Annapurna Circuit, Nepal - Part 1

17 October - 9 November 2009

Check out the blog for more photos:
http://www.jamiesoon.com/wordpress/?p=1574
http://www.jamiesoon.com/wordpress/?p=1492

Arrive in Kathmandu on Nepal Airlines

Woah.. big group... some aunties e.g. Mrs Chin and her friends
just going sightseeing around Nepal.

On the way to the guest house

Potala Guest House

Waiting for check in at Potala Guest House.
Mr Chin chatting with Mr Abel, the tour agent ...

Our nice room

Walking around the shops nearby

Have something to eat.... yummy

The nice bakery shop...

Mom moh...

Having lunch... nasi briyani... had to wait quite long

Walking around

At Mr Abel office ... settle photo for permits, change money ...etc..

Oh, its Deepavali.... big celebration around here !

Some kids usually go around singing in front of the shops and the shopkeeper will give them some money...

Kelly demonstrates the 'singing bowl' ... the bowl vibrates ...
Singing bowls are traditionally constructed of a seven metal alloy, said to include gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, tin and mercury.

Buying some fridge magnets at the bookshop...

Kelly lost her handphone.... ask the shopowner to try to call...
(but actually he's the one who took it)

Welcome, Happy Deepavali....

Decoration in front of shops

Time for dinner..... Kelly got some recommendation from a friend..

Aaahhh.... the first taste Dalbat.....(Dahl Rice)

Some books at bookshop

Kids celebrating in the streets ...

Next morning, waiting for breakfast...

Eggs and potatoes and toast...

Today, sightseeing around Kathmandu

First stop, Bouddhanath, Kathmandu - The largest stupa in Nepal
UNESCO World Heritage Site

Our tour guide for today ....

Walking around the shops around the stupa

Stupa with eyes....

Temple nearby

Monk

Tour guide and Mee Wing

Colourful costumes

Some dance performance

Monk ... alot of people like to take photo of him...looks like a buddha
or.. orang utan....

Still walking around the stupa area....

Me... heh heh

Visit Buddist Thanka Centre
School of Thanka Painting

Thanka art is essentially religious in both content and function... used as a visual means of disseminating various aspects of Buddha's teaching ...

Next stop, Pashupatinath Temple

Puppets

Dye seller outside Pashupatinath

On the way to Pashupatinath Temple ..
another UNESCO World Heritage Site

Located on the banks of the Bagmati river in the eastern part of Kathmandu

Take photo then ask for money.... no no...no money...

Here's where they burn the dead.....

Preparing the body for cremation

Walking around the temple

View from the top

Ok, on the way back, stop for some souvenirs

Next... lunch time... Shoo Chan stops for some apples...

Lunch at a rooftop restaurant with nice view... lots of mat salleh eating here

View of another world heritage site in Kathmandu valley
Kathmandu Durbar Square

Order lunch...

Have some apples !

Me having vegetable curry... yummy

Tour guide having lunch with us

Walk around the ancient city... build by a Nepal King long time ago...

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Ok next stop, monkey temple somewhere on top of a hill...

Monkey...

Explore the area...

Guy selling some nice paintings

Shops selling handicraft

Nice view on top of the hill

Some artwork...

Ok... finish day tour... now shopping time

Get us some new jackets..... good price....

At the bakery shop again... after 9pm discount....

Next morning, all packed ....

Breakfast with the group

Walnuts

Tour guide provide these red bags for us to put in our bags...

Get on the bus

Go to the airport to pick up Mr Law ...

Put a dot on your head...

Buy some apples

On the way to Besi Sahar

Nice view... and the brick factory kiln

Police

Stop for lunch

Buffet style... but the food soon runs out fast...

Woah... big plate... all finished ! Must eat more....

Continue our journey to Besi Sahar

Arrive at the Guest House.
This is the starting point of the Annapurna Circuit trek

Group photo : From left
Shoo Chan, Mr Chin, Tan, Mr Law, Dr Ng (Gan Che), Kelly, and Lao Lee

The 19 day group.... Mr Chang, Tan, Joyce(Ms. USA) and Mee Wing (Ms. S'pore)

Walking around before it gets dark....

Papadam...

Dinner and briefing by our trekking guide... Mr Chandra....

Mr Chandra introduce the sherpas and porters... 5 porters and 2 sherpa
All from the Gurung family....

Next day, before starting the trek... run out to buy some water...

Group photo... ok ready to start !!!!

Lets go... porters carrying our luggage

Walking past some villages

Kelly and Chitra.... the 'intern'...
fresh face college graduate 20 years old come out to become sherpa...

Walk some more...

Donkey.. mule ?

Beginning part of the trail is hot, and plants like what you can find in Malaysia

Make way for the bus

Shoo Chan and Joyce

Please don't fall into the river...

Mr Law collecting some rocks and asking Roshan to carry for him..

Taking photo with a villager

Crossing a bridge

Take a break

Kids pestering Kelly for pen / hair clip / sweets ....

Walk some more... more trekkers coming...

Gan Che and Shoo Chan

Hen and chicks

Turn right....

Cross the river

Lunch stop...

Waiting for lunch... have some drinks

Have some fried rice...

Continue walking

Waterfall

Take a break, almost there

ok.. reach the guest house... we will spend the night here...
This village is called Ngadi

Mr Lao Lee's shoes ....

Check out the rooms ....

and toilets....

Tea Time....

Hot water ?

Biscuits

Joyce washing some clothes

Time for some Tai Chi demonstation by Dr. Ng

Kelly does her thing... porters looking... and later Lao Lee join in

River next to the guest house

Refugee camp.... time to sleep, cold and blankets not provided
thank goodness for sleeping bag...

Tibeten bread ... with cheese

Next morning, ready for trekking ...

Walking to the next village...

Mr Chandra and porters... adjusting some of the bags...to make it more comfortable for porters to carry....

Make way for porters... any any mat salleh who wants to overtake...

Bridge

Village after the bridge

"That's our dinner for tonight" ....

Walk walk walk....

Our porters overtake us...

Some muddy area...

Paddy fields....

Kelly taking some photos with her poloroid camera

Are we there yet ? Where is everyone...

Over here, taking a break and having some tea...

Oh nice view for photoshoot

Shoo Chan, Joyce and Mee Weng

Me...

Who wants some fresh orange juice

Harvesting rice....

Lunch time...

Walk some more

Some landslide area.. have to wait... got a few rocks falling down..

Have to climb up here...

Traffic jam...

Wait wait wait ... Dr Ng poses for the camera....

Ok start walking up...

Mr Chang... whew...

Please take a picture of me here....

Walk some more...

Almost there... reaching the next village....

Arrive in Jagat village

Check in to Tea House

Our rooms..

Citra and Roshan prepare tea ...

Beautiful fat chicken....

Mr Law brings out his medicine first aid box ...

Take photo with Lao Lee ... 70+ years old still can walk...

Next morning breakfast....

Start trekking to the next town...

back to Travel Photos Mainpage