Himalayan Adventures ... just because I like the pictures!

One of the many bridges we crossed!! 

Love the mountains!

Did someone order chicken?

Dal Bhat - The main meal of most days!

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Before the pass - Dharmasala

Mountain Yak

Just yes!

Amazing Bimtang

Mission complete! - Me, Shyam, Purno and Sharon

Himalayan Adventures Pt 2 - Larkya La!!

The Manaslu circuit itself.

Mt Manaslu - the morning we left from Samagoan to Samdo

The second part of our trek was the Manaslu circuit, here we ventured higher up and around Mount Manaslu, a rather nice snow capped number that sits at about 8156m.

We spent several days climbing higher, through some very medieval looking villages! We met a large number of Yak (I particularly liked the long haired mountain variety!), the occasional trekker and even more impressive views. There wasn't a morning we did not wake up to an impressive mountain vista!

Most days we would be up for breakfast - (usually porridge... occasionally pancakes!) at about 7pm..so a standard 6.30 wake up call from our guide became the norm! What most people may find hard to believe is that my new routine also found me headed to bed by 8pm at the latest!! This was for a number of reasons.. sometimes to escape the cold dark evenings, but mostly because trekking all day is really quite tiring!

The highest section of the trek is also the longest day, here we trekked from Dharmasala a small place 4600m up  accross the Larkya Pass and then down to Bimtang. Day 14 saw us head to bed earlier than usual, it was dark, exceptionally cold and snowing! Our little room was did not seem to be much warmer than outside and  the altitude did not really allow for sleep... so it was a little less than refreshed we heard the 4am wake up call! The snow had stopped and the clouds cleared to leave a million stars! Following breakfast - a challenge at that time and altitude, I donned my head torch and we set out to cross the pass...

The path was quite rocky and it took a fair bit of concentration to pick my way through, but as dawn arrived and the mountains caught the first rays of sunshine it all seemed more than worthwhile!

Daybreak in the mountains

The pass itself was incredibly challenging, the effects of altitude..headache, shortness of breath..feeling sick.. were all a joy!

Larkya La - 5213m - That's really quite high!

We did however make it :) and having crossed the pass we headed down about -- m to Bimtang! It was very cloudy by the time we arrived, but the following morning we discovered it was rather a special place, with spectacular views!

From here we spent a few days heading ever downwards, back to the land of jeeps and tourists and pizza... our trek was an amazing experience and a real adventure!!

Me, our guide Purno and Sharon - Bimtang

Himalayan Adventures...Pt1 - The Tsum Valley.

Well, I'm back...and trekking in the Himalaya was absolutely amazing!
(I know it has not in fact been 20 days since my last post but this is because I have learn't to travel in time!)
So, we set off on October 1st to complete the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley trek, we were trekking with 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking (http://www.3sistersadventure.com/) and set out with our guide Purno and assistant guide/porter Shyam.

The first few days of our trek were for me pretty challenging, especially the 3rd and 4th day which appeared to consist of going mostly uphill! The scenery was however beautiful and constantly changing, from the lush low lands where we passed banana plants and rice terraces, through the forests up towards the mountains. We crossed rivers on massive bridges - some a little more stable than others! ...and followed the winding trail away from civilisation! As we trekked from Khorlabesi to Philim we climbed up into the mountains and my waterproof jacket (recently re-waterproofed) turned out to be far from waterproof - Hmmm..Fail!  This was my only real setback which considering it only rained once wasn't so bad! From here things seemed a little easier, perhaps I had found my trekking stride?

The awesome children I hung out with in Khorlabesi.

Day 5 saw us heading for Chumling and the start of the Tsum Valley. This is pretty off the beaten track and takes us north east towards Tibet. Much of what we found here was therefore very Tibetan and considering I had previously hoped to see Tibet, I was treated to some very Tibetan villages and met some really interesting people, as well as having breakfast with a Lama and some nuns at a Monastery at 4000m. Here the Mountains surrounded us and the sun was hot... we sat on small carpets rolled out in the little courtyard, chatting with the Lama, drinking Tibetan tea and eating curried potato and pancakes (a standard breakfast here - a slight deviation on the usual meal Dhal Bhatt!) This was one of those unplanned and unexpected occasions but one we definitely enjoyed.

The view from our room in Mu Gompa

Breakfast with the Lama - 4000m

Following this, we descended quickly leaving the very cold nights and the altitude for later in the trek. We followed the river back through the valley passed small villages and returned to our guesthouse in Chhokangparo. (Guest house is perhaps not painting the right picture for you - So I have included a photo for you!) Some of the accommodation we stayed in was quite basic, often a little chilly (not all of them had glass in the windows!) but all were more or less built and I think there was only one night when I was woken by a mouse/rat/yeti (?!) whilst I tried to sleep!

My room in Chhokangparo

Off trekking..

Well, as you read this I will be somewhere in the Himalaya! I will probably be surveying an awesome mountain vista whilst wondering what possessed me to think 20days was a good idea! (Well, actually that might have been Sharon's idea - but I went with it!)
We are trekking the Manaslu Circuit and also visiting the Tsum valley, where there are some local villages which we hope to visit - perhaps a home stay. I have heard rumours of snow on the mountain pass...and have got myself a new pair of gloves today just in case!)
I am obviously taking a few supplies with me and for those interested these include coffee, flapjack and Horlicks! (Hot chocolate was a little difficult to find!) The trek starts off in the TsumValley and then heads ever upwards - I think at the highest point we are nicely over 5000m - so I am hoping that we are both able to deal with the altitude ok and enjoy views!
I am not sure that there is much more to say at this stage... but I'm excited and maybe a little apprehensive.. but will let you all know how it goes when I get back. I might even have a photo or two to post!!

Hello Himalayas!

Today I got up in Hong Kong, spent the day in the big city and then flew to Malaysia. I was clearly meant to sleep on this flight, but I was headed to Nepal and this kind of excitement prohibits sleep! I sat for a couple of hours in the airport at Kuala Lumpur and then found seat 8F (A window seat!) and took off for Kathmandu and the Himalayas! I've always wanted to go to the Himalayas, to see the mountains and go trekking and now I am actually going to get to do this!

As we flew in towards the city white clouds dotted across the blue sky, were suddenly spiked by the peaks of what must be some pretty huge mountains! I'm not sure which ones they were but I'd like to think it was Everest. Impressive does not really cover it... I have attached a couple of okish through the window pics, so you can see a little bit of what I saw as we descended in to a rather bumpy landing at Kathmandu airport.

48 Hours in Hong Kong

I love it here! Bright lights, huge skyscrapers and Sharon appears to have found Waitrose?!
Hong Kong was not in the original plan, but I am pleased we have found our way here. It is definitely much more international and being understood here is so much simpler as so many people speak English. I know this is just for a few hours as we will soon be flying to Nepal, but I am enjoying not having to spend time deciphering things or opting for the point and shoot meal.

We are staying on Hong Kong Island and on the evening we arrived were treated to an epic thunderstorm that seemed to literally shake the building! We did venture up to the roof to have a little look out - we were still dwarfed by the surrounding buildings and got completely soaked in the 5 minutes we were there! (The lightning was amazing!!)

Today was much brighter and we took the minibus using our Octopus Cards (Much like an Oyster Card) to Stanley. This is a little place in the south of the island. We wandered in and out of the stalls of the market looking for a bargain and then sat and had a coffee looking out to the sea. It will be a little while until we see it again as the Himalayas are our next stop.

This afternoon we took one of the classic trams the length of it's route and saw a little more of the city. Being within it is one thing, but taking the tram to Victoria Peak gives you an even better feel for this place. The skyscrapers scattered along both shores and as darkness fell and the lights came on the city sprang to life. It was beautiful and in some ways made me think of that moment when you turn the fairy lights on on your Christmas tree and the whole thing seems to sparkle!

The Dragon's Backbone

We arrived in Guilin as it was starting to get dark: a short bus ride and a wander through a few side streets and we found our next stop - Ming Palace International! We weren't sure how long we were going to stay, but when we found our room and saw that there were real mattresses on the beds we decided 2 nights would be the way forward! In many of our hostels so far the mattress comprises of a thin blanket  covered by a sheet on a very hard base - so comfy!

From here we were able to explore the wonders of the city...well, actually we took a bus out of the city and visited the Dragons Backbone. This is an impressive set of rice terraces that literally scale the side of the mountain rising up over 1000m. The weather was not so great when we left Guilin, but as we wound our way up the mountainside roads things improved. The driving was, erm, interesting, especially as our driver was particularly keen to overtake on blind corners! He would just beep the horn, swing out and leave us hoping for the best! To be fair we made it in great time and alive!!

To reach the terraces we wandered up a path through one of the small villages which farm the terraces. It is a very different way of life and provided lots to observe and contemplate. The path inevitably turned to steps and we climbed upwards glimpsing our first views of the terraces. They really are impressive, carved out terraces just turning from green to yellow as harvest time approaches.

We arrived at the top and were able to fully appreciate the scale of the Dragon's Backbone. On the opposite  hillsides further terraces could just about be seen through the cloud. Another good day out exploring, good to be away from the city and up in hills breathing fresh air!