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The Rocky Road To Darjeeling
2008-05-20 08:50:00
Fully loaded, my share jeep held 12 people and 1 baby. I occupied a seat in the far back, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it allowed me to take in the beautiful valley views as we wound our way up the rough and narrow roads. The experience ...
More About: India , Rocky , Road , Darjeeling

Nepal-India Border Crossing
2008-05-19 07:29:00
As much as I enjoyed playing chicken with oncoming traffic in Kathmandu’s little white taxis, I was happy to have a seat on Yeti Airline’s 11:40am flight to a small border town in southeastern Nepal . The 30 seat twin prop plane had a nice green and yellow paint job and I felt at ease boarding it for the short 45-minute trip. I noticed I was the only white guy, which surprised me given I was on the preferred morning flight for those heading to Darjeeling, India . Seating was first come, first serve and I nabbed a single window seat in the front left, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mt. Everest on my way out of the country. A pleasant stewardess kept us hydrated and the plane took off and landed exactly as scheduled. We flew at 15,000 feet however the clouds hid any potential mountain views. As we disembarked at a tiny airport, I was immediately struck by the heat and humidity of the lower elevation. I went to use the men’s room and after a few seconds at the uri...
More About: Border Crossing , Crossing

Final Thoughts: 7 Weeks In Nepal
2008-05-18 07:48:00
Nepal had always represented world class trekking for me, yet I found the country to offer so much more. Beyond the beautiful snow-capped mountains, green valleys, peaceful lakes, raging rivers, colorful flowers, and wide array of birds were incredibly kind people, a lively Tibetan community, delicious food, and a rich cultural history. Highlights ...
More About: Nepal , Thoughts , Final , Weeks

More Images From Boudhnath Stupa
2008-05-17 20:43:00
  A marching band accompanies a wedding procession around Boudhnath Stupa one afternoon. Butter lamps. A Tibetan woman spins prayer wheels. A rooftop view of the stupa…well worth the extra dollar or two per meal. A monk tries to ignore a begging child….but later relents and offers a donation. Pigeons being fed at sunrise. My room at ...
More About: Nepal , Images

Inspire Yourself at HotelClub?s Travel Blog
2008-05-16 20:44:00
The following is a sponsored post. One’s desire to travel abroad is often born from stories of adventure and photographs of exotic locales. In the years leading up to my current journey, I sought inspiration from television shows, magazines, and travel blogs. Halfway around the world, I still find myself seeking the next cool ...
More About: Reviews , Travel , Blogging , Blog , Inspire

Daily Life In Boudha
2008-05-16 08:46:00
The second morning I awoke in Boudha, I satisfied my curiosity about the ringing bells at 5:30am. I put on some warm clothes and stepped outside of the guest house to see people walking down the alleys toward the stupa, counting their prostrations on malas (prayer beads) hanging from their hands. I joined ...
More About: Life , Daily

How To Obtain An Indian Visa In Kathmandu
2008-05-15 08:45:00
Sunday - Receive advice to get to the India n Embassy early. Monday - 8:45am - Arrive at Indian Embassy 45 minutes prior to opening. Take a number - 79 to be specific. Realize you may not be able to drop off your Telex form today (cutoff is 12pm). Security guy suggests I return at 8pm to get a lower number for ...
More About: Nepal , Kathmandu , Visa

First Hand Account Of China?s Earthquake
2008-05-15 06:14:00
?The mountain blew up right in front of us. There were tremors every few minutes. I will never forget the thunderous echo of those boulders ? as big as two-story buildings ? crashing down the mountain and into the gorge. We saw a small bridge that crossed the gorge and led to a small hotel ...
More About: China , Earthquake , Hand , Account

Hinduism?s Holy Pashupatinath Temple
2008-05-14 08:15:00
After my first peaceful night in Boudha (the area with the stupa), I awoke early to the the sounds of the nearby monastery’s morning puja (prayers). I put my curiosity on hold and stayed in bed. Later in the morning, I caught a cab south to my 5th World Heritage Site in the Kathmandu ...
More About: Temple , Hinduism , Holy

Blissful Boudhnath Stupa
2008-05-13 13:23:00
After a few nights at the historic Kathmandu Guest House in the heart of Thamel (Kathmandu), I was ready to escape the live cover bands and honking taxis for some peace and quiet. I put my main pack in storage and grabbed a taxi east toward Boudhnath Stupa, an important site for both ...

Patan?s Durbar Square Sans Camera
2008-05-11 07:35:00
My first digital camera was a Christmas gift from my parents in 2006. I had been receiving compliments on the Canon PowerShot SD700 IS Digital Elph all along my trip, and had been very happy with the photo quality. I was a quick draw as Gela and others who spent any length of ...
More About: Camera , Square , Patan

Touring Swayambhunath Stupa
2008-05-10 07:37:00
From the restaurant rooftop in Durbar Square, I could see Swayambhunath Stupa as it was up on a hill to the west. I grabbed a taxi for yet another kamikaze ride through narrow streets filled with buzzing motorcycles and pedestrians. For most of my taxi rides around the city and valley, I’ve paid about ...
More About: Touring

Kathmandu?s Durbar Square
2008-05-09 07:57:00
Rarely am I keen to follow the city walking tours in the Lonely Planet guides, however I had a feeling the one from Thamel to Durbar Square in Kathmandu would be interesting. As I left the tourist area, I soon found myself passing Buddhist monasteries, stupas, and Hindu temples left and right. Walking through the ...
More About: Nepal

Thangka Shopping
2008-05-08 07:51:00
Upon my return to Kathmandu, I dedicated a full day to thangka shopping. Thangkas are traditional Tibetan Buddhist paintings made on cloth. They are often framed with a brocade and depict one of five different topics: Deities (like Buddha, Tara, etc.), Life of Buddha, Wheel of Life, and two types of ...
More About: Shopping

Dares, Polls, And India
2008-05-06 07:56:00
Dares I know it has been awhile since I completed a dare, however they are always in the back of my mind. To recap what is outstanding: For $100, my friend Bob wants me to get a photo with a topless girl. For $50, get my photo taken with a ladyboy in Thailand. For $30, Tim wants me ...
More About: India , Nepal , Blogging , Polls , Dares

Leaving Pokhara For Kathmandu
2008-05-05 07:17:00
Two days after returning from the rafting trip, I boarded a tourist bus back to Kathmandu . After 3.5 weeks, and countless adventures, it felt right to leave. The mountain views I once enjoyed each morning had disappeared in a thick haze which had descended on the valley in mid-April. I felt ...
More About: Nepal , Leaving

Rafting Nepal?s Kali Gandaki River
2008-05-04 09:15:00
I was still having trouble bringing myself to leave Pokhara so I signed up for a 3-day/2-night rafting trip through Paddle Nepal /Ultimate Descents. I chose a trip on one of Nepal’s holiest rivers, the Kali Gandaki. It offered class III and IV rapids, so I knew it’d be exciting without scaring the ...
More About: River , Rafting

Saying Goodbye?Again
2008-05-03 07:50:00
New relationships seem to break apart as quickly as they form. Lately, it feels like I’ve been saying goodbye a lot. Luckily, quite a few of the people are headed toward northern India at the same time as me so there’s a possibility we’ll meet up again. However small the chances, ...
More About: Nepal , Goodbye

Paddling Phewa Lake
2008-05-02 07:31:00
One of the luxuries of traveling alone for an extended time is your ability to do whatever you want, whenever. It is the feeling of absolute freedom I worked so hard to enjoy. So once the meditation course wrapped up, I decided to stick around Pokhara a little longer to spend time ...
More About: Nepal , Lake , Paddling

My 3-Day Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Course
2008-05-01 07:09:00
A week to the day after completing my trek, I walked to the Ganden Yiga Chozin Buddhist Meditation Center in the northern section of Pokhara’s Lakeside district. I wanted to find out about the 3-day meditation course they offered. My timing couldn’t have been better, as it was a weekend course set ...
More About: Nepal , Tibetan

Morning Hike To The World Peace Pagoda
2008-04-30 07:21:00
When I first arrived in Pokhara, I distinctly remember looking up at the World Peace Pagoda and thinking that it would be a strenuous hike to get up to it (despite the guide book stating it only takes an hour). I decided to put the climb off until after my trek. What a difference ...
More About: Nepal , World Peace , Morning

I Want To Fly Like An Eagle
2008-04-29 07:15:00
I allowed myself a few days to recover from the trek, despite having felt far more sore the day after a dodgeball tournament then tramping around in the mountains. I gave up my Super Deluxe room at the Snowland Hotel ($25/night, complete with balcony overlooking the lake), for a more affordable room with ...
More About: Nepal , Eagle

Final Thoughts - Annapurna Sanctuary Trek
2008-04-28 07:05:00
Never…Ending…Peace…And& #8230;Love Perspectives from a first-time trekker in the Himalaya of Nepal . The Scenery Hopefully the photos I’ve posted speak volumes about the scenery. Words hardly do it justice so I’m not going to try too hard. Green forest valleys gave way to snow-covered mountains of the highest caliber. Waking each morning to new and stunning ...
More About: Thoughts , Final , Trek

Day 10 - When The Night Feels My Song
2008-04-27 20:51:00
  I’m on the rocky road, Heading down off the mountain slope, And as my steps echo louder than before. Another day is done, Say goodbye to the setting sun, See what I found, turn back to the ground just like before. And hey hey hey, hey hey hey (hey!), Hey beautiful day. When the night ...
More About: Nepal , Song , Night

Day 9 - Learning To Fly
2008-04-27 07:42:00
  Well I started out down a dirty road. Started out all alone. And the sun went down, as I cross the hill. And the town lit up, the world got still. I’m learning to fly, but I ain’t got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing. — Tom ...
More About: Nepal , Learning

Day 8 - Waiting For The Sun
2008-04-26 20:33:00
  At first flash of eden, we race down to the sea. Standing there on freedom’s shore. Waiting for the sun. Can you feel it now that spring has come. And it’s time to live in the scattered sun. Waiting for the sun. Waiting… …This is the strangest life I’ve ever known. ...
More About: Nepal

Day 7 - Living For Today
2008-04-26 07:09:00
And if life is going by too fast…it’s time for you to slow down…time for you to make it last…before you trip and slip…and you will miss this happy little stepping stone just before eternal bliss. — Pennywise Tuesday, April 8, 2008 4:28 pm - Tadapani - Elev. 2,630 meters Around 5:45pm yesterday, Nima spotted Mohan ...
More About: Living , Nepal , Today

Day 6 - The 59th Street Bridge Song
2008-04-25 20:55:00
Got no deeds to do, No promises to keep.  I’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.  Let the morning time drop all it’s petals on me.  Life, I love you.  All is groovy.  — Simon & Garfunkel Monday, April 7, 2008 12:33 pm - Chomrong - Elev. 2,155 meters   I slept pretty well last night, though I ...
More About: Nepal , Song , Street , Bridge

Day 5 - Beautiful Day
2008-04-25 07:30:00
     It’s a beautiful day…The sky falls…And you feel like it’s a beautiful day…Don’t let it get away.  — U2 Sunday, April 6, 2008 8:18 am - Chomrong - Elev. 2,155 meters I awoke around 1am last night, slightly chilly. I added my thin fleece and donned the warm wool mittens I had bought in Jhinu danda. ...
More About: Nepal , Beautiful

Day 4 - Silent In The Morning
2008-04-24 20:12:00
Silent in the morning…Suspended in the trees…Lunchtime comes you’ve found your voice…It brings me to my knees…The volume just increases…The resounding echoes grow…Till once again I bask in morning stillness, I love so. — Phish Saturday, April 5, 2008 1:33 pm - Chomrong - Elev. 2,155 meters Storm clouds are rolling in even earlier today. ...
More About: Nepal , Morning , Silent , In The Morning