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Published: October 24th 2009
October 19, 2009
I"m sitting here in Toronto...having just checked the Kathmandu weather for today....high of 97 degrees!...most people are really surprised that it's that warm....it's at about 4500 ft of altitude but at the same latitude as Jacksonville, Florida!
Dreading the long flight to Bangkok tomorrow. Flying via Tokyo to Bangkok on Aeroplan so can't complain! Leave 1:15 pm Toronto time on October 20 and arrive in Bangkok October 21 at 9:30 pm..Thai time.
Flying Air Canada to Tokyo then Thai Airways to Bangkok.
The next morning I fly to Kathmandu again on Thai Airways which is about a 4 to 4.5 hour flight. Arrive KTM 12:30 on October 22nd.
It's been 18 years since I was last in Nepal. There's been a bunch of political upheavels in Nepal involving the Maoists which has resulted in considerable violence and disruption and few travellers over the past couple of years. In the past year, the King stepped down as State head and the government includes the Maoists now which has helped to ameliorate the tension. There are still some demonstrations and strikes but I think things are much better.
And now that I think of it (or rather as one of my great friends recently reminded me) one of the last time I was in Kathmandu I spent an evening holed up in a restaurant, behind an overturned dining table dodging broken glass from the bricks coming through the windows from the "dacoits"...great Indian word!..I think it means unruly types....in this rioters. So I'll be hoping for no repeat there
October 20, 2009
The plan is to do a trek called the Annapurna Circuit which follows a trail around Annapurna I which at 8016m is the 10th highest mountain in the world. En route I'll be looking at a whole slew of high mountains..the highest being Dhaulagiri at 8167m (26795 ft) is the 7th highest. Here's a link to the top 10 if you're interested!
http://www.top-ten-10.com/science/geography/mountains_world.htm
The trek is along a well worn path and there are teahouses, guesthouses and restaurants along the way so there's no need for food, tent etc if you don't wish. The trek can be done at your pace due to the number of towns/places to stay but generally takes about 17 days. The trek starts in the lowlands and works it's way up to the Thorong La pass on about day 9 or 10 which at 17769 ft (5416m) is the high point on the trek. Several days of acclimatization precede the pass. There is also an add on trek of 4-5 days in the Annapurna Sanctuary to Annapurna base camp which I hope to do as well. We'll see how acclimatization goes and how the knees hold up! I plan to hire a guide/porter to help carry a bit of the load and hopefully help out with the good teahouses to stay and the best places to eat!
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Mary Hatt
non-member comment
You've still got the travel bug!
Sounds like an another amazing adventure -- I am now an armchair traveller, sitting at my kitchen table on this Saturday morning, sipping tea and reading about YOUR LIFE!! What's next? K2?