[Mati]

Dear Friends,

I'm personally very sad and emotional to this moment to get the news of Sir Edmund Hilary's resting in peace. Primarily because I saw his works, sensed the respect Solu and Khumbu has, the love he does and the medical research I'm interested in has been initiated and inspired by him some half a century back in our Nepal Himalayas.

Be it Solu or Khumbu or we take all "Solukhumbu" there exists another god, enlightenment and respect - that is "Sir Edmund Hilary".

All the way up Everest - his works, his portrait, autobiography, books, adventures, numerous philanthropic and environmental works - in air, in lives, in lands, in vegetation - there is "HIM".

He had so much love, respect, commitment and will to work and visit this Nepal Himalaya that last year he couldn't come because he was hospitalized and was in oxygen but he couldn't resist himself - so he risked himself but couldn't live without seeing Nepal Himalaya- he, with oxygen cylinder and mask, helicomptered over Namche, Khumjung, Khunde, Thame all from aerial view and sherpas greeted from the ground with flowers, prayer flags, holy khatas....!!! They all were forced for this despite his yearly routine to return these villages on foot. Emotional, Tearful, long known relation(may be established in previous incarnation) with this place and people are earns for both Sherpas and Sir Edmund Hilary.

Hats off for him from our FORUM "XENOMED" - for the man who inspired, organized and led ever pioneering altitude research expedition known as "Silver Hut Expedition" in 1960 at Mimgbo glacier behind gem of Khumbu "Mt Ama Dablam". I'm myself very much saddened by his demise and things to be is - I was one of the important research members in the Silver Hut's grandson (another level of sophistication and height in the altitude and ICU research) "Caudwell Xtreme Everest Research Expedition" in 2007 spring on Everest. He pioneered research in altitude in which I'm interested now.


At the moment, we remember him and pray for his soul to rest in Peace.

PS : -

Here is my Picture in XENOMED as Avatar - from last fall when I spent a hectic, responsible and fruitful six weeks in Khumbu. The picture is just over the Cho La pass facing Gokyo (i.e. Gokyo is behind me) Side while climbing down to go Gokyo from Lobuje - it is 1 Nov 2007 AD. One of our veteran and very regular member of XENOMED Walrus was asking where the picture was from in another thread http://www.xenomed.com/forums/messag...tml#post133867. So with the theme related to Khumbu, Sir Edmund Hilary, my interest and picture - I though it is meaningful to give its introduction here.

Best wishes,
Mati