Julian has emerged as the champion cake and pastry eater, and easily finished of four cheesebreads before lunch. Another little market has sprung up in the town down near the large Stupa - a party of Tibetans are selling clothes and blankets. These bohemian traders are easy to spot, being tall and dark and wearing enormous quantities of jewellery which represent their life savings. Before long we see some of the porters wandering about in newly acquired suits and jackets, making them look very dapper (although the effect is rather spoiled by keeping the waterproofs on underneath!)

The stupa marks the entrance to Khumjung Photo © Alan Geer 1998

I pick up from a little tailor shop the trousers I had ordered the day before. They are beautifully made, but very baggy. I'm fairly sure that this was a scheme by the tailor to get me to buy a belt as well, but at least I can finally ditch my much be-gaffered easy trousers.

Pasang takes us on a 'little' excursion to see the museum and park above the town. The museum is a rather sad and run down place, but provides some entertainment. Next we start heading steeply up the hillside (here we go again!), eventually coming to the little airstrip. Pasang presses us on, though, and after an hour or so we reach the village of Khumjung. This settlement boasts an extensive school, one of Edmund Hillary's schemes and is very neat and tidy. The main hospital for the area is also here.

On returning to Namche, a major pontoon tournament ensues accompanied by plenty of alcohol. Around 9pm, the owners of the tea house are clearly wanting to go to bed, so Tom, Al and I go out to sample the nightlife. There isn't any. However, our favourite bar stays open for us and we enjoy the evening anyhow.