Memories of Himalayas-Celebrating and Going Home

How does one reward himself for a successful feat?  Enjoy the moment.

Stealing socials. Drinking. At the Namche Bazaar lodge going down, deprived of socials on the way up, it was natural to crave for beer. Beer drinking was made more enjoyable with singing and dancing accompanied by a live guitar plucking. While conducted only a several minutes, it was memorable nevertheless as there was a true cause to celebrate. (View Banny Hermanos’ May2007 Filipino climbers jamming at Namche Bazaar Nepal).

Food trip. Every chance to try out a menu different from the Nepal staple food is looked forward to. When we bumped into successful Everest peak trekker Regie Pablo, we indulged in a food trip in a newly discovered outlet. KKB of course.

Shopping. No denial to a craving for a technical stuff. After all, who else deserves the finest equipment but those who survived the unknown. One must discern which is genuine or an imitation.

Partying. Thanks to the Filipino community based in Katmandu and the recognition earned by the successful summiteers, we too were accorded the same hospitality and courtesy. We are grateful for their extraordinary hosting.

Saying thanks and appreciating  the company, sponsors and fellow trekkers from Manila and Katmandu. Like any other completed tropical climb, an interaction with fellow trekker opens up a discussion on anything about the climb. It can be serious, comical and most of the time simply trivial. No talk was seen as off topic.

Communicating and documenting. This extends a 15-day trek to an open-ended period for as long as we talk about the trek. This expands the coverage from a motley group to a wider community especially with the advent of social network. Instantly triggering memories are photos from our colleagues both amateurs and professionals (Banny, Dom, Cesar, Larry, Rico among others).

Like a cycle, it starts with a plan and ends with a completion. Celebrating the completion opens up new opportunities to eventually provide reason to celebrate again. But before the glory was the humbling start.

 Fotos from the collections of Rico C. and Larry H.

Buo ng Loob article on Baga.  Sikmura,  Tuhod,  Bulsa at Gamit.

Memories of Himalayas-End of Day and Quarters

We were slowly walking, puffing, huffing and panting looking down at the trail so there is no perspective on the distance still to be trekked.

Priceless.  Kuha ni Banny H.  Ako ba ang nakaupo?

All of a sudden when we looked up, there was a formidable illuminated structure that blocked our sight 
signalling "that's it for the day." Panning to our right, the range was framed with a live person validating to us that we 
too can make it. Suddenly, the fatigue and loss of breath were transformed to ecstasy and recharged energy.

Medyo relax pa

At the end of the day, a place to stay, eat, clean, sleep and rest awaits us. It's a simple concrete enclosure with a table, a window, a small dark box that serves as a rest room and a sleeping room walled by wood with an elevated platform to sleep on.

At the far end of the lodge is a corner that serves as a kitchen. Power supply is minimal generated by solar panel. While arrangements have been pre planned, arriving at the lodge is met with anxiety triggered by thoughts whether the body can live with the temperature, pessimism for unappetizing food and doubts of insufficient energy to chew and to clean the plates. 

Wala yatang heater dito

In the deep of the night when nature calls, will the flesh have the inertia to move and to be erected? But the more difficult dilemma to face comes on the morning after.  Upon waking up, this question is repeatedly asked to the self, "Should I stay or should I go?" We did go and proceeded.

Si Rizal, Mabini o Bonifacio ba ang nasa isip ko?

The base camp is a tent camp. No more lodges, no more inns.  Shelter is contained within the fabrics of the structure framed by poles. Temperature is managed by the technical properties of the fabric and the sleeping bag. Between your back and the floor are thin layers of sheets that absorb the low temperature. What added warmth was the company and camaraderie.

Kampo kasama sina Rico, Cesar, Banny

Life at the base camp is living exposed to the elements.

Way back was a breeze. From Lukla airport to base camp took us 9 days. Going back was in 6 days. Less anxiety and with more confidence.

Ang ganda ewan ko kung sino ang may kuha

Stay at the lodges was more relaxed. No more concerns on the unpredictability of Acute Mountain Sickness. Destination was known, pacing can now be predicted.  

Somewhat the lodges were more homey. Windows with a view can be better appreciated.

Mga tambay sa labas

But has the relationship among us deepened? Not yet as the feat we have succeeded to accomplish has to still sink in.

Months and years later, what have I realized? Borrowing from Edwin Berbaum, writer of "Sacred Mountains of the World", "At Everest, we feel ourselves at the center of the world, not just Asia, not just the Philippines but the WORLD."

-Memories of a journey May 2007 recalled Sept 2014.

Oda alas gracias - Pablo Neruda

Oda alas gracias - Pablo Neruda
Gracias a la palabra que agradece, gracias a gracias por cuanto esta palabra derrite nieve o hierro
Gracias, gracias, que viajes y que vuelvas,que subas y que bajes. Está entendido, no lo llenas todo, palabra gracias, pero donde aparece tu pétalo pequeño se esconden los puñales del orgullo, y aparece un centavo de sonrisa.

Ode to gratitude
Thanks to the word that gives thanks. Thanks to the gratitude for how excellently the word melts snow or iron.  Thanks, gracias, you travel and return, you rise and descend. It is understood, you don't permeate everything, but where the word of thanksgiving appears like a tiny petal, proud fists hide and a penny's worth of a smile appears

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Oda a las gracias Gracias a la palabra que agradece, gracias a gracias por cuanto esta palabra derrite nieve o hierro. El mundo paecía amenazante hasta que suave como pluma clara, o dulce como pétalo de azúcar, de labio en labio pasa gracias, grandes a plena boca o susurrantes, apenas murmulladas, y el ser volvió a ser hombre y no ventana, alguna claridad entró en el bosque. fue posible cantar bajo las hojas. Gracias, eres la píldora contra los óxidos cortantes del desprecio, la luz contra el altar de la dureza. Tal vez también tapiz entre los más distantes hombres fuiste. Los pasajeros se diseminaron en la naturaleza y entonces en la selva de los desconocidos, merci, mientras el tren frénetico cambia de patria, borra las fronteras, spasivo, junto a los puntiagudos volcanes, frío y fuego, thanks, sí, gracias, y entonces se transforma la tierra en una mesa. una palabra la limió, brillan platos y copas, suenan los tenedores y parecen manteles las llanuras. Gracias, gracias, que viajes y que vuelvas, que subas y que bajes. Está entendido, no lo llenas todo, palabra gracias, pero donde aparece tu pétalo pequeño se esconden los puñales del orgullo, y aparece un centavo de sonrisa.

Ode to gratitude

• Thanks to the word that gives thanks.
• Thanks to the gratitude for how excellently the word melts snow or iron. The planet seemed full of threats until soft as a translucent feather, or sweet as a sugary petal, from lip to lip, it passed,thank you, magnificent, filling the mouth,or whispered, hardly voiced, and the soul became human again, not a window, soome clear shine penetrated the forest: it was possible again to sing beneath the leaves.
• Gratitude, you are medicine opposing scorn's bitter oxides, light melting the cruel altar. Perhaps you are also the carpet uniting the most distant men, passengers spread out through nature and the jungle of unknown men, merci, as the delirious train penetrates a new country, eradicating frontiers, spasibo, joined with the sharp-cusped volcanoes, frost and fire, thanks, yes, gracias, and the Earth turns into a table, a single word swept it clean, plates and cups glisten, forks jingle, and the flatlands seem like tablecloths.
• Thanks, gracias, you travel and return, you rise and descend. It is understood, you don't permeate everything, but where the word of thanksgiving appears like a tiny petal, proud fists hide and a penny's worth of a smile appears.

Lines, translation, visual all grabbed from the net.

LRT MRT Connect. My recollection

LRT-MRT Connect. As an active city traveler heavily patronizing the mass transport system in Metro Manila, I keep track of expansions. When the Roosevelt station started to operate Oct 2010, I have looked forward to the moment when it would connect to North Avenue. Only now after over 3 years have I read a satisfactory explanation. It will still take years. The riding public will still have to bear the hardship. From Alex Magno's column http://m.philstar.com/opinion/show/0191a87a91d24bc7d9b3da7939290cca?t=t5tcgfhhrs6qurdg6787f6l421

Originally posted 13 March 2014