American Autumn Shishapangma Expedition 2005: Sleeping in Seoul -- September 6

Sunset on Shishapangma from Base Camp

I am halfway around the world, and I think my body is almost adjusted. It is 8am, and I try not to think about what time it is back home (but okay, just this once--it is 5pm, but yesterday). Last 'night' I slept in the transit lounge on a couch, awakened every so often with sounds of Korean television, buffering machines that were re-doing the cafe floor, a new passenger-in-transition joining the area, and once with the smell of paint, but overall it was a pretty pleasant experience.

On my way across time zones, I was reading 'Essential Teachings' by His Holiness The Dalai Lama--reading this before leaving it behind as I enter China. He states one aspect about life: "We can observe that bodily suffering often comes from the mind, or that if two people are enduring an equal degree of physical suffering, one whose mind is calm and happy suffers much less than one whose mind is agitated and anxious." I keep this in mind now, and especially will remember it up high on the mountains. While checking in at the airport in Denver, my attendant thought I was a little crazy to be headed to any place where I would need a -35F sleeping bag. I will try and keep my mind calm to avoid any unneeded 'suffering.' As Richard Freeman says so often when practicing yoga, I will keep a subtle smile on my face, for I am happy in this.

Since it doesn't hurt to try and relieve suffering, I am spoiled now with a nice lounge where I spent almost an hour in the shower area (after all, I have several hours until my flight to Chengdu), took advantage of the fast and free internet, and made a few trips to the cappuccino and tea bar.

-Val

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