Lost at 3000m high

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After 24 hours of travel, ridiculous transit at Delhi airport we arrived in freezing cold Kathmandu. This was the start of Ash's 2 days whinge about how cold it was! On the first night Tom got his momos he'd been dreaming of for months (tibetan raviolli basically). Despite the cold we managed to squeeze in pretty much all the tourist attractions. Highlights were being shown around Durbar square by a very very knowledgable guide, he was totally to the point in his descriptions of the erotic wood carvings in the Karma Sutra temple (too rude to write for the older readers). He told us that the 15th century temple was made to encourgae nepalis to ge jiggy and increase the population hahaha! Our new camera's high zoom feature got some excellent close ups of the poses (almost pornographic). He also explained about a living goddess who lives in another temple, a 6 year old girl who has to go through various tests, like being shut in a dark room with scary music and a priest with a mask on that dances in front of her, to be chosen as the kamari (living goddess). She is sacred in the Hindu faith and she can never touch the ground, and only leaves her temple a few times year. She will be the goddess until puberty and then they pick another. Ash's favourite bit was him shouting up to the balcony where she lives and her appearing, we had to bow. Really interesting. Another interesting sight was the holy hindu area of pashapti where cremations take place on the river. We witnessed a military man cremated, lots of military men there standing in ceremony, real experience.

After kathmandu we travelled to pokhara and spent a couple of days relaxing and planning our trek. Trek was 4 days 3 nights in the annapurna region (ghandruk - gorapani - ullari - pokhara). Most people who do this trek take a guide and porter, we had one it was Tom to save money. Pretty impressive the amount he carried for 4 days, his knowledge cracking. However after an 8 hour climb through ice, snow, fog, up steep steps and jungle, and just before it was getting dark, our guide (Tom) got us lost on the descent to gorapani! Ash was nearly in tears thinking we were going to have to sleep in the jungle in well below freezing temparatures. However he used his Scoutting knowledge and continuously shouted 'Namaste' (hello) into the valley. After several calls, we got a reponse in the valley and follwed the voices. We found 2 local porters who guided us to gorapani, relief does not explain how we felt. Tom claims he was in control of the situation the whole time! Morning after we climbed Poon hill (45 mins) in the dark to get to the top for sunrise. The view was breathtaking, 180 degree view of the himilayan mountains, got loadsa pics which we'll put on next time we remember the camera cable (sorry). As its quite season we basically had poon hill and the sorrounding views to ourselves, it was stunning.

Back to pokhara after the tiring trek, today having a relaxing/organising day in lots of sunshine and warmer weather (finally). Tom walked along the strip of restaruants today asking for buffalo momos and nowhere had them. We saw a sign for 'momo restaurant' and found a man sitting outside his home (not to be rude but it was a shack) so we went in and he had fresh buffalo momos. Tom got invited back for an evening plate of momos, and a smoke Nepali style!!

Tomorrow is bike ride to Toms old house, hopefully weather will stay sunny. Then off to Chitwan safari park on Friday, and then India .........

ps. Bev, Emma and Carli (all of whom gave me lots of sweets to take away) they were much appreciated on the long trek. Bev they are endless, its amazing. And LA girls the dib dab and parma violets went down a right storm in the mountains!!!

Lots of love

T & A

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Photos

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Kathmandu, Durbar Sq

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Pashpati cremation.

Narnia
Second day of our trek in Nepal and we got into ice, snow and a lot of mist!!!! This was the day we got lost in the evening.

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Looks like a painting behind but promise its not. This is the top of Poon Hill, the highest point of our trek. We watched sunrise from 5:00am.

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Old family friends in Pokhara who were delighted to have us around for tea.

Comments

[bev]

Jealous!
Cannot believe you got to see the Goddess!! Some guide told us if we gave him some money he could call her down but I didn't believe him! Poor little thing, I feel well sorry for her. Glad you're having a good time so far! Bev xx

[Kate]

I am sooooooooooo jealous-especially the part about the momos. Sounds like you're having a brilliant time - Ash I hope you're enjoying Nepal? Good job you managed a good sell of Bali - you deserve it after Tom acting as your guide trekking! You'll need to make some recommendations of where to stay in Chitwan - cos we booked flights for October - yay! Hope the weather is still nice for you and remember to take lots of pictures. xxx