Here's Tara at what's left of the Berlin wall. As usual, Adam's behind the camera.
Our group of 15 women was travelling with a huge entourage of sherpas, porters and cooks. Many of the porters wore only rubber flip-flops, while carrying our duffle bags, tents, food, dishes, and everything else we needed for the trip on their backs. Every night when we arrived at camp, our tents were set up and waiting for us, along with a dining tent with table and folding chairs. How they managed to prepare and serve such wonderful food in the middle of nowhere I’ll never know. Every morning they were up before us to serve breakfast, pack up the camp, and start the whole process over again. 
These people worked incredibly hard for very little pay. You would think that when they were done for the day, they would fall asleep exhausted. But no, when the work was done, it was then time to party. They sang Nepali folk songs and danced and laughed like they were the happiest people on the planet. Some of my favorite memories of the trip are of dancing by firelight, on the side of a mountain, with a sky full of stars that sparkled brighter than any disco ball from the 80’s. 
Because we took a trade route rather than a tourist route, we passed through small villages that seldom see western faces. The children ran up and down the steep slopes like mountain goats. They had nothing, yet they appeared to have not a care in the world.
The only time we camped more than 1 night was near a monastery run by Buddhist nuns. We awoke both mornings to the sound of a conk shell calling the nuns to prayer. They were gracious enough to invite us to join them, which we did, still sleepy eyed and wrapped in our sleeping bags. Two hours of chanting in a language that I didn’t understand went by amazingly fast. I remember feeling a sense of belonging and love, as if all was well with the universe.
In the picture: Vanessa, Tara, Melanie & Chris
We invited Melanie & Tara along to round out our foursome. After a picnic lunch at the Lake on the Mountain, we hit the shops in Picton and then spent some down time on our balcony at the Waring House with a few bottles of wine. I threw my healthy eating plan out the window and enjoyed a yummy dinner and breakfast. What’s a gal to do?
In this week’s column, Sue Hendler shares some humorous and honest answers to the question that people with cancer are asked every day: How are you doing?
I had an interview with a woman from an organization called Cottage Dreams this afternoon. The purpose of the program is to provide cancer survivors time away at a donated cottage with their families and/or friends. I don’t know for sure if I will get a cottage, but it is looking good for a week this summer.
