Annapurna Journal
A word for word transcription of my trail journal entries
TRIP ITINERARY
| May 11 | Arrived in Kathmandu at 7:30 PM |
| May 12 | Meet with Thamserku Trekking Company (The leading adventure travel company in Nepal) |
| May 13-30 | Kathmandu to Besi Sahar by bus (Trek starting point) Annapurna Circuit Trek (17 days on the trail…whew!) |
| May 31 | Naudanda to Pokhara by bus/Overnight in Pokhara |
| June 1 | Pokhara to Kathmandu by Bus |
| June 2 | City tour of Kathmandu and vicinity |
| June 3 | Shopping Day |
| June 4 | Depart Kathmandu |
TREK JOURNAL
May 13 – June 1 2002
| Day 1 | Kathmandu to Besi Sahar by Bus |
| Day 2 | Besi Sahar to Ngadi |
| Day 3 | Ngadi to Syange |
| Day 4 | Syange to Tal |
| Day 5 | Tal to Timang Besi |
| Day 6 | Timang Besi to Bratang |
| Day 7 | Bratang to Pisang |
| Day 8 | Pisang to Manang |
| Day 9 | Acclimatization day in Manang |
| Day 10 | Manang to Letdar Settlement |
| Day 11 | Letdar Settlement to Thorung Pedi |
| Day 12 | Thorung Pedi to Muktinath (Thorung La crossing) |
| Day 13 | Muktinath to Marpha |
| Day 14 | Marpha to Lete |
| Day 15 | Lete to Tatopani |
| Day 16 | Tatopani to Gorepani (side trip to Poon Hill) |
| Day 17 | Gorepani to Birethanti |
| Day 18 | Birethanti to Naudanda |
| Day 19 | Naudanda to Pokhara |
| Day 20 | Pokhara to Kathmandu |
The one thing that I will remember for as long as I live
-
The following conversation which we had countless times:
Nepali: “Where are you from?”
Us: “America”
Nepali: “America good country. America rich country. You are lucky to live in America”.
I don’t think you can fully appreciate what you have until you visit a place that has nothing. The people of Nepal have no material wealth; no great economical boom on the horizon; Communists threatening a coup d’estat; and no one to help.
What they have plenty of is friendliness, a strong work ethic, and a passion to improve their lot in life.
Things I will miss about Nepal
-
The incredibly friendly and hardworking people
-
The ’round the clock’ porters to assist me!!!
Things I will not miss about Nepal
- Nepali toilets…
- Leeches…slimy little buggers!!
- The smell
- Being called “Madam”
- The bland food
- The blatant sexism
- The utter lack of beer and wine selection
