The Wormlips Scrapbook

Book description… “Over 700 climbers have reached the summit of Everest itself, and it has become the sport of the wealthy. Permit fees run about $10,000 per person; most expeditions have base budgets beginning at $300,000. These groups, obviously well supplied, plus the many independent, low-budget travelers, leave behind massive amounts of litter and sometimes [...]

My thoughts… I really liked this Nova documentary. It explores the physiological effects of oxygen deprivation at high altitude, and particularly the effect on brain and lungs. It’s interesting from a scientific perspective, and I thought the underlying story of the climbers’ journey was equally riveting. Jody Foster is the narrator. I love her no-nonsense [...]

Martin Scorsese’s film about the early life of the 14th Dalai Lama, from his discovery by Buddhist leaders in 1939 to his escape from Tibet twenty years later. The real story is fascinating but I thought the movie was mediocre. The cast of local, untrained actors was impressive.