http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/martaandbruce/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from martaandbruce en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:04:26 +0000 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:04:26 +0000 EpilogueThis ended our trek in the Annapurna region of Nepal. It was truly an adventure of a lifetime. The mountains are awe inspiring. The Nepali people we met were open and friendly and glad to share their country with us. We expect to stay in touch with Dilman as well as with David and Jane. Our pictures are treasures.Our plane to Jomsom was a little late but great fun. I got a few good pictur http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Annapurna/blog-354465.html November 8 2008 Saturday Day 19 Today is the last day of actual trekking back to Jomsom. And on Sunday we catch a morning flight to Pokara.We stayed at Hotel Nightingale in Muktanath last night. Itrsquos a rather large hotel and all the rooms were full. Our room door opened off the roof. We met an American expatriate named Susan whose room was also on the roof and was actually set aside http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Muktinath/blog-354460.html November 7 2008 Friday Muktinath Day 18 Itrsquos 105 p.m. Wersquore sitting in the street level dining room at Hotel Nightingale in Muktinath. The group of Europeans we met in Kagbeni just arrived by horse backThe walk was a little harder today more uphill but much more interesting. We walked east from Kagbeni along the Thong Khola Thong River through Klingar very small and Jharkot http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Muktinath/blog-353488.html November 5 2008 Wednesday 230 p.m. Marpha Day 16 Dilman just came to us wersquore sitting on a sunny rooftop of the Dhaulagiri Guest House in Marpha to tell us that Obama has won the election. Tomorrow wersquoll be in Kagbeni and should be able to catch some news on the internet.It was quite cloudy yesterday a few drops of rain fell during lunch but then stopped while we walked through L http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/blog-353482.html November 4 2008 Tuesday Election Day Day 15 We wonrsquot know anything about the election until tomorrow night or Thursday because of the time difference. It seems strange.A small group of Germans and a large group of French stayed at the Golden Inn Guest House in Ghasa last night as well as us. Groups are never as sociable as individuals or couples so we didnrsquot socialize much. We read http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/blog-352566.html November 3 2008 Monday Day 14 GhasaWe walked from Tatopani to Ghasa or Ghansa as it is spelled on the menu. Wersquore at the Golden Inn Guest House.We had an early wakeup call from Dilman at 630 a.m. but it took us forever to get organized and packed. We had breakfast at 720 and left the Guest House at 8 a.m. arrived at Ghasa at 230 p.m. with several short breaks tea break apple bre http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/blog-352554.html November 2 2008 Sunday 1 p.m. Lunch at Shikha Day 13 We hung out in the dining hall Ghorapani as usual. Bruce didnrsquot want to explore because he wanted to rest his knees as much as possible. The dining room was very large and more like a restaurant than any of the others more separate tables less communal. I had dal bhat for dinner. It was very good. Then to bed me at 730 Bruc http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/blog-352285.html November 1 2008 Saturday Ghorepani Horse Water Day 12 We relaxed in the dining room which had a fire under the table so our feet got quite warm nice most of the afternoon and early evening. We met a young woman from San Francisco who is trekking alone. She is on a 3 month unpaid leave from her job teaching pharmacology at SF teaching hospital. She spent a few wild intense weeks i http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/blog-352279.html October 31 2008 Friday 700 a.m. Day 11Last night was the last night of festival. Bruce and I had 2 glasses of Raksi local millet wine and got sleepy so we went to bed too early for Bruce who woke during the evening. I think Dilman and Dharma and Durga were partying because no one is around waiting on us yet. Today is supposed to be an easy uphill walk through deep forest. Originally not http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Tadapani/blog-352275.html October 30 2008 Thursday Ghandruk Day 10Wrong It wasn't 1 hours to Ghandruk it was about 1 hour to Komrong all uphill after you cross a bridge over a small river. And then according to Lonely Planet ldquoa steep climb through a forest on an interminable set of switchbacksrdquo to Komrong. Then it was level or even slightly descending to Ghandruk. It started to rain shortly a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/blog-349709.html October 29 2008 Wednesday 1215 p.m. Lunch at Kimrong Day 9Yesterday was the 3rd Day of the Festival of Lights the Day of the Cow. At dinner Dilman came to get us to show us the lighting of the candles at each doorway. After dinner some young women laid out 4 or 5 yoga style mats on the ldquopatiordquo. Several young men had drums the women sang and then individuals started to dance. I t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/blog-349625.html October 28 2008 Tuesday 215 p.m. Chamrong Day 8Wersquore staying at Mountain View Lodge in Chamrong Room 5. Irsquom sitting out in the sun writing with Jane and David who we met when we arrived here.Yesterday Monday October 27 Day 7.I had a very difficult night at ABC with altitude headache and panic attack in middle of the night. Bruce gave me a diamox tablet and the headache calmed http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Annapurna/blog-349611.html October 26 2008 Sunday ABC Day 6We woke up at MBC Machhapuchhare Base Camp at 6 a.m. for Bruce to take pictures. It was perfectly clear not a wisp of cloud. Bruce got sunrise pictures. We had breakfast rasti with 2 fried eggs on top sort of like a large plate of hash browns with eggs and left for ABC Annapurna Base Camp at about 8 a.m. The walk was easy a climb in the beginning and http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Annapurna/blog-349605.html October 25 2008 Saturday 1225 p.m. MBC Day 5We had a 2 to 3 hour walk up the River Valley to Machhapuchhare Base Camp which isn't really a base camp since climbing the mountain is not permitted. It was fairly steep in places We took it very slowly as it is getting pretty high here about 11000 feet. I did a walking meditation most of the way. The air is so clear crisp. We arrived at th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Annapurna/blog-349594.html October 24 '08 Friday 710 a.m. Duvon Day 4Irsquom waiting for breakfast. It was quite cool last night good sleeping weather. Our wet clothing from the rain last evening is still damp but not too bad. I think my socks will dry if I fasten them on my day pack. I took a hot ldquoshowerrdquo last night. There was just a trickle of water but it was nice and hot gas heated. It was the fi http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Annapurna/blog-347557.html October 23 2008 Thursday about 7 a.m. Duvon Day 2 Wednesday October 22 Left Tolka at 730 a.m. after breakfast. Food is very good and filling. Went downhill for several hours up and down across small bridges. Then down down to New Bridge which is a very long bridge. And then up up up. I was quite pleased not to be nearly as winded as yesterday and experimented with the ldquorest s http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Damak/blog-347491.html October 20 2008 Monday 915 p.m. PokharaWersquore in Pokhara after a 6 hour drive. Very fun drive not as scary as I was led to believe. For one thing Irsquove developed a lot of confidence in the ITrekNepal drivers. Crazy driving but not really careless at all. And what can you expect with no lights no stop signs cars trucks bikes motor and pedal people and animals in the road.We di http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Pokhara/blog-347237.html October 19 2008 Sunday 110 p.m. Bhaktapur NepalWe finally got plane at about 6 p.m. Our luggage made it fine. We were met at the airport by Shree from ITrekNepal and were driven to Bhaktapur Guest House in Bhaktapur NOT Kathmandu. We were given dinner on the plane although we had also been given a free lunch at the airport because of the delay of our plane. We had a beer with Shree and Eliz http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-347236.html October 15 2008 Wednesday 5 p.m. At American gate A7 Philadelphia Airport.Hassle at check in because we have 22 hours layover at Delhi and no transit visa. Will take all of 22 hours to get our baggage and then get it on flight to Kathmandu. But the ticket agent was amazingly helpful and got us through. And Bruce and I were amazingly patient. October 17 2008 Friday 755 a.m. Hong KongWersqu http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/blog-347232.html