We are back from Everest base camp, baffled by the splendour of the white giant. FYI: sleeping above 5000 meters leads to wicked dreaming, did you know that?

From Shigatse we went to Rumbuk monastery, the highest monastery in the world. We are such lucky bastards. When we crossed the first pass on which the Everest can be seen, it was cloudy. After arriving at the monastery though, the sky cleared and we had a terrific view on the whole of Everest and its still not insignificant smaller brothers. We spent the evening together with our driver Kelsong, a couple of monks and a few staring Tibetan girls. Always a laugh.

Our driver seems to have a girl in every place we stay. He's a true Casanova. The good news is: he promised me to help me out finding this One thangka when we get back to Lhasa, so he might be my best friend after all (-; His only disadvantages are the fact that he's got only one tape for his car audio set (and we can sing along with it fully, after six days practice...'it is the groove generator') and his funky habit to accelarate before dangerous road turns. Ah well, we are still alive.

We slept well at 5000 meter in the monastery. I am dreaming wicked dreams every night in Tibet, but the higher we get, the weirder they get, too. It must be the altitude. For example, how to explain floating on a flying matrass, trying to save four chicken from eternal damnation in a slaughterhouse? To be honest, I woke up before I could complete this heroic deed and rescue birds and eggs. I am so sorry, chicks.

But then, Everest base camp. We hiked the stiff climb to the base camp, where the freaking idiots (excusez-le-mot) wait for their expedition to start. Accompanied by a Tibetan woman we climbed the rocky paths, looked upon by the towering white giant. She fed us with really hard yak butter sticks that were thoroughly disgusting. However, she meant well, so we chewed our way to the base camp. It's a desolate place, with lots of yaks waiting for duty, inbetween the tents of the expedition members. But the view, the view... we saw Everest in its full glory. Blue skies galore!

From base camp we moved down to Shegar (AKA New Tingri), for an early night with crisps, cokes and chocolate in bed... after all, we've been there, done that, right? Today we travelled back to Shigatse, where we treated ourselves to even more decadent pleasures, like a hot shower. Hedonism to the max, I'd say.

And now for the boring part; did you guys know I published two new coverstories on Infoworld.nl since we are in Tibet? I must admit I did some work before I left, but it's still good news to me. One is about the demise of passwords, the other warns for quick offshore outsourcing.