Established 1961 29 Lifestyle Features Monday, April 2, 2018 Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa posing for a picture at Boudhanath Stupa, where he has a rented room, on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa praying at Boudhanath Stupa, where he has a rented room, on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Nepali Sherpa aims for record 22nd Everest summit Nepali Sherpa is hoping to summit 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) is a job not a quality, cheap Sherpa. If they pay high price Mount Everest for a record-breaking record-shattering feat. “I did not start climb- they will get a high price (quality) Sherpa,” he A22nd time next month, during the busy ing to set a world record. But in the course of said. Most paying climbers try to reach the climbing season that each year sees hundreds my work in the guiding industry this is going summit with the help of a dedicated Sherpa of climbers reach the top of the world. But to to be my 22nd ascent. It wasn’t for any com- guide, but the number of experienced Sherpa Kami Rita Sherpa, who has worked as a guide petition,” Kami Rita told AFP in Kathmandu has not been able to keep pace with demand, on Everest for over two decades, climbing to before setting out for the mountain. When warned Kami Rita. 48-year-old Kami Rita first summited Everest “Earlier, we had to knock on the compa- in 1994, he was one of just 49 climbers to nies’ doors for jobs. Now the tables have reach the peak. This photograph turned, the companies have to please the Last year, 634 people made it to the top. shows Nepali Sherpas to work with them. Why? Because Over the last two decades the booming num- mountaineer Kami there is shortage,” he said. Last year a record ber of climbers on Everest has created a Rita Sherpa sitting in number of rescues were made from the lucrative mountaineering industry in both his rented room at mountain, which observers point as a sign of China and Nepal, which share the peak. In Boudhanath Stupa, on the growing cost of inexperience-amongst Nepal-home to eight of the world’s highest the outskirts of both paying climbers and Sherpa guides-on peaks-the climbers provide vital income: last Kathmandu. the mountain. The Nepali and Chinese year the impoverished country netted over $4 — AFP photos authorities, who monitor all climbs on the million in permit fees on Everest alone. Each southern and northern faces of the mountain year hundreds of climbers begin gathering at climbers died on the mountain. The rapid largely Nepali-run cheaper ones of skimping respectively, are yet to release the number of the foot of the world’s highest peak from ear- growth in the climbing industry has also led on basic safety to keep costs low while also climbing permits issued for this year. But the ly April, turning the base camp into a bustling to fears of deadly overcrowding on Everest, accepting clients who lack high-altitude season-which marks the 65th anniversary of nylon tent city. with the mountain opening up to more people climbing experience. the first summit of Everest by Edmund Hillary They spend nearly two months on the as competition between expedition organiz- and Tenzing Norgay-is expected to be as mountain to acclimatize to the harsh high alti- ers has seen the costs plummet. Cost of inexperience busy as last. Meanwhile, for Kami Rita it is tude environment before attempting to reach The cheapest operators charge clients Kami Rita, who has worked for US-based just another year of work. “I am not extremely the summit in May. Spring is the busiest time around $20,000 to take them to the top of Alpine Ascents for much of his career, said happy, excited or very sad no matter how Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa spinning of year on the mountain as the winds and the world, a quarter of the amount demanded the key differences between the operators is many times I climb. There are many Sherpas prayer wheels at Boudhanath Stupa, where he temperatures are more forgiving than at other by the most expensive. That discrepancy has how well they train and pay-their Sherpa who have held world records, I am just start- has a rented room, on the outskirts of times of the year. But nonetheless each spring caused tension on the mountain, with the guides. “Some foreigners (climbers) seek only ing.” “My life is just normal,” he added as he Kathmandu. Everest claims a few lives: last year seven mostly foreign-run companies accusing the cheap options which means they will get low headed off for the top of the world. — AFP N Korea’s Kim attends S Korea concert in latest reconciliatory move orth Korean leader Kim Jong Un yes- Jong, and ceremonial head of state Kim terday attended the first concert in Yong Nam. “He (Kim Jong Un) showed great NPyongyang for over a decade by interest in the songs and lyrics (of South South Korean entertainers, including a K- Korean singers) during the concert,” Do pop girlband, the latest gesture of reconcilia- Jong-hwan, Seoul’s culture chief and the tion before a rare inter-Korean summit. The head of the delegation, told reporters. The visit, described by many as a cultural charm- South’s taekwondo athletes also staged a offensive by the South, came as a diplomatic performance before an audience of 2,300 in thaw quickens on the peninsula after months Pyongyang yesterday ahead of a joint dis- of military tensions. play of the Korean martial art with the North’s practitioners on Monday. The rapprochement was triggered by the South’s Winter Olympics, to which the North’s leader Kim Jong Un sent athletes, cheerleaders and his powerful sister as an envoy. A North Korean art troupe, the 140- strong Samjiyon Orchestra, staged two per- formances in South Korea in February to cel- ebrate the Games. Kim followed up by agreeing to a summit with the South’s President Moon Jae-in, and offering a face- to-face meet with US President Donald South Korean musicians rehearsel for a rare concert at the 1,500-seat East Pyongyang Grand Theatre in Pyongyang. — AFP photos This picture captured from a video footage by Trump. Kim also met Chinese President Xi Korea Pool reporters shows North Korean leader Jinping in Beijing last week during his first standing ovation after a finale in which all the they showed so much reaction,” added a Cho. Another famous singer, Choi Jin-hee, Kim Jong Un, left, and South Korea’s Culture, overseas trip. The inter-Korean summit, the stars appeared on stage to sing a song about member called Wendy. Another member, also performed for the fourth time in the Sports and Tourism Minister Do Jong-whan, third after meetings in 2000 and 2007, will unification. One of the most closely watched Seulgi, appeared red-eyed as she bid North and sang “Maze of Love”-a pan- right, during a rare concert. be held on April 27. No date has been set for acts was Red Velvet, part of the South’s farewell to the audience at the end of the peninsula hit and another of the late Kim’s the US-North Korean summit although it is hugely popular K-pop phenomenon that has concert, apparently overcome with emotion. favorites. — AFP The 120-member group — 11 musical expected before the end of May. taken audiences in Asia and beyond by storm Despite the North’s isolation and strict curbs acts as well as dancers, technicians and mar- In another sign of eased tensions, an annu- in recent decades. on unauthorised foreign culture, enforced tial artists-gave one concert yesterday with al US-South Korean military exercise which The five-member girlband-known for its with prison terms, K-pop and Seoul’s TV another set for Tuesday. Kim and his wife, a got under way in the South yesterday will last signature K-pop mix of upbeat electronic shows have become increasingly popular former singer herself, came to watch for just one month compared to some two music, stylish fashion and high-voltage cho- there thanks to flash drives smuggled across Sunday’s show, making him the first leader of months normally. This year’s drills feature reography-performed two of their hits, “Bad the border with China. the North to attend a concert by South fewer strategic weapons such as a nuclear- Boy” and “Red Flavor”. The emcee of yesterday’s concert was a Korean performers. Kim shook hands and powered aircraft carrier, Seoul’s military has Joy, one of the five members, missed the popular member of K-pop girlband Girls’ took photos with the Seoul stars backstage, said. The deployment of such powerful trip to Pyongyang due to her TV drama Generation, Seohyun, who had performed saying inter-Korean cultural events should weaponry during past drills has frequently shooting schedule. “The North’s audience with the visiting Pyongyang singers during be held more often and suggesting another drawn an angry response from the North. applauded to our performance much louder their Seoul concert in February. Legendary event in the South Korean capital this than we expected and even sang along to our South Korean singer Cho Yong-pil, who held autumn, pool reports said. Maze of love songs... it was a big relief,” band member Yeri a solo sell-out concert in Pyongyang in The young couple were seen clapping Yesterday’s concert to a packed audience told reporters.