I was looking forward to the rest day—my body was aching with fatigue, and I was determined to stay in bed a little longer to regain some strength. Namche Bazaar is also known as the gateway to Everest, as it is a popular stopover for trekkers to recuperate and re-acclimatize.

I’ve made some really interesting friends along the way. My roommate has been Arun, and my trekking companion is Alwa Hussain. It’s been very cold at night, with temperatures dropping to -1°C. There’s a heavy mist and cloud cover in the evenings, often followed by a light downpour in the afternoon.

Namche Bazaar

Our group includes many foreigners from Australia and Europe, along with a healthy mix of enthusiastic Indian trekkers. Alwa and I happen to be the oldest in the group—I’m 51 and she’s 52. I had a chat with Alwa over lunch; she is a PR professional and a Bohra Muslim. I was fascinated as she shared glimpses of her life.

“You know, I was born into poverty, Anuj. I had to wear a burkha when I went to school, but I would often take it off. My husband, however, is an atheist and doesn’t believe in religion,” Alwa told me over fried rice.

As usual, I chatted about my blogging journey with some group members over coffee, and I spoke at length about my admiration for Osho and his philosophy. While walking through the stone-cobbled streets of Namche Bazaar, some younger members of our group recognized me as a Bollywood actor and took pictures with me.

“I agree with your philosophy, sir. I don’t want to marry either. I just want to live with my partner. Marriage is a useless institution,” one girl told me enthusiastically.

Namche Bazaar is a vibrant Sherpa town full of trekker lodges. I’ve been surviving on tomato soup, toast, and eggs. I was advised to avoid chicken, as it tends to go stale in this region. My staple trekking diet has been energy drinks and Mars Bars. Apart from losing my trekking stick at a local shop, everything has gone according to plan. The people in my group have been very friendly overall, and we are quite a cheerful bunch.

As I’ve been trekking through these treacherous mountains, I’ve been amazed at the speed and agility with which the Sherpas navigate the terrain. Most of them carry music systems tied to their waists or shoulders, playing loud Nepali folk songs. It seems to be a form of meditation that helps them stay focused and motivated. These men are incredibly agile and can carry heavy loads with ease.

From Namche Bazaar, one can see the mighty peaks of Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kongde Ri. The view of these mountains is absolutely breathtaking. There are also shops selling Tibetan merchandise and hiking equipment. I tasted homemade yak cheese and butter—a unique experience. However, the cheese was very hard and couldn’t be spread on a bun or bread. The locals call this cheese chhurpi, and it’s definitely something one should try.

The Wi-Fi facility in the region is decent, although there are spots where the connection drops.