Five days, that is, before I get on a big jet plane to fly to Kathmandu. I can’t help but hear that Bob Seger song in my head:

“I think I’m going to Katmandu
That’s really, really where I’m going to
If I ever get out of here
That’s what I’m gonna do…”

Today was spent on organising myself and getting packed. Of course being the OCD-type, I’ve been organised for about six weeks now, but there is always more to do. Lenses to clean, batteries to charge, decision on whether to take this or that jacket after all, do I really need that lens too, what to wear on the days in Kathmandu before and after the trek, stowing the clip-on koalas and pencils for the children I will be meeting.

I”m excited and apprehensive at the same time. Excited to be going back after 10 years. Apprehensive at what I will find after the earthquake, the floods, globalisation. Someone told me the other day that Nepal has a vibrant startup scene. I don’t know why that surprised me, but I’m looking forward to seeing that. Then there is the question mark of how I will cope with altitude this time around and how my body and knees will hold up generally being 10 years older. Only one way to find out: go and do it (and keep the ibuprofen and the Diamox near).

And then there is photography to be done. Creativity is calling and I hope that yesterday’s visit to the Hokusai exhibition can serve as an inspiration. Maybe I should aim for 12 views of Everest, 10 waterfalls and 8 suspension bridges to bring back from the trek. And that’s just the landscape stuff. Then there are the people and the religions. Never short on objectives or challenges. How to cram it all into three weeks is the biggest challenge of them all.

It would appear that most teahouses are now connected to wifi. All things working well, I will post live updates from the trek. To be continued…