Annapurna Base Camp Trek

 Hanging out on Phewa Lake pre-trek - with  Paul and Andrea

It started with a last minute decision to ride the bus one stop further and start walking at Beni, rather than Nyapul. What I didn't realise was that this turned my 1.30hr bus ride into a 5 hour trip, with only one other foreigner on board. I introduced myself to her and she invited me to travel with her asnd her guide to the town beyond Beni - as the road had been extended further from when my guide book was written and nobopdy walks it anymore. So....her guide managed to get us on the WRONG bus, and we ended upo in a village that was off the map. The village people looked at us strangely - I don't think many tourists visit that particular village...So started walking back the way we'd come and a taxi luckily came past. Finally back to Beni and on to Tatopani. LONG DAY!!! Fun travelling with chickens and goats and dodgy bridges and all the like...Was glad to see the end of that guide and very happy to be on my way the next morning! ( this pic a bridge the bhus couldn't get over with us on board..)

 I've thought alot about community while walking - you form alliances with all sorts of people. You can be connected by your 'foreignness', your lack of language, your destination or your fitness level. I've met people under all these catagories and you share a day, or lunch or just an understanding smile. Travelling makes the world seem smaller! The day before I left for the trek I visited a christian childrens home where the girls sung Shout to the Lord, and other well-known songs. Quite a special time!....But I digress...

 Sunrise from Poon Hill

 Buddisat Prayer Flags

One day trekking is much the same as the next in terms of logistics but the views and landscapes are constantly changing. One morning I started walking at 5am up Poon Hill with about 100 others to watch the sunrise, and other times I would be completely alone on the track without passing anyone. As the altitude increased, and the mountains got closer everyone became united in destination and goals, rather than the earlier endless route options you could take.


I've gotten used to the mandatory 'Namaste" greeting whenever you pass anybody.Here's a quick run down of the last 10 days!

Day One - Pokhara to Tatopani - Epic travel Adventure
Day Two - Tatopani - Ghorepani - Climbed 1700m - very hot day.
Day Three - Ghorepani - Chuile - Day of the CHILLI (hidden in my dahl baht, led to some very animated acting on my part to try find a remedy.
Day Four - Chuile - Bamboo - Day opf the foaming cow. Cows just stand in the middle of the track and dont move so you have to inch your way round them, while avoiding the biggest piles of poos with an incredible assortment of flies and beetles munching on it...
Day Five - Bamboo - Deurali - Nice natural track rather than stone steps, good views starting, butterflys dancing...
Day Six - Deurali - Annapurna base Camp - EPIC MOUNTAIN BUZZ! Slept at 4130m in snow, thunder and lightening storm.
Day Seven - ABC - Bamboo - Descended 1700m. Day of the swim in a perfect creek - most others looked at me funnily - seemed the logical thing to do for me!
Day Eight - Bamboo- Juinto - Dreaming of hot springs at days end - was incredible
Day Nine - Juinto - Syauli Bazar - Day of Indecision. Didn't want to finish trek so added in saome side routes. Saw monkeys scratching his bum!
Day Ten - SB to Pokhara - Day of the Road. Half hour walking then ended up on a new road which is being built. Interesting balance between potential economic gain and preserving nature - same the world over I guess.

 Up high in Annapurna Sanctuary

 Morning Jubilation!

 Sweet valley I walked up

 My Canadian friends, Stirling and Caroline who I spent a few days with walking.

 Village, Day 7

 Some friendly girls on the track. Swapped photos for flowers

 Step step step step.......prob did about 20,000 of these baby's!

And thats a quick run down - so many more stories but thats enough for now. Missing home but feeling great to be here!