This is it..this is the day...
Oh my..I don't know why but I feel quite nervous about it. We had our breakfast around 7:45 am. At this point, I don't have appetite for food at all. I can't take the garlic soup or Dal Bhat anymore. My body was really tired after 8 days of trekking but I have to make sure that I have enough energy to reach the base camp. I shoved the pancake into my mouth and swallow it with tea, alternately...
And...I haven't showered in a week...!
It was snowing quite heavily last night. We started our trekking at 8:20 am in the cold morning surrounding with snow-white landscapes. I'm taking this opportunity to dedicate this final trekking for those who were on board MH370; besides for my late mom and my family. I took out a marker pen and wrote it on the Malaysian flag carried by Dorje.
Kala Patthar (5545 m) with Pumo Ri (7165 m) behind.
"We're heading there..!"
The trek was difficult. We walk (walk? yea right), I mean ascending along the Khumbu Glacier, crossing loose rock boulders, put one step at a time while gasping for air. The trekking is interspersed with regular breaks to stop and catch our breath, drink lots of water and of course, taking photos. During ascending, there's a particular spot where you can see the mighty Everest (8848 m) laying gracefully yet deadly behind Nuptse (7861 m). Along the way, rocks and loose gravels falling from the hill (or mountain?) nearby caused by the crows swarming and landing on it....and the Discovery Channel's cameraman scouting for a place to shoot Joby Ogwyn (who would have been featured in "Everest Jump Live" by attempting to make the first wing suit flight off the Everest summit but was cancelled due to the deadliest avalanche hit, killing 16 Sherpas on 18 April 2014).
The only spot to view the Everest.
The mighty Everest behind.
Everybody was walking very slow at this point now. The oxygen rate is about 50% with my heart was pounding like I was trail running and racing with Kilian Jornet (ok..that's a bit exaggerated). But honestly, my heart pounding fast! Every 10 steps, I have to stop and take a deep breath. After 3 hours, we were attempting the final leg to the base camp. The closer you get, the rougher the terrain, you are crossing through a rocky terrain and the treacherous Khumbu Glacier.
The treacherous Khumbu Glacier.
After 9 days of trekking and climbing..crossing among the highest and scariest suspension bridge in Himalaya..facing the most challenging and extreme climate condition..with less than 50% oxygen level and minus 15 Degree Celsius in temperature, at 11:40 am Everest time (1:55 pm Malaysian time), 15 April 2014 we finally reached the EVEREST BASE CAMP (5364 m)...!!!
Proud to be Kedahan.
Dedicated to our Sultan, His Royal Highness Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah.
This Deuter Futura Pro 42 back pack was sponsored by Syamsul Bahtiar.
The least I can do for my beloved country, Malaysia.
The feeling is euphoric! The pride, the relief, the completion feelings can be felt and all the feelings of tiredness somehow turn to excitement. We broke into tears while bowing down in prostration, to humble our self in front of Allah and to thank Him for letting us reaching the base camp safely. It's such an amazing feeling! Only those who have been there can relate the way we felt. We spent almost an hour taking photos, exchanging handshakes and hugs. At one particular moment, I was standing in complete silence, emotionally appreciating the mountains surrounding us; gazing at the Khumbu Ice Fall and yellow tents of mountaineers who have ready to scale the Everest. Wow, I have stood half way towards the top of the world...!
"I did it Mak...I did it...!"
After my personal achievement has been satisfactorily recorded, we head back down to Gorakshep, reaching there in 3 hours. Sitting quietly at the tea house, doing nothing, we let our mind drifting off to thoughts related the sweet experience of reaching the Everest Base Camp. Somehow, we realized that it was not just about the destination; but the journey getting there.
I would really like to thank my personal porter, Dorje Sherpa and our guides, Mingmar Sherpa and Pasang Sherpa for taking good care of me and my wife during the journey.
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