This is my story.

It is based on actual events and I have changed some names to

protect the identities.
I was born in a typically working class family of Indian origin and I was the only
female. My schooling wasnt that great but I managed to aspire and get a
degree. I was never sure what I wanted to do in life and hence had just drifted
into a degree thinking it would give me ideas as to what to do next. Eventually I
left University with a degree into the world of work. That in itself was hard as I
had to claim benefit until I found a job. The job was the pits but I had no choice
but to take it. Eventually I had worked my through a couple of office jobs totally
unrelated to my degree.

I was never happy in my job and wanted to get out. There was a course
advertised which would lead to a job. I thought this was the answer to my prayer
and I was very excited at starting a new career. After studying I got a job related
to my study but the expectation of the job was disappointing leaving me
overworked tired and stressed. It took a long for me to admit I didnt want to do
this job. My contract for the job had ended. I didnt know what to do. I knew I
didnt want to carry on in that field of work. I was lost.
I did have one dream, and that was to travel to the Himalayas. I hungered for it,
and at times wept in frustration that I would ever achieve it. Whenever I used to
see photos, or television programmes about the Himalayas, I would feel a pang. I
couldnt explain it but it was home. It was the place where I would feel peace.
I had been looking for some direction. One of my friends recommended seeing a
life coach who she said had helped her. She said it would be good for me to go
and maybe I would get some direction.
I went to this initial meeting. I had no idea what it was going to be like but
approached it with an open heart. So here I was sitting down with the life coach.
We talked about what my goals were. I mentioned the travel that I wanted to do.
She wrote down some affirmations which I read. She gave me some websites for
me to try. I had this piece of paper and left not thinking much of it.
I went home and tried some of these websites. It was easy to join and I didnt
think anything of them but had an open mind. It was maybe a week later as I
was scrolling in my inbox that I got a message. I remember opening it and was a
trip for base camp Everest. When I got the alert, I couldnt believe it. I read it
properly and indeed it was a trip to base camp Everest, and my heart skipped a
beat as I delved into it. There still seemed to be spaces for this trip. There were
doubts going on in my mind that were thinking could I, who had never travelled
alone, seriously think of going with a bunch of people I had never met?
Other doubts came and I was thinking that I probably wouldnt get a space, and
it was too late. But another part of me was thinking I should at least email the
organiser which I did, and awaited an answer. To my delight there were spaces. I
always believed in signs, and my heart said this was a sign, if I didnt take this

opportunity, I would live to regret it. So after emailing the organiser, I signed up.
My heart said this was a chance of a lifetime.
I never had a good relationship with my mother and father. They used to criticise
me and always make me feel stupid. I was treated differently compared to my
brothers, with them being allowed to get away with things I never could. I had
grown up with their cruel behaviour. Needless to say I didnt have high self
esteem or confidence. I wondered how they would take the fact that I would be
going. Would they dissuade me? I didnt tell them until more nearer a month
before the trip.
I mentioned it to my mum saying I had a chance. Part of the trip involved a trip
to Pashupatinath which was Lord Shivas holiest shrine which I said would be part
of the package. My family and I were Hindus. So I embellished this fact. For
some reason, my mum didnt say no. I kept thinking if I was meant to go, there
would be no obstacles. And that is what I was surprised about.

My mum even tried invite herself on the trip. I laughed saying it was a very
physical taxing trip for which I had trained at the gym. I said there were no
spaces. There was no way I wanted her to come on this
The day finally arrived. I made my way to the airport where my mother had
insisted on coming. She said how I could go by myself. I was feeling
apprehensive about this so I thought it might be a good idea for her to come. It
meant travelling to Heathrow airport in London.

So we made our way to the airport by Coach. Then we met the organiser. She
was friendly. My mother was really embarrassing how she kept telling me things
and telling the organiser that I needed to be look after.

I chatted to the others as I boarded the plane and was nervous as hell. I was
actually going to the Himalayas!!! There were two planes stops. One was
stopping in Middle East, and the second was Nepal.
On the plane going to Nepal, I had eaten this dish that contained peppers. On the
plane I had started to feel queasy. When we landed in Nepal, I remember going
to the toilet vomiting out the contents of my stomach. Needless to say I was a
like a wilting flower, deplete of all energy. We all checked out with our luggage.
With our cases packed we were driven off in the transit van. It was such a
beautiful sight as I saw the rain clouds. Weak as I was, it finally hit me that I was
in Nepal.
We all went to the hotel, where we unpacked, and had our meal. It was daunting
sitting with all these strangers, as we chatted, but not as frightening as before. I

was unable to call my mother. One of the other ladies kindly offered me her
mobile phone to ring my mum. It wouldnt work. I did text my mum.

We went for some drinks and then went to bed. I was sharing with this nice
European girl, called Anna.

The next day we went to Pashupatinath the holy temple of Lord Shiva and
Boudnath. It was spectacular as we witnessed a funeral rite being carried out in
the banks. I participated in a blessing at the temple. There were holy men sitting
in meditative poses, and the beautiful intricate carvings of the temples as well.
Not forgetting the mischievous monkeys who would try and pull bags out of
peoples hands. Then there were the usual sellers selling jewellery and trying to
entice us to buy their wares.
We had to fly to Lukla which is where our first trekking would start. There were
problems with the weather leading to our flight being delayed. We had to wait in
the village for two days so we had lost some valuable trekking time. The guide
got a helicopter to take us to Lukla airport. It was absolutely freezing when we
got to Lukla. Eventually we got there and it was a huge relief. It was around
about this time I had developed a cough. It was dry at first, but I thought nothing
of it.

The first day of the trek was to Phakding. This involved a downhill trek, so was
easy. There were mani stone walls made from hundreds of stone tablets and
giant carved boulders decorated with paints.
W stayed in a teahouse which was okay, and there was hot water and good food.
There was one last night where we were at the bar. Some of us had alcoholic
drinks. This would be the last night before we trekked to the top. Everybody was
in high spirits,
The next day we had an easy trek. There was the Sagarmatha National Park. The
start of the Namche hill was the first big ascent. It was difficult for me as I was
coughing quite badly. I had started taking cough medicine but it didnt seem to
work. My coughs were getting worse. I was bringing up phlegm.
As I climbed up, the huge boulders I had to stop every few steps. I started
chanting Jai shree Ram, as I walked up the huge boulders. Every time I
attempted to travel up the steps and it was impossible I chanted Jai Shree Ram. I
managed to climb up. Now let me tell you about Jai shree Ram. This was one of
the Hindu gods which my mum told me about when I was younger. He was the

incarnation of Lord Vishnu who had incarnated to destroy the demon King Ravan.
After Ravan had kidnapped Lord Rams wife, Lord Ram had fought the King with
his younger brother Lakhan. Lord Ram had met Hanuman who was an
incarnation of Lord Shiva, and who had been blessed with many powers.
Hanuman had misused used his powers as he was growing up, and was cursed
by the sages that he would only ever remember his true powers when he was on
a mission to help Lord Ram.
So when Lord Rams wife was kidnapped, Lord Ram was advised to seek out a
tribe of monkeys who had been exiled on a mountain. The leader of this tribe of
monkeys had asked Hanuman to investigate. As soon as Lord Ram saw Hanuman
he recognised him and addressed him by his name. Lord Hanuman knew then
that Lord Ram was no mortal being.
It was Hanuman who was sent to the south to find mother Sita. At that moment
he chanted Lord Shree Rams name, and was able to grow to a colossal size and
fly to Sri Lanka to find Sita.
He became Lord Rams ardent devotee, and it was with his help that he was able
to obtain the herbs in the Himalayas to help revive Lakhan, when he was badly
injured by the demon kings son. Hanuman uprooted the whole Mountain as he
couldnt figure out which herbs to and bought it in the nick of time. Anytime
there was a task, Hanuman used to chant Jai shree Ram, and manage to do it.
I suppose it was this I was remembering this as I also chanted Lord Shree Rams
name.
I was the last one from my group. It was so difficult to climb those steps, and
when there seemed to be huge boulders, my heart used to sink. I got through it
by simply chanting Jai shree Ram.
What was really difficult was when there were these huge massive steps going to
Namche. As I saw them with my guide I was thinking how I would get up them.
My energy as depleted as I walked up there. I got through it by chanting with
each difficult step.

My cough was worsening, and I had started coughing really bad. My nose was
bleeding at times. I had developed a fever. I was so tired. All I remember was
chanting jai shree ram.
We left Namche and made our way to Thyanboche. All throughout this time, I
was chanting Jai shree Ram, exhausted as I climbed the rocks with a raging fever.
We reached Lobuche and once again there were ridges, tracks which I walked
upon. I was absolutely exhausted. All I could do was chant Jai shree Ram. My
chest was heaving even at rest and I was conscious of my heart beating. Once
we had sat down and gathered around a table and there was this device that
measured hearts beats. Mine was one hundred beats per minute.

We made the walk To Everest Base camp. There was snow everywhere as we
walked. I was frozen as I walked, just chanting Jai Shree Ram. There we saw the
yellow tents and the colourful flags

We had finally reach Mount Everest base camp. It was a glorious as we sat down
took photos with the group. I still was coughing badly, and had an extremely high
fever.
There was a chance to climb up to kala pata to see some more spectacular
sights, but I wasnt interested as I had seen Everest and I was absolutely
exhausted and drained. I had done what I came to do I didnt need to see any
more.

The next four days were spent descending the steps we had taken to Lukla.
From there we caught a flight to Kathmandu where we spent the day shopping
and trying out some of the restaurants.
We also visited the Buddhist stupa and the City of Living Art at Patan Durbar.
We saw artists painting intricate paintings and had a chance of purchasing them.

We were driven back to the hotel where we spent the day in the gardens of the
hotel and doing some last minute shopping.

In the evening we had one last meal at one of the restaurants which was fun. The
next day we got ready to catch our flights home. It was sad for me to say
goodbye to these wonderful people who accompanied me to this epic adventure.

We reached London and hugged each other again and made our way home. My
mum met me at the airport.

The reason I wanted to share this story was to let everyone know about the
power of Lord Shree Rams name. Usually getting sick as I did I wouldnt have
been able to walk at all never mind climb huge boulders in high altitudes. But
with the chanting of his holy name I got through it. It really was a miracle.
I bow down to Lord Shree Ram and his eternal humble servant lord Hanuman.

Jai Shree Ram