Meetings and a decision!

I seem to have been busy with meetings these last couple of days - and have decided to head for Everest BC sooner rather than later. I have chosen to team up with a guide on a 1:1 basis - with a man called Dharma, who came highly recommended by Lauren from Canada. We met up yesterday evening and decided to go ahead ASAP. One reason is to escape the rather polluted and dusty atmosphere of Kathmandu. It shouldn't really be like that at this time of year, but climate change is being blamed again - this time bringing dusty winds up from India and making things worse than normal. The other reason is that it is still relatively early in the season and we will avoid the worst of the large numbers who head for Everest these days.
Yesterday evening I also met with a man called Ram Kumar Khatri (introduced by Philip Hoyle). There was the prospect of doing some English teaching or tutoring with some members of the new government, but the timing for that is bad right now. Nevertheless he seems to be very well connected and will help identify many potential opportunities to teach English if I choose when I return from the trek. My few weeks may not really be enough though.

Today Dharma and I have been getting our permits sorted out. I need two different kinds of permit to trek to Everest BC. And I have purchased air tickets for us to fly in to Lukla as the start point of the trek. Sadly not on Yeti Airlines though! We leave early on Tuesday.
This afternoon I had a long meeting with Chuda (just off the bus from Chitwan) and with Lillian. We had a pretty comprehensive discussion about the WDT and the NMV school - broadly confirming the priority needs which Chuda had previously expressed. Tomorrow morning we will continue at Chuda's home here.

Aside from that I will be purchasing some gear for the trek, and have been around one or two of my favourite shops. I think I know now what I want to go for and will no doubt be spending another pile of money tomorrow!

I'd file a picture of myself and Dharma doing some planning, but again the computer limitations prevent that for now.