Seeds of a Dream

The idea of going to a resort, sitting by the beach, and sipping cocktails as a "vacation" has always been foreign to me. During my vacations to rural China as a child, I would love to explore the countryside. Ducking under old bridges, jumping over shallow ponds, climbing tall willow trees, catching frogs and cicadas; to my parents dismay, there was never a day I would come home without a healthy dose of cuts and bruises. To me, discovery and exploration were the greatest form of relaxation. I wasn't merely traversing the unknown, I was conquering it.

I am now 21 years old. My itch for exploration hasn't subsided; in fact, it has only grown stronger. I have gone skydiving, visited the Rockies, climbed the Great Wall, and toured many other wondrous places; nevertheless, I have always desired something grander, something few people can claim to have done, something... extraordinary.

Peaking above the cloud level at the highest point on Earth, it beckons me, it dares me. It mocks me even, knowing that at my current point in life, both financially and physically, there is no way I will be able to attain its glory. For me, there would be no greater sense of personal satisfaction than reaching its summit.

What's my dream vacation? Conquering Mount Everest.

 Mount Everest


Height: 8.85 km
Location: Himalayan ranges in Nepal (on the border of Tibet)

• Only ~2000 people have made it to the top alive.
• It's Tibetan name "Chomolungma" means "holy mother".

The following posts will document my (theoretical) vacation in the future to Mount Everest based on other people's experiences and available information.