 Pre-trek in Kathmandu |
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Namaste from our 2nd capital city - Kathmandu.
We wrapped up our tour of India on the 20th and had scheduled some well deserved down time, exploring the sights and sounds of Kathmandu. Unlike the picture that Lonely Planet paints of the city, it is quite a pleasant place to relax in. We were warned of the traffic and pollution but when compared to New Delhi it feels comparatively clean!
We're staying in Thamel (ta-mel) which is the centre for tourists with resturants, shops, hotels and bazaars taking up every available space. It very much has the feeling of a small town with everything you need on your door step. However, stepping outside of this district it is clear to see that Kathmandu is a lot bigger than you expect with a very confusing street system! (we got very lost trying to find the tour operators office! - thankfully in the travel industry everybody seems to know each other and we got there eventually). We have noticed the higher prices here compared to India but after a little shopping around managed to find a great deal on a reasonable hotel. Nothing fancy but good enough to wind down in
Buddist Temple
The eyes, they follow you. The flags are Tibetan Prayer flags, fulfilling wishes as they flutter.
When we arrived, Diwali was in full swing. Being the Hindu new year it's quite a big thing so there were a lot of decorations and celebrations around. Not to mention random fire-crackers and bangers going off in the street! We came through unscathed but it was nice to see how they do it over here.
Tomorrow we start the next stage of our adventure - 9 days trekking by foot from Jiri to Lukla. We leave at 5:30am for the jeep ride from Kathmandu to Jiri, so it's back to the early starts for us. We have a guide with us so we shouldn't get too lost and one porter to carry one of our big bags.
The itinary for the trek is as follows:
24th Oct. : Kathmandu to Jiri by jeep. 8-9 hours
25th Oct. : Jiri to Shivalaya. 5-6 hours
26th Oct. : Shivalay to Bhandar. 5-6 hours
27th Oct. : Bhandar to Sete. 6-7 hours
28th Oct. : Sete to Junbesi. 7-8 hours
29th Oct. : Junbesi to Nunthala. 6-7 hours
30th Oct. : Nunthala to Kharikola. 5-6 hours
31st Oct. :
Kathman-view!
This is looking out from the highest point in Kathmandu. A Hindu temple largely populated by monkeys!
1st Nov. : Paiya to Lukla. 4-5 hours, and rest!
2nd Nov. : Fly back to Kathmandu, weather permitting.
When we leave Lukla we get in a tiny little plane, take off from a tiny little runway and get a view of the Himalayas from the air! (hopefully we land in Kathmandu as well!). We don't ascend to a massive height so altitude sickness won't be a concern but we do a lot of up and down. In total we ascend 6330m and descend 5820m - only finishing 500m up from where we start! However, we will have walked the equivalent of up one Mt Everest and half way down again!!!
Joe is pretty convinced his boots will leak if it rains but the weather forecast is.... unknown, fingers crossed eh!
We're pretty sure we won't have any internet connection on the trek, they don't have roads where we're going so it's fairly unlikely! So our next post will be in 10 days time when we return, weather permitting it could be 12 if our flight from Lukla is delayed.
Wish us luck! Bye for now,
Joe and Jenni.
The plan
This is a map of our trek which forms the first stage of a Everest-base-camp trek. Jiri is circled in light green in the bottom left and Lukla is circled in Red on the right hand side.
ps. We've just met our guide for the trip, Dowa, a local Nepalese guy who has been on 115 treks - so I think we'll be in safe hands!
Part of trip: Nepal
6 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
October 24th 2009 - Joymum: Kathmanwow!
Hi
Great to hear from you again - glad you have had a bit of a rest before your trek! I do hope the weather is kind and that your boots hold out and I am really glad you have someone to carry Jenni's bag! Are you camping en route? or stopping in village hostels I wonder? It sounds an awfully long walk.....still at least they dont have mosquitos up that high do they? Are insects a problem at all? Perhaps I dont want to know the answer to that! Its very wet and windy today and we are off to a masked ball in a marquee tonight! ( Village fundraiser) It will be a bit of a drag watching everyone else dancing - perhaps I should give them scores like in Strictly! Dad has plans to make a Klu Klux Klan mask( his idea of humour) but I am hoping lack of materials will put him off! Have not be able to find studs for dress shirt but you will be glad to know the suit cleaned up OK! When you said it needed cleaning we were not anticipating quite that much mud involved!! Take care and dont do anything rash Joe- no precarious perches to get a photo etc etc. The flight will be a great reward at the end - hope its a clear view of Everest! Lots of love xxx
October 26th 2009 - Tom Court: That's a lot of walking!!
Glad to hear your journey is still going well. Trek sounds like a beast, hope your shoes hold up Joe! :)
Expecting some awesome photos as well.
Had a visit here from my mate Adam Makepeace, drove up to Scotland for a weeks holiday with his missus. Ended up crashing at mine cause his campsite was flooded - hope you get better weather your way!
Looking forward to your next update
Tom
October 26th 2009 - anonymous:
hope the trek is going well! goooodluckkkk! it sounds like hard work, but im sure the views and sights will be well worth it. give us a lengthy message when you're back. xxx
October 29th 2009 - Ellie: Phew!
I feel exhausted just reading your trek itinerary! I bet it will be soo worth it though - your photo of the foothills alone looks stunning. Joe - I hope your binoculars came in handy and that your boots held up! you've come a long way from walking in wellies in the lake district! Can't wait to read your next blog and hear all about it.
Max is in Madrid at the moment with work - it's 25 degrees out there so he's enjoying some sunshine! I'm going on a shopping bananza with Mum this weekend, then for a meal with M,D&Sam at the Grey Goose on Sunday night.
Ellie xx
November 1st 2009 - Brian & Kay: Hello from Sussex
Jenni and Jo. Thank you for so graphically describing your travels. We are avidly following your blog.
We can see that you are the thoughtful kind of travellers, and appreciate the background information
and comments on the people and places.The pictures are excellent. We hope you enjoyed the trek through
Nepal and look forward to the continuation of your account.Take care. With love, Brian & Kay.
November 2nd 2009 - John King: Thanks
Hi Jenny and Joe. We have enjoyed reading your reports and looking at the many photos. For me, your writings have brought back memories of many years ago. for which I thank you. You are due back in Katmandu today, hopefully feeling fitter and with not too many blisters. Last week, I was looking at a programme about Pune (or Poona as we knew it). It was where I spent time with the Indian Army. Didn't recognise the place as it has developed so much. I passed your blog address to Cyril in Sydney who replied that it brought back memories for him. He was in India with the RAF. Cyril was due to fly to Fiji for Tom's wedding, but left it to Ian to send us some thirty photographs. Recently, we had a break on on the Isle of Wight. This was as far overseas as we got. It was an enjoyable nevertheless. Had a visit from Caroline and Suzanna this weekend. Very pleased to see them. Enjoy the rest of your time and again, many thanks for writing in such detail. Love from Granny and Grandad/Glenys and John.
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