55 Mount Everest

As we approached the tallest mountain on Earth, I could see why the keepers chose this location for their base. With the exception of a few access roads and one bright red tent half way up the mountain, the entire area is very isolated.

At the Eastern base of the mountain, a large boulder rose up into the air and a brightly lit tunnel was revealed. We quickly entered the tunnel and the boulder noiselessly closed the entrance behind us.

The large central vault has a rough stone ceiling lined with natural stalactites and many lights from levitating lamps. The floor has many domed buildings of different sizes and colors. There are also three large square buildings and a in the very center there is a wide open space full of equipment.

After landing inside one of the domed buildings, keeper Melissa asked me to follow her. She said we were going directly to the main archive vault, where another keeper was waiting for us.

We entered an elevator that took us fifteen levels down into the main archive vault.

I could not help feeling awestruck from the experience of being here, in this very place, for the first time. I tried to take in the view by looking all around us; the many new sights, the many new sounds, and even the new smell of crisp clean air. I guess this is what tourists feel like when they visit unknown places for the first time.