Another post from Kathmandu

Today is our last day in Kathmandu before flying out to Lukla tomorrow morning. First thing this morning the four of us went to "Mike's Breakfast" which is an old institution in Kathmandu and actually sells more than just breakfast. We lazed there for a couple of hours in its nice garden surrounds eating a big breakfast and drinking a few coffees before wandering back to our hotel via the old King's Palace (he abdicated a few years ago so its a museum now). We spent the rest of the morning sorting through our gear, packing what was being sent to Island Peak base camp and what would be coming with us while we trekked up there. Needless to say there was a bit of gear shedding as we got rid of things that weren't entirely necessary. We then spent some time mucking around getting a local sim card so that we could pay $0.25c a minute to call Australia rather than Telstra's bargain price of $3.30. The hassle is that you needed a copy of your passport and visa as well as a passport photo.

After lunch we headed off to Swayambhunath, or Monkey Temple, which is a buddhist site founded in the 5th century. The photo to the left is of the stupa at the top of the large hill which the temple sits on. There are great views over Kathmandu (photo at the top) as the temple is on the highest point in the city. As the name suggests, there are plenty of monkeys roaming all over the site, scrapping for food and just playing around.

Tonight will be an early night. Our flight to Lukla leaves Kathmandu at 7am tomorrow and we will be leaving the hotel at around five. We only have a couple of hours walk when we arrive at Lukla so it should be a fairly easy day. Hopefully the sun stays out so that I can wear my 2010 Collingwood Premiership cap which Heather bought me - I will be sure to post a photo of me wearing it!