SOLUKHUMBU (Nepal), April 14 — Malaysia’s oldest mountaineer, James Lee Chong Meng, who has embarked on the Lions Mount Everest Expedition (MEE) 2016, will be given a traditional blessing by a Lama priest to ensure a safe journey in his bid to conquer the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest.
The ‘pooja’, a local tradition practised by the Sherpas before proceeding to higher camps, will be performed on the 68-year-old and his team at the Everest Base Camp (EBC).
Lee said the ceremony was usually performed for all Everest climbers at the start of their climb.
“Only after the prayers, I can begin my ascent to Camp One to test my hiking gears, as well as for acclimatisation at 6,000 metres above sea level,” he told Bernama journalists covering the expedition.
On the weather at EBC, he said it snowed heavily last night.
“At the EBC yesterday, it was very cold and strong winds were blowing throughout the entire night with estimated temperature of -15°C.
“Today, the weather is good at the EBC and I’m doing my exercises by walking about the camp sites in the base camp,” he said, adding that he was in good health.
Lee, who has over 20 years of experience in mountain climbing has conquered several mountains, including Mount Kinabalu, Mount Rinjani in Indonesia, Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount Ama Dablam in Nepal.
He began his Lions MEE ‘Save Environment & Stay Healthy’ climb at the 8,848-metre-high Mount Everest on March 31, and is expected to complete the mission within 70 days.
Accompanying the team are two professional Sherpas, Ngaa Tenji, 33, and Ang Temba, 44.
Bernama, as the official media has three representatives, namely journalist Muhammad Afiq Mohd Asri, 25, Bernama TV cameraman, Fazril Amirul Azali, 23 and photographer Zulfadhli Zulkarnain, 23, to cover the expedition. — Bernama
