We were firmly over the tree line now, and the mountains were brown and sere. The massive ice-caps were our daily companions now, and we gaped as more and more of the mountains revealed themselves - Pumori, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kantega etc. Bharathi treated each of these like a personal friend and told me all about them - their personal characteristics and eccentricities. 
The remote Buddhist monastery of Tengboche is the last major settlement before the Everest base camp - and it has a most amazing setting with Ama Dablam in the background and thamserku in front.