Saturday, April 5. Dingboche 4300m Snow Lion Lodge. Today we were up at 7:00am and on the trail by 8:15. I had a cheese omelet and delicious apple fritters for breakfast. As we stepped outside the lodge we were greeted to a winter wonderland. A light dusting of snow covered all the trees and the trail. Right past our lodge was a Monastery for nuns. In this monastery there is a nun who has been walled into her room for 48 years. She is in there to meditate and pray. A few of our team members went to her for a blessing. They passed 500rs (about $9.00) through a hole in the wall and she gave them three small red pills. We have no idea what they are and what to do with them. They said she looked quite frail and old. I know I could not match her level of dedication. We walked for about one hour to Pangboche. In Pangboche we went to see Lama Geshe who blesses about 90% of all Everest climbers. We went to his home and sat in the kitchen as he finished blessing some climbers who were there before us. We were given a Kata and told to wrap a 100rs (about $1.75) in the scarf and to hand it to the Lama. We filed into a large room and went one by one to be blessed. As we approached this old man in a monks habit and a down jacket we bowed our head to have an orange string placed around our neck. This string would be tied and should stay on our neck for the duration of the expedition. We then gave our Kata to his assistant and she took the money and placed the scarf around our neck. We all then sat a the Lama prayed for our safe passage on the mountain and back home. He chanted, threw rice, and rang a bell. We were then given a post card and some rice and told to take them to the summit with us. We were told the card and rice would protect us from bad things such as crevasses and avalanches. It was all quite interesting and we all agreed the we would take any help we could get. From Pangboche we walked for 45 minutes, had lunch and walked a further 90 minutes to Dingboche. Our lodge is pretty nice and they have a good selection on the menu. I may try the cheese brugger. The weather is cold and windy with low visibility due to low lying clouds. I am a little concerned about the restrictions we will have on us on the mountain. I can't really say much right here as we are not sure what they will be and I am pretty sure our transmissions are being monitored. There have been rumors that anyone caught doing anything they (China & Nepal) do not like w will be exported from the country. We may not have, or have very limited communication with the outside world once we reach base camp. It is all pretty crazy and does not seem real. I'll hope for the best. That's all for now. Big hugs to Susan, Amy and Colin. Scott. (SS)