DUBLINTIMEMACHINE: There’s an Irish pub at the base camp of Mount Everest! Some countries colonise others (not mentioning names..) and some countries build military bases on their allies’ turf. But Ireland has a different way of invading the world. We do it with overpriced gargle, plastic paddywhackery, and the greasiest food (and dancefloors) that money can buy. They’re like an alcoholic embassy, a dating agency, and a job centre rolled into one.
At 3.45 kms above sea level “The Irish Pub Namche” is the highest and arguably the remotest Irish pub in the world. The small town of Namche Bazaar in Khumbu of north-eastern Nepal, is a tiny trading post in Nepal, on the roof of the world. It can only be reached by flying into Lukla airfield, and landing successfully at what is officially the most dangerous airport in the world! After that, there are still several days trek into the Himalayas to reach the boozy Irish enclave.
Known as ‘the Gateway to Everest’ thousands of climbers and pilgrims use Namche-Bazaar as Base Camp, a place to acclimatise to the unforgiving atmosphere before attempting to conquer Everest. The surreal town is framed by the gigantic mountain range. Its thin unadulterated air rings with sounds of religious bells, the fluttering multicoloured flags of Buddhist stupas, and the odd bang of the bodhrán from a Dubliners CD played on loop.
When not planning your conquest of Earth’s highest mountain using the massive wall maps you can work on your altitude sickness whilst playing pool or darts. It’s a minor miracle how they got the pool table, beer barrels, and everything else flown in from Kathmandu to the deadly airport, then up the mountain on the back of underpaid porters and yaks from the airport.
The settlement’s erratic electricity is provided by the nearby Thame-Namche hydropower plant. The pub even has a micro-brewery, so even Everest isn’t safe from hipsters. Whilst serving the usual smorgasbord of gargle the Irish Pub sells some local Sherpa delights including fermented yak milk, the local delicacy Yak steak, and surreally Sisha in case your lungs aren’t punished enough
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