Photo 15 - Phortse Lodge
Photo 15 - Phortse Lodge
The lodge is a safe haven, a refuge where many trekkers come to rest and have a meal.
Its exterior walls are made of wood, and the roof is constructed from
corrugated metal or wood, secured with heavy stones. Often decorated
with photo frames and prayer flags, the interior remains simple: a large
common room with wooden flooring, bedrooms, toilets, storage areas, and
a highly strategic spot—the kitchen.
On the menu:
Drinks: bottled water, Everest beer, soft drinks, Nepali hot beer.
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Meals: momo (stuffed dumplings), garlic soup, omelets and eggs cooked in various ways, and the famous dal bhat, the staple of Nepali cuisine (rice, lentils, spinach, spices, sometimes chicken or vegetable curry), muesli, energy bars such as Mars, and many more.
Winters are harsh, and the lodge, poorly insulated with simple glass windows, can be quite cold. The stove—the only way to warm the common room aside from the kitchen fire—is usually made of iron and cools quickly when the wood runs out. It is precisely this rustic charm that makes the lodges so endearing.