Back from Everest Base Camp....

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!! Love you a ton and miss all of you….

Yeah!!! I made it back alive… :-) seriously trekking to Everest Base Camp in the winter month was physically the most challenging thing I have done so far in my life. People were not joking when they said it would be FREEZING and hard to breath at 18000 plus feet i.e 5550m. Wow! That is all I can say…..On Christmas eve I was at Everest Base Camp and Christmas day in Kalaphater which is soooo much more beautiful than base camp and actually a bit higher as well 5555m vs 5364m. I am happy to have made it back to Kathmandu for New Years Eve. I am off again in a day to Tibet on Jan 2nd for 2 weeks.

I am amazed at how hard it was but how strong I stayed throughout it until of course my luck changed on the last day and I got sever food poisoning. I know my guide was really worried about how I would get back as the trek was only 3 hours average (me and him 2hrs ) and I took almost 4 ½ so he knew something was really wrong. I was so dehydrated and sick that I almost fainted a few times. I also did get some altitude sickness on the way to E.B.C on the 8th day of the trek, but it was controllable and not so drastic. There were several people that me an my guide saw and heard about that had to either come down by helicopter to Kathmandu due altitude sickness or that had to return back down by foot. I fell 3 times (because my bag was a pain in the butt) and each time I had to watch out so as to not get hurt or falling down a ridge, but other than that the altitude sickness was luckily very minor for me. It was an amazing trip but again the hardest thing physically I have ever done. I knew it was going to be hard but I do not think I really comprehended what mental strength it would take to make it. So many people returned and fell sick or even have died as I saw all their memorial stones that their families had put up on the way up. Some are even missing and they have missing person posters all over for them.

I do feel that it was everything I hoped for as it did allow me to feel courageous, strong and have a sense of freedom I yearend for. I was able to prove to myself that whatever I set my mind to is possible, and to see that in action at E.B.C. in the physical sense was very uplifting. At times I was not sure I would make it but I kept saying my mantras and thinking of Babaji (divine :-)) all the way up and kept thinking positively. Thoughts of family, the kids(doggies :-)), and friends kept me strong as well.

I have had a lot of time to reflect of course over the last 14 days in solitude and faced with physical challenges that were beyond what I could have imagined as far as the difficulty. I know that I am VERY grateful for my family and friends. I am a blessed person who is fortunate in so many ways. Looking at the Sherpa people and the lifestyle that most of the Nepalese people in the mountain regions are faced with I was again remained of that a “bad day” in the West truly is NOTHING in comparison with their lives. Some of the pictures will show how they live but just to illustrate further on average a porter carries about 100kgs that’s about 250ibs on their backs up to high altitude daily. The poor Yaks carry but to twice as much if not 3 times more. My total round trip was 200km which is about 124 mile which these people travel a few times a month easily by foot. Once you get to Lukla which is where the trek started from there are NO CARs so EVERTYTHING all the food all the products needed to survive including refrigerators, industrial electrical wire, doors you name it ALL has to be carried by Yaks or people. The things that are odd shaped such as I just mentioned and can not be tired to a Yak are carried by Sherpa people and it is AMAZING to see them walk with these things on their backs and climb on the terrain that is most of the time steep up and at high altitude. I do not think any of my pictures can accurately illustrate how challenging this is. I could definitely not complain with my little 12kg or 26ibs bag though I have to say that I did not see many people carry their own bag except a few seasoned male trekkers and even that was few. I was told by my guide that he did not think I would last beyond 1 day with my bag and he was impressed that I took it all the way up and down myself with 3kgs more after the shopping on the way down. Yeah!!! I may have a chance as a porter after all….NO WAY!!! I am certain that unfortunately these guys do not live that long.

I also met several Sherpa guys that have been up to Everest Summit and they carry about 35kgs about 77ibs on their backs for the expeditions that are held for the westerners. It is amazing how hard they work for very little pay. One guy was only 24years and he has already been on expeditions every years and made it all the way to summit 2 times. He says it is a hard 3 months of work and of course many do not make it. It is up to about 8800m about 30,000ft and of course they are on oxygen. It was nice to listen to this guy one night at one of the guest houses explain the whole expedition to me. They are quite courageous and strong as they start so young and are also not really professionally trained like the westerners that come down to do these expeditions. It is a special and interesting life they live the Sherpa people here in Nepal. I am lucky that since I came during such a low tourist season I got to spend some time with the locals and that I was at Base Camp alone and Kalapather without tons of tourist being right in front of me or behind me. In that aspect the freezing cold was TOTALLY worth the solitude I got for it. I have no regrets. I am happy I made it back alive and in one piece.

Well guys I invited the New Year here in Nepal Kathmandu with some crazy Norwegians :-) and an English couple. It was fun we danced and I was believe it or not SOBER the entire night, I promise :-). I kept my wow so far I have until October 2010 no alcohol… I think I passed one of the hardest tests which is on New Year’s Eve. I was thinking of you guys last night and sending you all my love and energy. I wish that 2010 brings all of you joy and peace. I miss you and look forward to when I see you in person and can give you hugs. Be safe and have lots of fun on New Years Eve those of you that are still in 2009.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

More Dharamsala Pictures

More Dharamsala Picture as promised

Kathmandu

Hey Guys,

So the trip to Delhi obviously just flew by. Was able to spend the night with Nirmala in her beautiful home and have some Swedish cheese and food which felt like a delight after all the momos and Indian food. When I arrived in the afternoon I fist had to run and my camera fixed that broke and then I meet with a photographer who has been in Tibet many times. He told me about all the do's and don't while I am there and was very explicit about the danger in being a tourist there. I was told over and over again that I will be followed for sure by the Chinese CIA and that I need to watching everything I say so it is evident that I have to remain neutral and so on....XXXX.... Also my tour guide here in Kathmandu just spent about 2-3 hours telling me the same about that basically 1/3 of my cost is to pay for the "CIA" guy to follow me around. That is just so XXXX well but that is the only way I can get in to Tibet so I have to take it :-).

Tomorrow I leave for Lukla and my hike starts immediately. I have first 2 weeks of trekking before Tibet. I am still at the tour guides office and he was very thorough with his brief. It is just me and my guide who are going and there is NO oxygen tanks with us. They told me not to freak out but some Malaysian guy died last week with the same guide that I am going with so they insisted on that I understood I have to take it easy and let them know if my hear is hurting. He was an older person and I think maybe not in such a good health so I am not too worried. I will of course take their advice and not be super woman or crazy about my health. Just please all of you guys just send me love and energy that I will be safe and that the weather will permit me to have clear days so I can see base camp and make it all the way. A lot of this trip depends on weather conditions so pray to the weather gods for me. :-) I am VERY excited that I have this trip of solitude with just myself and the guide so it is exactly what I was hoping for. I will have no porters either so I think tonight I will make my bag even lighter it is right now 12-15kgs but my guide just told me that his bag is only 8kgs and he is experienced he has been doing this for 5 years so I better make it that light as well if not lighter.

I will be safe and write when I come back...Need to go as they are closing the office and my flight is 5am.

Love all of you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS... I will be at Base Camp on Christmas day and Eve thinking of you guys having Turkey or Ham or what ever you eat around the world.

Leaving Dharamsala

12-14-09

My 2 weeks have already gone by here at Dharamsala as I am leaving later today for Delhi for one day and then off to my trek in Nepal to Mt. Everest Base camp. I am sad to leave this place as have managed to make many friends including the four legged kind (my doggies and even a cat :-)) that are very loving and kind. The whole experience has been incredible and beyond anything really that I expected or could have possibly have imagined. I am not sure if it has been the volunteering with teaching, the animal rescue, making sweet and kind Tibetan friends that has allowed for the most powerful impressions or the meditating and learning from the Monks? It may be fair to say that it all has played its role. I have had a level of energy and commitment that I feel is motivate and driven by seeing how small things can makes a difference and be so rewarding. It is a step towards change and a belief that I can do something. It is not like I have all of a sudden managed to transform the world or myself over the last two weeks, it is more like I am leaving with a deeper understanding for what I am capable of contributing with, in the future. I do realize there is a lot of work ahead to support not only Dharamsala Animal Rescue, The Tibetan School for Handicap Children, Tibetan Ex-Prisoners’ Organization or The Old people’s home but many projects in India and the world. I am happy though that with the first hand experience of seeing and participating in volunteer work here has allowed my vision to merged into a more clearer direction.

I have been very lucky to meet some really strong activists, passionate leaders, film makers, authors and photographers that have shared their work with me. My filming and documenting has also been reviewed by a professional film maker, from the USA that is living here in Dharamsala now since 3 years. I am fortunate to be able to call Ronny a friend even though my acquaintance with him has only been a week or so. He is offering his time to add his expertise in making my project look more presentable and professional. Arvind, the founder of the Dharamsala Dog Rescue, told me about some promo work that Ronny had done for him that he felt I should also take a look at in addition to all the filming I have made. I feel that all the meetings with people and the different occurrences that have take place have all lined up in a way that I could not have planned in advance. I am certain that there is a power beyond me supporting me in finally moving forward without hesitation and fear. I am thrilled to share with all of you that I have set into motion an umbrella non-profit organization that will act as a liaison between the causes and local organizations in need and the corporations/ individuals that are able to fund and donate to these projects. I purchased a website domain name last night had have already created some filming and gotten Ronny and other locals on board to donate their time as well as hopefully become beneficiaries of this project. There are a few names for the organization that I am still playing with so hang tight guys as there will be a lot more coming ahead. I am hoping that many of you will be inspired to participate and that the organization will award you opportunities beyond your imaginations as well.

I am ready to continue my journey which will be more strenuous and cold next. There is a mixture of being ready for the next step to solidify what I have begun for myself which was the deepening and cleaning with the yoga, meditation and service to now move into the regaining the freedom and courage aspect next. I have remained committed to my Sadana (meditation) and I have had to be ok with that it could not be exactly what I wanted it to look like everyday but rather that I had to focus on the commitment of doing it the best I can. If I had to stay up all night (like tonight to get it all in) or if I had to move it to later in the day and listen to the chants rather than actually chat the whole mediation like preferred I have had to learn to accept that that is the only way I could manage doing it at all and be able to include all the other also important activities that I have taken on. I am learning compassion and acceptance for what is without judgment and attachment. I have also witnessed how the Tibetans and Indians in general manage to be in harmony with not only their circumstances but also with their environment and others. There is a sense of peace and acceptance that I feel we do not have in the west because we are constantly bombarded with that we can do better and that there is more to have or that there is more to be done in less time. The concept of that we are not enough or that there is not enough does not, I feel exist in the same way here in India and especially in Dharamsala. The Tibetan community wants a free Tibet and many do actively involve their efforts in trying to materializing that dream, but they do it with gratitude to India for providing them with home in the mean time. There is an acceptance without passivness or complacency to that it can be different. There are goals and commitments they want to archive but once again they are able to live in the present moment with gratitude.

I have much more I can tell you but I want to also manage to up load some pictures and go for my last meditation with the Monks this morning. I will try to maybe write some more on the train and upload in Delhi before I leave. Once I am off to Nepal I think you may not hear from me for 1 to 1 ½ months as I am not certain internet is easy access from either location.

Lots of Peace and Love,
Jasmine