Nepal

Kathmandu and Annapurna Trek

We arrived in Kathmandu in the late evening. Russ and Kala had some trouble getting a Visa because Russ did not have enough US Currency left to purchase one. Kala had to Run in and out of the airport getting Money from the ATM. After that amusing delay, we hired a taxi to take us to a hostel that was recommended to us by a friend of Russell's. Unfortunately it was all booked up and we had to stay next door at a hostel of some lesser quality. All things considered it was still a relatively easy country to enter.

We spent two days walking around Kathmandu, picking up cheap, knockoff, Northface gear and gifts for friends and family back home. We also picked up our trekking permits and bust tickets to the small town of Pokhara.

Our bus wound around some very steep mountain passes before finally descending into Pokhara. Pokhara is a much smaller town, full of trekkers getting ready to, or just arriving back from the long Annapurna region treks. We fell into the first category. We planned to spend a few days preparing, but found ourselves too ancious to hit the trail. Within 24 hours of arriving in Pokhara, we had left again. The little lakeside town with good food would have to wait.

We hired a taxi to take us to the small village of Naya Pul, from here we would begin our Annapurna Sanctuary Trek. This trek would take us deep into the center of the Annapurna Conservation Area. This area is only accessible by trail, and suprising full of small villages. I could not believe how many people not only live in the hills, but still live off the land like they do. Every day you could see planting rice in terraced mountain sides, or corn and wheat when they didn't have the irrigation. It was the first time I had seen water buffalo being used to plow a field, and people using their hands to plant the seeds.

We trekked in for 1 day, and Amy decided that she didn't have the stamina to keep up with the rest of us. So along the way we picked up a Nepali porter named Beam. Beam offered to carry her bag for the remainder of the trip for a reasonably good price. After that the climb became more enjoyable for all of us. We hiked in for 5 days total, covering about 24 miles. We crossed numerous rivers, many waterfalls, and several wonderful villages. The villages were quite amazing to me. They were always filled with lots of little children, running up and down the steep stair cases made of stone, going too and from school. The children were always smilng and greeting us with "Namaste". Sometimes they tried to ask for candy, but we were told not to give the children candy or balloons, it just encourages their begging.

After 5 moderate days of walking we arrived in A.B.C. (Annapurna Base Camp) Completely surrounded by the impresive Himalayan Mountains, we rested and enjoyed the amazing views. The elevation, of 4,130 meters or 13,630 feet was more then enough to leave you winded. Amy and I both suffored from minor headaches at first, but they quickly passed once we stopped hiking and had a hot pot of tea. It was truly amazing to wake in the morning, find that the clouds had cleared and have a full 360 degree panorama of the snow capped Annapurna mountains! I've never been quite so impressed with a view before.

We relaxed for a day before heading back down. The trek down would go much faster, but not exactly easier. We cruised fast, and made great time... but their were a few setbacks that really caused some psychological damage to Amy. On the night of the first day of our descent we came face to face with an unknown cenipede looking bug the size of a playing card. The owner of the lodge tried to grab the bug but it scurried off into a crack in the rock wall by the bed. :( Amy did not sleep well that night to say the least.

On the evening of the second day, we stopped at a small village near the river. We had decided to take the low trail out of the conservation area in order to save energy and avoid the hilly sections. At this particular village was a natural hotspring right along side of the river. It had started to rain earlier that afternoon and the leeches had started to come out onto the trail. We all started down the trail wearing nothing but but flip flops and shorts. Within 5 minutes the girls were freaking out and headed back to the lodge. 30 minutes later we made a second attempt... this time armed with long pants, long sleave shirts, and bags of salt. We would run down the trail for 5 minutes, then stop, search each other and remove all the leaches with a pinch of salt. After the initial shock of having a slimy little leech, inch worming it's way up your leg, looking for a bare patch of skin in order to latch itself on and drink your blood, after the shock passed, it actually became a fun game of who can torture the leeches most. Anyways, at the base of that leech infested trail was the most wonderful thing a hiker can find after trekking for a week straight is a fresh hotspring. And their it was, warm and wonderful in every way.

The last day out was fast and uneventful. Soon we found ourselves drinking cold beers and relaxing back in Pokhara. Since then we've been streching our muscles and enjoying ourselves by the lakeside. Tomorow I may even rent a small boat and go out fishing on the lake. :-D

Amy does not seem very enthusiastic about going on a second trek, so we may end up travelling around Nepal and seeing some other sites. I guess we'll all find out soon...

Stay tuned