This picture is very special to me. It was the 6th day of my EBC trek from Lukla, the acclimatization day in Dingboche.
As it is seen, my burnt nose and forehead from the beaming sunlight, my puffy eyes due to lack of rest, and my cracked lips due to extreme cold. I know I looked “horrible” according to the “beauty standards” of society, which people constantly reminded me. While my husband was updating our daily trekking pictures on Facebook because our families were hell worried, there were flooding of comments and messages about me that said how horribly tired and bad I looked, how inappropriately I walked, instead my husband got comments and appreciation on his bravery.  I must admit, people who mattered to me, like my mom, sister, family, and close friends were always appreciative, but I noticed with amusement that how my vanity was an issue here to some people, just because I’m a woman!  Most of the people I know had already announced their verdict that I won’t be able to complete the EBC trek because according to them, “I’m weak”. 
I assume as they saw me succeeding, they just needed something to channel their disappointment because I was proving them wrong!  And then they chose to comment on my appearance.  And Alhamdulillah I proved them wrong, had the most amazing experience of my life, and I feel extremely proud of myself!  I walked with blisters on my hands and feet for countless hours in low oxygen and high altitude, I consumed only vegetarian food because that’s the only halal food I could get, I suffered from infections in my private parts as I had to wear the same clothes almost every day, got hallucinations and suffered from acclimatization sickness and breathing difficulty. I was the smallest and slowest trekker, still, I finished the complete trek in 11 days, flew my national flag on the Everest base camp and made amazing friends around the world, and had the most priceless memories Alhamdulillah! I think this is the most beautiful picture of mine ever, because my husband said, “The most beautiful thing is the scar on the warrior’s body because that’s the proof of her winning the battle.” 

By Sadia Mehzabeen Rini