We've finally now arrived back in Kathmandu, the bus journey yesterday took us 11.5 hours (yes really!). The reason for this were Maoist party activity in one of the towns on the way (i.e. they had blockaded half the road, and out of respect, most people didn't bother going past them, so we sat there for a couple of hours). Then there were strikes in Kathmandu, so we joined a queue of buses, lorries etc trailing for 10km outside of Kathmandu. As a result we got in really late and struggled to find a (decent) hotel, ended up staying in a hole of a place last night.
Getting a bit tired of the chaos here now, the traffic has to be seen to be believed, no traffic lights, no signs much, no organisation and bikes in every conceivable gap. Could do with holiday now...
c
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Finished...
We've finally finished the trek itself yesterday, with a very long day (steep downhill all the way), with one section of over 3000 steps, and thats less than half the number we went down during the day, from approx 3000m altitude to just over 1000m ish. We are now relaxing in Pokhara for 3 days before returning to Kathmandu/India for a couple of days sightseeing. I'm sure I've lost weight, but I've bought the t-shirt (with a map of the circuit on it!).
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Hi all,
another quick update from Jomsom. Can't upload any pictures, not enough bandwidth. We've now been over Thorung La pass, at 5400m, which involved a 11.5 hour day walking, with large an heavy packs at altitude, which is the hardest walk I've ever done. As we're all a bit jaded, exhausted we've had debates about whether we give up from here as we've done the best bit of the walk, and go and relax somewhere nice, but we'll see.
I've certainly lost weight, generally you don't feel hungry at altitude and we hadn't budgeted all that well so had to be a bit careful of cash until we found a cashpoint here..
Gotta go now, hope work is fun etc.
c
another quick update from Jomsom. Can't upload any pictures, not enough bandwidth. We've now been over Thorung La pass, at 5400m, which involved a 11.5 hour day walking, with large an heavy packs at altitude, which is the hardest walk I've ever done. As we're all a bit jaded, exhausted we've had debates about whether we give up from here as we've done the best bit of the walk, and go and relax somewhere nice, but we'll see.
I've certainly lost weight, generally you don't feel hungry at altitude and we hadn't budgeted all that well so had to be a bit careful of cash until we found a cashpoint here..
Gotta go now, hope work is fun etc.
c
Friday, 23 October 2009
Update from Chame
Hi Folks,
Here's a quick update, I won't be on for long as the internet is really expensive here (10 rupees a minutes, not sure what that is in English money at the moment). Internet appears to be by satellite connection here for you sad people.
We are 4 days into the Trek and its anything but easy, rucksacks are extremely heavy, yesterday involved navigating tiny steep and muddy tracks left after avalanches, of which there are a lot, including one house completely flattened by an avalanche. We're at about 2670m at the moment and the altitude is only just starting to kick in. Today we've seen the first of the really big mountains, which we think is Annapurna II at 7937m which looks fabulous with its snow covering. Our highest point is going to be the Thorung-La pass at 5400m in a few days time so we'll be spending a couple of days at Manang further on to aclimatise.
We've had a couple of money issues earlier (a small Nepali child has just picked my pocket a few mins ago! Luckily someone saw and got the money back, little bugger. We've also cleaned out the local bank a bit early trying to change enough money to keep us going until we at least get to a proper town.
We've passed a variety of settlements, some really quite westernised with solar showers, nice gardens etc and some that are very shacklike and poor, the scenery is absolutely amazing in general.
Gotta go, its not cheap here, can't say i'm missing work one bit... Look at the link to Rich's pics, as he's just attempting to upload some.
I've just uploaded 3 pics very quickly, maybe more later..
chris
Here's a quick update, I won't be on for long as the internet is really expensive here (10 rupees a minutes, not sure what that is in English money at the moment). Internet appears to be by satellite connection here for you sad people.
We are 4 days into the Trek and its anything but easy, rucksacks are extremely heavy, yesterday involved navigating tiny steep and muddy tracks left after avalanches, of which there are a lot, including one house completely flattened by an avalanche. We're at about 2670m at the moment and the altitude is only just starting to kick in. Today we've seen the first of the really big mountains, which we think is Annapurna II at 7937m which looks fabulous with its snow covering. Our highest point is going to be the Thorung-La pass at 5400m in a few days time so we'll be spending a couple of days at Manang further on to aclimatise.
We've had a couple of money issues earlier (a small Nepali child has just picked my pocket a few mins ago! Luckily someone saw and got the money back, little bugger. We've also cleaned out the local bank a bit early trying to change enough money to keep us going until we at least get to a proper town.
We've passed a variety of settlements, some really quite westernised with solar showers, nice gardens etc and some that are very shacklike and poor, the scenery is absolutely amazing in general.
Gotta go, its not cheap here, can't say i'm missing work one bit... Look at the link to Rich's pics, as he's just attempting to upload some.
I've just uploaded 3 pics very quickly, maybe more later..
chris
Saturday, 17 October 2009
We're here...
We've arrived in Khathmandu. Nothing can describe the atmosphere of the city, chaos wouldn't even be close. If you think traffic is bad in the UK, its terrifying here! Lanes seem to be non-existant, bikes weave in an out of everyone and if a gap appears something will soon fill it! We took a taxi to a guest house last night, 7 of us and luggage in a 1000ish cc small minibus.
Today we've been to get trekking passes, and wandered back through the streets where you have a never ending stream of merchants trying to sell you a variety of things, beggars, people with taxis and holy men. Visited Durbar square and visited the Kumari Bahal house of the living goddess, but we didnt' see her. Kathmandu is an amazing place, some of the buildings, are hundreds of years old with ornate carvings (temples mainly) and some look like they are about to fall down, in places there is modern infrastructure, lots of cars, bike, motorbikes, internet cafe's, outdoor shops, some relatively westernised shops but on the other hand a lot of general poverty with shops that are just a rough room.
I managed to get a set of goretex overtrousers (quality Nepalese manufacture!, a North Face duvet jacket and a set of Leki walking poles for $112 dollars, bargain!
Probably some sight seeing tomorrow before setting off on the bus for Besisahar to start the trek.. more later if we can find an internet somewhere. I'll try and upload some pics, but forgot to bring the camera to the internet 'shop'.
By the way its 5.20pm at night here not 12:30!
Today we've been to get trekking passes, and wandered back through the streets where you have a never ending stream of merchants trying to sell you a variety of things, beggars, people with taxis and holy men. Visited Durbar square and visited the Kumari Bahal house of the living goddess, but we didnt' see her. Kathmandu is an amazing place, some of the buildings, are hundreds of years old with ornate carvings (temples mainly) and some look like they are about to fall down, in places there is modern infrastructure, lots of cars, bike, motorbikes, internet cafe's, outdoor shops, some relatively westernised shops but on the other hand a lot of general poverty with shops that are just a rough room.
I managed to get a set of goretex overtrousers (quality Nepalese manufacture!, a North Face duvet jacket and a set of Leki walking poles for $112 dollars, bargain!
Probably some sight seeing tomorrow before setting off on the bus for Besisahar to start the trek.. more later if we can find an internet somewhere. I'll try and upload some pics, but forgot to bring the camera to the internet 'shop'.
By the way its 5.20pm at night here not 12:30!
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