Shopping for Everest in Zheng-Mu, China

There are people (myself included!) who struggle to enter a ‘Dollar Store’ or ‘Pound Shop’ without resisting the temptation to purchase all of those essential life-changing items at rock-bottom prices… items you can’t live without like crocheted toilet-paper roll covers, glow in the dark salt and pepper shakers, bread baskets in the shape of swans….

In an effort to stretch our legs and experience the sights, sounds and shopping delights of Zheng Mu, Chris and I decided to wander up and along the towns switchbacks. We were on a mission to look for all of the essential creature comforts that one needs to make the 2 months spent on the flanks of Mount Everest as comfortable as possible.

We didn’t have much of a shopping list but with the yuan burning a hole in our pockets we managed to purchase and indulge in all of the absolute essentials:

1 x baby blue ‘Rabbit what makes you so happy’ pencil sharpener

1 x string of Christmas lights (indoor?) - half of lights flicker randomly

1 x kilo of garlic (for acclimatising)

1 x dusty, ripped, army green duvet

1 x bright spring-like, uber girly duvet cover

1 x soccer ball

1 x colourful striped welcome mat

1 x plastic, lime green chair / stool

1 x lime green rice-filled pillow (apparently ergonomic)

1 x string of green Christmas garland

1 x bungee cord

1 x plastic pink children’s mirror with dodgy looking Chinese man on back.

The list seems somewhat random but ironically, as I sit here in my tent and under my new duvet and duvet cover, I can very comfortably report that all of the above items have already been put to good use…!!