The Anapurna Circuit

3 weeks ago we left Pokhara for the major highlight and one of the major driving forces for us to travel the world in the first place. To trek the Anapurna Circuit! Unfortunately, this post will not be accompanied by pictures. To celebrate our anniversary, as Lori puts it, we decided to lose our camera last night. Thus we will be unable to transfer any of our last 3 weeks worth of pictures, thankfully we lost only the last weeks worth. Until we figure out what we're going to do about the camera, I'm afraid our posts will be dull old words.

Leaving Pokhara on a 5 hour bus trip to travel ~100km to the start of the trek. We had another lovely chicken bus experience. You haven't lived until you've seen 80 people jammed into and onto a bus half the size of a big yellow bus.

Our spirits only slightly dampened we started our 10 day climb from 800m to just over 5400m, an altitude a mere 100m shy of the everest base camp. The start of the trek took us through sub-tropical and some incredibly hot days as we left the more Indian Hindu aspects of Nepal behind.

Leaving the sub-tropical climate behind and reaching the more arid and alpine areas we were met with a less populated and more culturally interesting almost Tibetan and more Bhuddist influence. Our sleeping bags came out at night as the temperature dropped and eventually we left the trees behind and climbed into rock and snow.

Our accomodations ranged from Syrian prison to quite luxurious attached western bathroom style. However, the food was always very deliciuos and we took quite a shine to Tibetan Bread. We hope to find it at Edmonton's next Heritage days!

We had to slow our ascent down as we acclimated to our change in height. Taking extra days in places such as Manang we took time to get lost on goat trails. But always the massive snow-covered Himalayas loomed breathtakingly above us. Some mornings it was easy to wake up and forget where you were, and then, you'd step out your door, and bam, there was a massive Himalayan peak.

On day 10 we climbed 1km from Thorong Phedi to the pass at Thorong La. The feeling of accomplishment was amazing! With some of the worlds largest peaks nearly touchable around us, it was almost like being on top of the world. Unfortunately then it was 7 days of almost straight down. Our knees and calves still hurt.

It was an amazing experience, and perhaps not one that can be experienced much longer as roads push further and further into some of the less culturally touched areas. On our way down we were in fact forced to cower in a town as road blasting rained down debris upon our hotel. You haven't lived, or at least experienced what war might be like, until you've had your chest rattled by explosions merely 100 meters away from you.

Anyhow, we're in Nepal for another week, killing some time in Pokhara, and then back to Kathmandu. On May 4 we fly on to Egypt via London, for potentially more saga. Visa issues may prevent Egypt from being a reality, but there's always Spain! Stay tuned.

Hopefully pictures will make an appearance in our lives again soon.

Stupa is as Stupa does

Namaste from Pokhara, Nepal! Although Pokhara sounds remarkable like pokara, the similarities end there, as a pokara is a tasty fried pancakey thing while Pokhara is a smoggy city of 170 000 at the feet of the Himalaya, or so we’ve been told. We hope to verify this by heading off on the Annapurna Circuit in a few days time. This hike should take us above the smog and provide some spectacular view of some of the highest mountains in the world!

Dan and I arrived in Nepal about a week ago, after a final week of volunteering in Tasmania. Our team went off to the eastern coast of Tasmania for some weed eradication – extremely nasty African Boxthorn and some other mean thistle – scratching us to pieces and virtually destroying any hope of arm modeling when we return. Sigh. There goes THAT career. Despite pain, blood and the teensiest amount of cursing, we thoroughly enjoyed our location – beaches, sheep and rolling hills. Virtually perfect, if you ignored the big-as-my-head (and that’s BIG!) Huntsman spiders. Ugh.

From Hobart we flew to Sydney for a few days of madly dashing through the city, frantically snapping pictures of the Opera House (not as nice as your hat, Heidi, but close), running across the Harbour Bridge and searching in vain for *@#^@*&^ Luna Park. You suck, Luna Park. We did see contortionist stuff herself into a box though, so that’s something.

We then flew to Kathmandu and spent a few days feeling stunned and sleeping a lot. There is something to be said for Kathmandu – magnificent Hindu and Buddhist religious structures (or stupas, in case you were wondering!), rickshaws, colourful fabrics and spices, an amazing array of food, snake charming and a totally diverse sea of people everywhere. That said, it’s kind of hard to get past the people either a) pooing in the streets; b) horking (a hard-core version of spitting); c) driving over you in their muffler-free car or motorcycle or d) dropping unknown wet things on your head from their 5th floor apartment. Ew.

We’re off to rent a dubious-looking rowboat from someone and take on Lake Phewa Tal. Have a great Easter!!