Not so nice. No air conditioning and it is very loud. I really don’t know if I can stay here another day. I walked to HGT today and made a phone call to Continental. They can confirm me on a flight from Delhi, to Newark, from Newark to Houston, and Houston to OKC, but I have to wait on Indian Air to confirm my flight from Kathmandu to Delhi. I have to call them back at 10:00am in the morning to check the status. I pray to God that I get on that flight. Tonight I met Naba and a group that just returned from Base camp. They are from Australia and include five men over 60 and eleven year old boy, as well as, four or five women. I also met a 19 year old guy named Wolf. Wolf is from Holland, and begins his trek later in the week. There was one man from the US, he lives in Asheville, NC and we had plenty to talk about, as he treks a lot in Utah. Naba took us to the famous Rum Doodle restaurant for dinner. I had a Ham and pineapple pizza, and a drink called Everest Summiters coffee…. Funny thing was there was no coffee in it at all! The restaurant was very nice, and I will try to go there again. I have been editing pictures for the last two hours and I will turn in now. Pray for me that Indian Air is gracious enough to let me on that earlier flight.
This morning started with a cup of milk coffee at 5:45 am, I had an egg and some hash for breakfast, then walked 100 yards to the end of the runway to watch the twin otters come and go into and out of Lukla. The runway at Lukla is on the side of a mountain, and it is called the world’s most dangerous airport. We caught our flight at 9:00am and landed in Kathmandu around 10:00. We caught a cab and it took us from the airport to the Shanker, to get my bags I had stored there. Then it took me to the Hotel Encounter. Let me tell you about this place…. Not so nice. No air conditioning and it is very loud. I really don’t know if I can stay here another day. I walked to HGT today and made a phone call to Continental. They can confirm me on a flight from Delhi, to Newark, from Newark to Houston, and Houston to OKC, but I have to wait on Indian Air to confirm my flight from Kathmandu to Delhi. I have to call them back at 10:00am in the morning to check the status. I pray to God that I get on that flight. Tonight I met Naba and a group that just returned from Base camp. They are from Australia and include five men over 60 and eleven year old boy, as well as, four or five women. I also met a 19 year old guy named Wolf. Wolf is from Holland, and begins his trek later in the week. There was one man from the US, he lives in Asheville, NC and we had plenty to talk about, as he treks a lot in Utah. Naba took us to the famous Rum Doodle restaurant for dinner. I had a Ham and pineapple pizza, and a drink called Everest Summiters coffee…. Funny thing was there was no coffee in it at all! The restaurant was very nice, and I will try to go there again. I have been editing pictures for the last two hours and I will turn in now. Pray for me that Indian Air is gracious enough to let me on that earlier flight.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Friday, October1st, 2010
Namaste,
Happy Breast Cancer Awareness Month! I will be doing free screenings!!! :-) JUST KIDDING!!!! (Not Really!) I woke up at 4:00am to put drops in my eye!!!! It looks 100 times better than it did yesterday, but still feels like there is something in there. Dr. Charles told me it would feel that way until the abrasion healed. I never got back to sleep. My friend Kayla donated a bike to "The Quest!" I went by her house to pick it up, before heading to Starbucks. Off to work.... Got everything done, then met with Keri at Louie's by the lake to get the 24 Hour Challenge operations table arranged for the 15th. Jodi went with me and her friend Allen met us! The afternoon drug on.... I left at 3:00 and came home for a two hour nap! Sherrie and I went to Louie's here by the house to talk to the owner Randy Duncan. Randy is a huge supporter and friend! He was instrumental in getting the deal done at Louie's by the Lake! We shared some Blackened Tilapia, and salad. AWESOME FOOD! GREAT SERVICE! STIFF COCKTAILS!!!! Off to the market for groceries. We filled the cart with fruits, and veggies.... It is funny how long I take at the market now reading labels, and comparing things. Tomorrow Sherrie and I are going to ride at the lake. I am going to do 30 miles, and hopefully she will make 10???? She is doing good, just needs more time in the saddle. We are going to The Bevo Bash at Barry Franks house tomorrow for the OU/texas game. Sherrie has a ton of homework, house cleaning, and getting things organized for our upcoming garage sale! My Buddy Justin at Vital Signs made a banner for this years challenge I am posting a picture of it! He is AWESOME!
Much Love!
Mat
October 1st, 2009 Nepal Journal Entry
10/01/2009 9:43pm (KTM)
Today was quite a challenge, started off good enough. I had breakfast with Mark, Enrico, and Nancy, then Nancy departed for Thamel, Mark and Enrico left for Loubuche, then Prem, Deil and I left for Lukla. The plan was to get here and maybe do a trek over to Mera peak or something, but the problem with my baby toe made it slow going. We made Benkar by one, and I had Mushroom soup, and coffee. We left there at two and Prem ask me how far I wanted to go? I told him I was going to Lukla with or without him! He suggested the side hike to Mera peak would probably not be a good idea with the blood squirting from my toe! I told him to get me back to Kathmandu. He made a call, and got us on a flight in the morning. We have to reconfirm when we get to Lukla. I got into town a good 30 minutes ahead of Prem and Deil. I took an Ultram and it took the edge off of my foot pain. I found a shop and bought a pair of North Face trekking pants. When I met up with Prem again, he brought me to a very guest house. I had Deil come to my room and sign my banner. Then he left, after I gave him a token of my gratitude. I had lasagna for dinner, and there is a crazy New Zealander her he lives in Malaysia, and his name is Jochen. We sat and talked until nine, and then I came to my room to get organized for my flight back to Kathmandu. I took a shower, and I am having a hard time keeping my eyes open time to turn in. When I get back to Kathmandu, I am going to try and catch an early flight back to the US!
Today was quite a challenge, started off good enough. I had breakfast with Mark, Enrico, and Nancy, then Nancy departed for Thamel, Mark and Enrico left for Loubuche, then Prem, Deil and I left for Lukla. The plan was to get here and maybe do a trek over to Mera peak or something, but the problem with my baby toe made it slow going. We made Benkar by one, and I had Mushroom soup, and coffee. We left there at two and Prem ask me how far I wanted to go? I told him I was going to Lukla with or without him! He suggested the side hike to Mera peak would probably not be a good idea with the blood squirting from my toe! I told him to get me back to Kathmandu. He made a call, and got us on a flight in the morning. We have to reconfirm when we get to Lukla. I got into town a good 30 minutes ahead of Prem and Deil. I took an Ultram and it took the edge off of my foot pain. I found a shop and bought a pair of North Face trekking pants. When I met up with Prem again, he brought me to a very guest house. I had Deil come to my room and sign my banner. Then he left, after I gave him a token of my gratitude. I had lasagna for dinner, and there is a crazy New Zealander her he lives in Malaysia, and his name is Jochen. We sat and talked until nine, and then I came to my room to get organized for my flight back to Kathmandu. I took a shower, and I am having a hard time keeping my eyes open time to turn in. When I get back to Kathmandu, I am going to try and catch an early flight back to the US!
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