Midpoint of an eventful month marked by the smell of burning in the air.

Sherpas - Sherpas were of immeasurable value to early explorers of the Himalayan region, serving as guides and porters at the extreme altitudes of the peaks and passes in the region. Today, the term has been extended to apply to almost any guide or porter hired for mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas. However, in Nepal Sherpas often insist on making a distinction between themselves and general porters, as they often serve in a more guide-like role and command higher pay and respect from the community.

Sherpas are renowned in the global climbing and mountaineering community for their hardiness, expertise, and experience at high altitudes. Despite the value of their services, the pay is insubstantial to the point where many cannot afford the modern climbing gear that Western climbers use. Many have speculated that a portion of Sherpas' climbing ability may be due to a genetically greater lung capacity, allowing much better performance at high altitudes. The most famous Sherpa is Tenzing Norgay, who climbed Mount Everest with Edmund Hillary for the first time in 1953.

On the chair-lift moving above the treetops at Siloso Beach yesterday, looking out at the sea and ships, the familiar longing returns but I realise how distant we have become. And I become aware, afraid, and maybe a little surprised that I have started to feel a faint attraction to someone so different.