TOUR EVEREST BASE CAMP

I have been really fascinated by Mount Everest since reading John Krakauer’s 'Into Thin Air'. I still remember the Sydney papers in 1996 when Bec Weathers was brought down from the mountain. Since then I’ve continued to read everything I can get my hands on. When Rex Pemberton was climbing Everest I logged onto the Kumuka website to follow his expedition and even managed to hear him give a talk after he came back. It was then that I realised I needed to see Everest with my own eyes. However, after reading all harrowing stories of summit attempts, I decided base camp was as far as I needed to go!

I chose Kumuka for my trek due to their association with Rex and because their website was so informative. While I found Kumuka’s people easy do deal with during the booking process, it was their team in Nepal who stole the show. My main guide, Raj, and his right hand man, Ginnesh, were both fantastic and took incredible care of us. The porters, who carried our heavy bags, just wouldn’t stop smiling! Raj’s English was really good and he even enjoyed Aussie humour – a good thing considering there were seven of us!

I can’t describe how amazing the Himalayas are. Being amongst those massive mountains, with no cars, no buildings, no mobile phones and no noise, was a very spiritual experience. Combine that with the warmth and beauty of the Nepalese people and I was in heaven. Reaching base camp is probably my greatest personal achievement and is a moment I will never forget.

A Chat With… MEG HALL
General Manager, Kumuka Worldwide, Australia

INTERESTS?
Travelling, of course! Back at home I like bushwalking and the outdoors. I’ve actually signed up to walk 100km in 48 hours this August to raise money for charity, so it’s best.

WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST TRAVEL MEMORY?
Doing doughnuts in our Volkswagen on the way to school! I used to live in the outback and going to and from school was a journey in itself, especially when the rain came down. My mum would hit mud patches on the way and we’d spin out of control.

BEST TRIP?
Six months overlanding across Africa in my early 20s. It introduced me to everlasting friends and totally changed my view on life.

MOST RECENT TRIP?
To see my mother-in-law. Does that count? Before that it was on a tailor-made tour to the French Alps. My husband and I are keen trekkers, so we arranged a one-week stay at Chamonix and then headed into the hills on a private trek. While we were there we discovered that I was pregnant, so adventures of a travelling kind have been on pause for a while.

NEXT TRIP?
Vietnam at the end of the year. We’ll call on Kumuka’s tailor-made services again, as our son Max is a bit young for Kumuka group travel. We’re bringing the whole family and will take it slowly.

FAVOURITE PLACE?
Africa, for its illuminating people, wild animals and breathtaking scenery.

IF YOU COULD TRAVEL WITH ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE?
My husband and son of course, though it would be great to have Bob Geldof come along. He has a very passionate and learned view of Africa.

MOST SURPRISING DESTINATION?
Papua New Guinea. It’s only a three-hour flight from Sydney and yet it’s in another world.

MOST UNDERRATED PLACE?
I always travel with a completely open mind, so I don’t have any experience with expectations.

BEST HOTEL?
Fundu Lagoon on the island of Pemba (Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania). This 5-star tented camp is sited on a remote part of the sun-bathed island, where the Indian Ocean’s waters gently lap on its shores.

WORST HOTEL?
I can’t remember the name of it, but it was a mouldy and noisy hotel in the town of Chimbote in South America. The joys of backpacking!

BEST MEAL?
Anything cooked on an open fire under the stars is a guaranteed winner.

WORST MEAL?
Anticuchos in Peru – again the perils of backpacking. I had no idea what it was, but at US$2 it seemed like a bargain. That was until I learnt anticuchos was beef heart!

BEST NATIONAL CUISINE?
Thailand – nowhere in the world is there such a large variety of sensational cuisine at your fingertips. And it’s so cheap!

BEST EVENING?
Our wedding. We hired a house on the coast of Kenya where we ate great food, drank till the small hours and danced under an African sky with a host of great friends.

ANY HELPFUL TRAVEL ADVICE?
In Africa the answer is often “yes” no matter what the question, so be careful when phrasing your question. For example, ask, “Where is the post office?” instead of “Is the post office near here?”