Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Day 1 - Reflections of a great trip

So we made it back to the USA safely and had a bit of time to reflect back on our trip.
I must say that I'm already trying to figure out how I can get back to Nepal for another trek.
Oh my restless soul that longs to see the beautiful mountains and people of that foreign land be still, be still. For now I’ll just have to ignore those feelings and try to summarize the trip we just did. So lets start with day one:

Day 1 - Pokhara to Naya Pul to Hille

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

After a breakfast of oat porridge and apple we load into a taxi and depart Pokhara for the 1 hour, 30 mile (48Km) ride to Naya Pal, elevation 3,200 ft (975m), the start of our Annapurna Base Camp trek. The trekking crew consists of myself, Donna, our guide Govinda and our porter Ram.



Donna & Tom at the start of the trek in Naya Pal 
Our guide, Govinda


Our porter, Ram
I used Govinda on my last two treks, Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base camp, and was very pleased with him. Of course, a guide is not really needed to do any of the treks in Nepal but, using one really enhances your experience. Govinda is such a big help with everything, speaks really good English, and knows so much about the area and culture. It’s more like having a personal assistant who handles everything as you sit back and absorb the beauty of Nepal. Ram is a young fellow who is looking to earn some money to start college. Does not speak much English but hey, he’ll be hauling our stuff about 40lbs (18Kg) through the Himalayas for the next 12 days. No English required just a strong back. He’ll earn enough money, from us, to pay for 1 year of school.

Arriving at the trail head we purchase some last minute supplies, water and toilet paper, and head out. Need to take TP as the bathrooms on the trek do not supply it. Of course, we could go the local way and do without TP but, not sure I’m ready for that experience just yet.

The trek starts out for the first 4 miles on a dirt road which eventually ends and a beautiful trail emerges. The path makes it’s way through rolling hills peppered with small houses surrounded by terraced rice and wheat fields. 

Our first check point
Trekking on the dirt road


Nice
As we walk along it’s amazing to watch the local people use so much manual labor to plant and harvest the crops.

Hard work
The weather conditions are great and at this low altitude it’s sunny and warm around 85F (30C).
Another 2 miles and we arrive at our destination, the village of Hille, elevation 4,900ft (1494m). Just a small village with about 4 lodges. We get a room at the Mamta guest house which is the second lodge as you enter the town. It’s a typical room you find on the trek just large enough to accommodate 2 small beds, no heat or toilet.

Our first night's stay in Hille

Typical room
At this elevation it should not be to cold so we should be able to get a good nights rest. We both take hot showers (water is solar heated) and order our dinner, Del Bhat of course. After dinner we play a few games of Farkel. Playing games with dice always draws the attention of locals who soon join in the fun. 

Playing Farkel
Off to crawl into our sleeping bags and rest up for tomorrow’s upward, 3,000 steps to Ghorapani / Poon Hill.
The hiking total’s for today were 3 hours, 6 miles with a net elevation gain of 1,700 ft (518m).
Peace and Love from Tom & Donna

Friday, November 9, 2012

Last Day In Nepal

Well we are sitting here in our hotel packing and getting ready for our 30 hour trip back to the USA.
It's been such an amazing trip that it's hard to comprehend all we saw and did.
Since finishing our ABC trek we spend time in Pokhara, Chitwan National Park and Kathamndu.  We rode in a horse drawn carraige, rode elephants through the jungle, biked through the farms and fields of Nepal, and of course did a lot of walking. Got close to monkies and saw a baby rhino up close and personal.


Giving a NPO (Nepalie Polictical Organizer) a ride


Relaxing in Chitwan National Park

Boudhanath Stupa - Largest in Nepal

Monks

Monkeys at the Monkey Temple
Holy man at Pashupatinath Temple

Do we really want to leave??????

Wen we get back to the states we'll have to sit down and review the over 2,000 pictures we took.
Peace and Love from Tom and Donna



Sunday, November 4, 2012

Ghorepani To Dhampus


It's been a while since our last post.  Internet has been difficult to get. We are currently in Phokhara enjoying some R&R after a very difficult trek.


Nepali Flower Girl

After leaving Poon Hill (Ghorepani) we hiked to Tadapani.  The trail over gave us beautiful views of Dhaulagiri.  Once we got closer to Tadapani the sky's opened and we started to catch great glimpses of Fish Tail (Machhapuchhare), Annapurnna South & Hiunchuli.  From Tadapani we trekked through dense Rhododendron forest, small villages, with lots of millet and rice fields along the way.  Arriving at Chhomrung we had Del Bhat for dinner and went to bed after a few games of Farkel of course.

Hiking through the gorge to ABC, Fish Tail in upper right
The nest morning we started out for what would be a very long and difficult hike to Deurali.  We covered over 12 miles with a lot of steep up and down.  Arriving at town Donna was ready to go back and and had no intention of going to ABC.  After sleeping for 12 hours she was ready to give it a go for the final 6 miles 4,000 ft to ABC. The hike turned out to be not so bad and we made it to ABC in 4 hours (13,400ft).

Donna approaching ABC
Mountains all around - I mean you are total surrounded by 6,000 + meter peaks all around.  The only possible way into this beautiful place is through the narrow gorge we just hiked.  Pictures and words can not describe this place.  Once the sun went down it got COLD! about 0 C, ( 32F).
That nigh we sat in the common area and talked to people all over the world, Taiwan, Italy, France, Germany, USA, Britain, Australia and Netherlands.  Almost like a UN meeting where we all came together to experience this magical place.

Annapurna Base Camp we made it!!!

The hike out was just a great as the hike in.  We saw so many beautiful sun rises, sun sets, flowers, animals, rivers, people, gardens I could go on and on. It's hard to believe the people who live here experience it every day.  It's the people of Nepal that I remember the most always giving you a big smile with a friendly Namaste. NEPAL - Never Ending Peace And Love.

Tom getting high on ABC
Once back in the states I'll do a complete, more detailed, day by day account of our trek.  For now it's time for R&R in Nepal.

Sun Set on Fish Tail



Prayer Flags and Fish Tail


Moon Light on The Mountains (2:30AM)

The hot springs at Jhunu

Washing clothes the old fashion way

Flowers and Mountains made for each other

What can I say

The end of a beautiful experience
Peace and Love from Donna and Tom