It's very difficult life up there, both harsh and inhospitable climate and from material point of view. Everything is very expensive, like in most expensive cities and one needs some commerical property there to survive or [really] millions of dollars to stay there indefinitely.
Actually Yuri and Jiri are differently pronounced ;)
And any kind of bribing I deplore. But children up there did not seem to be spoilt by tourism. They were not begging for any attention or gifts like in many ther places where they were pursuing me with demands for chocolates, pens etc. Himalayan children are usualy very dignified and express genuine surprise for unexpected bonanza.