I have no photos to accompany this post. So, for your viewing pleasure, I have posted this photo of a Yak Pillow waiting to be adopted into a loving home, outside a Pokhara shop.

Paola left for Kathmandu this afternoon, to join up with her trekking group. She had booked into the famous Everest Base Camp trek, and was scheduled to have an orientation today and then embark on the trek tomorrow.

At breakfast we met a Belgian medical student named Bram, who had just returned from a similar trek in the Everest region. Bram spoke about possible altitude sickness during the trek. They discussed the benefits of taking Diamox (acetazolamide) to help with acclimatization to the altitude. However, Paola noted she was allergic to sulfa drugs and so could not take acetazolamide. I had taken this medication during both of my trips to the South American Andes mountains, including when I ascended a peak called Illiniza Norte in the Andes, at just over 5000 meters. I have no idea if it helped or not!

After breakfast I again attended the dharma talk, this time by the Swedish nun. Then I rested and did some reading in my room, and returned to have lunch with the group. The rest of the day passed uneventfully. It rained for a while, during which time I stayed in my room and did some reading. Later I had tea in the dining hall with the others, followed by dinner, after which I returned to my room and went to sleep after reading a bit more. Yawn.