A Trek to Remember: Annapurna Base Camp

Annapurna Base Camp

October 4^th, the day was set for my written exam and interview for a job vacancy at Pokhara. The good thing was, my two-way expenses and a night stay at the hotel was going to be reimbursed by the organization. Golden Opportunity! I did not risk to let this chance slip and decided to go for Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek after giving my exam. So, I asked a sister from my neighborhood if she is interested to go for ABC trek instead of Sailung, which we had planned beforehand. She got ready for the proposal. I was not well prepared financially because I had been unemployed for 4 months and the payments from the consultations were pending.

I had informed about my condition to her and with some ks on my pocket we headed to Pokhara. So, on the 3^rd of October, I, the little one and She, the older one, we departed from my house at 6:30 am. It was half-past seven when we reached Kalanki Bus Stop and chose a micro to ride. We paid NRs 525 each as the fare to Pokhara which I felt is a bit expensive. The micro conductor informed the price has risen due to the increment in fuel price. Well O well, who will talk more with them and we sat on the last seat and the microbus started to wheel at 7:50am. It had been a bad luck that few wheels further, micro started to stop and wheel like a bullock cart. One guy sitting next to me, seemed working for a project, was telling me the traffic is due to the construction thingy during the night time and will continue like this until a week more. I felt like this will turn me into “I HAVE MY BUTT GLUED” situation. Only at 12:30pm, we reached Naubise, not even 10km away from Kathmandu.

Being glued to the seat for 12 hours, we reached Pokhara at 7:30pm. It was raining and dark. We still needed to think about a hotel and rest. I had none in my mind except Hotel K.C. at Damside where I often used to stay when I used to go to Pokhara. It used to be a nice and cozy one and fits the budget. However, this time, the hotel failed to meet my expectations. The fan was noisy, no channel running, wi-fi not working, broken shower and flush and surprisingly I did not care that the room was next to the road as well. Maybe I was too tired for this. I basically cannot sleep when there are noises. While I was at Hotel View Bhrikuti for the consultation as a Liaison Officer, where I had spent my 10 days, I made a big fuss for they gave me a room next to the road and I could not sleep for one whole night. Anyways, we slept out of our tiredness and woke up early, the next morning to walk around Lake Fewa.

Lake Side

Fewa was looking stunning as always with the colorful boats and the sun-kissed layers of water. We two took some pictures and especially that didi. She is a selfie queen. She loves to take selfies and I’m quite opposite to that. I like snapping the surroundings. En route we had cinnamon and chocolate croissants and therefore, we had been doing fine all the way long. People jog and they eat and we were eating while jogging. It was quite a scene. HAHA!

This trip had been about meeting people for me. One of the first people I met was Mr. Ramananda Joshi. Bird Lovers might recognize his name. He is a renowned person for Bird Photography in Nepal working for BCN, Pokhara. He was there distributing some brochures for learning English for Nepali youngsters. Since didi wanted a picture, he offered to take our pictures together. We talked for a whim of time and knowing I am also an environment student, he gave me big beary hug and we exchanged our number.

The day was the day of my exam and it was starting at 10am. Therefore, we rushed to the hotel and at 9 o’clock, we left the hotel towards the exam center. Because I do not know many places in Pokhara and getting there; I asked the hotel owner on how to get to that place on a bus. So, the hotel owner directed to ride a bus that goes to Bagar. After reaching Bagar, I turned on my GPS and started tracking the map. Bingo! I got it right. Because most of the time in Nepal, the location is not updated if they’ve shifted from that place. Happened once when I and one of the CCPA’s from UNDP had gone for the MCG assessment at NEFIN, Baluwatar.

INF International

9:35am, we’d reached the organization. Sharp 10am, exam started. Quarter to 1, I finished my exam and queued up for the interview. I had requested them to put my interview first because that day I was traveling to Ghandruk. Knowing I was among the lucky 6 for the written exam and interview in out of 110 applicants had already been the achievement and getting this job would have been another achievement for me. Anyways, fingers crossed, I gave the interview, impressed the international interviewers and left for my trek.

Jhinu Bridge

Hari Chowk is 5 minutes away from the organization so I had faith that we will get a jeep or at least a bus because it was already 2:30pm. However, the jeep would go if there were full passengers and we were just two. Luckily, we got the last bus to Ghandruk. The bus was kind of empty. Around 7pm, we reached to Ghandruk Bus Park, Qlu, riding offroad in a tiny way in such a dark. Qlu has got few guest houses to choose from but I chose to stay at the same guest house where I and my family had stayed a year back when we had gone for the Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek on Jan 2017. The reason to choose this guest house was it’s cheap and the daal-bhaat is very delicious. I again ate 2 plates full like last time. This time I was very talkative with the foreigners. There was this French couple who had come to Ghandruk from Dhampus, the same day, parking their bike at Dhampus. I talked with the French lady for a while as a licensed female guide. Hahaha. She was impressed with the reason to meet a female guide in Nepal. To your knowledge, there are 1500 female guides registered but are increasing in number. The hotel owner was like “Kanxih, give me your mobile, I’ll put the wi-fi password in yours and give it to your sister as well.” I was like what?? I don’t need. You had asked for the money for the code last time.” And he was like..I never did that and gave the code. I barely can sleep during the night when I go away so the wi-fi was a blessing for the night.

Upper Chhomrong

Next morning at 7, we left the hotel and headed to Chhomrong. We walked all the way to the village, descended down to Kiul village, walked past woods, reached New Bridge to Jhinu and then to Chhomrong. Amidst, many things happened. Didi lost her scarf, I got a call saying I got selected for the job, saw many beautiful waterfalls, walked on the second longest suspension bridge of Nepal leading to the Jhinu Village, walked the nose striking hill of Jhinu village to reach Chhomrong, made one Malaysian friend with whom I got connected in Insta and Facebook and she even took my number so next time she comes, would meet me. Finally, at 4:30pm, we reached Chhomrong, stayed at Fishtail lodge and called it a day. I had really undermined the price of the foods in ACAP so the budget we had seemed off since the beginning and addition to it, I had lost my money on the way which I had kept on my jacket. So literally had been picky to eat the cheapest dish available, boiled potatoes and veggie fried rice. We had our snacks too so all in all, we did not get hungry. That evening, we met two people, Tek uncle and Milan Vai. They are the trekking guide and with gentle hearts. They were also going to the ABC same route, same itinerary and similar walking pace matching with the neighborhood sister.

Lower Chhomrong

Didi had already started complaining that her legs hurt but she was still going on. Even the route was tough for me. I never had trekked on such a complex terrain of nose striking stepwise up and soon the down of same nature. Reaching Chhomrong was heaven as we could rest and be ready for the next day. Tek uncle and Milan vai informed us to book a room prior to going to the place and asking for a room because the time is peak and we may end up not getting one. So I quickly made a call at Dovan and MBC and had our room booked.

Dovan Guest House

Dovan is the fourth village after Chhomrong. We ought to pass Banuwa, Sinuwa and Bamboo to reach Dovan. We left Chhomrong at 6 am to avoid the sun and easy to walk during the morning. Let’s not talk about the way. We had a rest at Sinuwa. We ate boiled potatoes and a hot cup of tea and slowly began to continue our walk to the destination. Around 1:30pm, we reached at Dovan and the first hotel at Dovan, Dovan guest house was our destination.

Hungry and tired, we reached the hotel. We did not have enough money. 5K was with didi and 1k was left with me. I had lost the money and spent all my money till chhomrong. We thought the money would be enough till ABC and back and again if get sort, we’ll withdraw from the machine.

However, the price was a bit expensive than other places I had been to so we had to request if there is some deduction/discount in the charge of the hotel. Actually, we were sharing a room with others and boiled potatoes and veg fried rice again so we were still good. In addition, didi was not able to walk properly because of calf cramp which everyone gets who are not used to walk. She was very helpless than I was. Seeing two pretty helpless girls, the hotel owner offered his kindness. He was young and looked humble. He even treated us the pizza. One wonderful good size pizza full of cheese, baked by his hands and on the top, the room service. It was an awkward moment for me but later found that this guy is a good and humble man. He did not take any money from us even when we offered some money that was on our budget. The next day, he even asked didi to rest there and let me go to ABC and when I come down, both of us leave. I even requested for so seeing her condition. But she was not ready to give up yet. Even with her bad feet, she continued the journey to ABC. She had decided to talk with the people up there and come down on Heli.

The destination for next day was MBC (Macchapuchre Base Camp) at 3700m. We literally had to travel 1200m of height in a day which is not recommended altitude wise. However, most people who think they are fit, opt this. So I opt for this option. We reached MBC at 1:30/2:00 ish in the afternoon. Soon after we reached, it started to snow for 3-4 hours making everything white. For MBC, We passed through the woods of Himalaya, Deurali and the valley to MBC. The way till Deurali was fine but after that, the way felt like too much and too hard. It started to rain and it was sunny again. After we reached the MBC, at the first hotel, Hotel Gangapurna, I met my teacher from the Trekking Guide Training who had come to summit a 6500m with a 60-year-old female Canadian climber and were acclimatizing. Even though we had booked a room somewhere at MBC, we stayed there. We shared a room with a Belgium girl. The hotel staffs were good with didi. She made them her friends while I was talking with my teacher and an Italian engineer who was the head engineer of a tunnel of a hydropower that is being built at Solukhumbu. He did not have good English and his pronunciation was too cute. I was talking with a Turkish man as well who is frequent to Nepal. He loved Nepal for the beauty and he loves to pictures them. He told it was his 21^st day in Nepal in a monthlong visit. I spoke with two old Korean men and in Korean. Hahaha! That Italian man was so impressed for I know things about GLOFs, GIS and others and even spoke in Korean, he asked for my LinkedIn id and we got connected. LOL

Amazing to talk with different nationals, different people (guides/porters/staffs) and gain so much knowledge. However, the cold was something that was bothering. Two blankets and a duvet, I was not warm enough to have the sleep coming. I am a cold type so I need stacks of blankets to be warm. Didi had a blanket and a duvet while Belgium girl had her own sleeping bag. At some time of the night, I fell asleep and woke up at 3:30am to get ready to leave for ABC at 4am. We three departed first from the hotel. It was a cold and starry night. I was in the front, didi was second and the Belgium girl was at the last and showing light to didi. She was not able to walk good and had sticks on both hands and could not torch her way. Belgium girl was very kind.

Annapurna Base Camp

Getting to ABC took 1 hour and 30 minutes for us. Reaching ABC, I realized the number of tourists. There were around 400-500 tourists in the Base Camp that morning. Annapurna was just a touch away. The sun touching the head of the mountain giving it a golden glow was breathtaking. I am forever a big fan of the mountain and its beauty. However, I felt something lacking in this trail looking at the level of difficulty this trail has.

Annapurna Base Camp

 Anyway, we made to ABC, 4130m above the sea level. Now, we needed to move down. Descending is faster but the legs go shaky and the feet do not step firm as in ascending. ABC to MBC was not hard to descend but for Didi ,it was worse. She was too slow for I can understand her pain but even worse for me as well because I had not taken good clothes for me making me turn blue by the freezing cold, waiting for her on the way. I was shivering and my fingers were numb. I would walk only after I see her and feel she is okay. When I could not see her because of the ups and downs, I asked one of the guides/ porters about her, he told me that she was crying on the way as she could not walk.  

Snowy Grasses

I went pale that time because I was fatigued enough to go up to take her, I could not be a help in any way even if I went there and started thinking her as a stupid to come along this way even having her feet hurt and knowing she cannot walk which is trouble to herself as well as for me too. So I waited for her knowing she is not a someone who gives up easily . Therefore, after some wait, I could see her coming and walking slow and then I went forward to the hotel so I could tell my teacher or hotel staffs to help her come down. People went out but she was coming all good so nobody literally went to help her. After she came to the hotel, we tried to arrange the Heli but it was out of her budget. My teacher and hotel staffs asked me to take her down slowly and seeing the scenario, my teacher offered some help financially so I would return after I get back to Kathmandu. I had informed about my budget thing and money lose to him on the other day. 

It took us 7 hours to reach back to Dovan. I had set the target of Upper Sinuwa for that day but………………..        I was very tired that day. Reaching Dovan, I find that there was no room for us. I thought that Didi had talked about the room to the hotel owner over the messenger as there was no signal at MBC but her phone was connected to wi-fi. I don’t know the reason but we had no room. Because she was tired and was in pain, it’s the morality to give her the priority and space, she got a bed in the dining room and slept as soon as she got into the hotel. I was left on the chair, sharing the table with varieties of men and women, smoke and alcohol, different genres of people and all asking me what happened? Sometimes some people made me feel as if it has been my fault. That really made me upset. I told them everything about her determination to go to ABC and she made it and, on her way back, she is taking the horse and make people shut up.

It was the night when I literally slept on a dining table in a dining room. It was a different experience. My itinerary got twerked and even the budget. But I felt like “Is it my fault?” kind of thing. Not a good thing in my mind. But I think I got tested for my patience, which is good and tackle with the difficult situation. That night, didi and the hotel owner fixed about the horse and I was already
asleep.

Next morning, when I knew the horse was coming for her, I left the hotel at 7 with Tek uncle and Milan vai with the plan to stay at Jhinu that day. After walking 10-15 minutes together, I was walking solo for the entire day. It was a nice experience, motivating me for solo travels. At times, when the smell comes horrible, it scared me because there are leopards and bears but otherwise, I was not scared at all.

En route everyone was asking me, where is your friend? Where is your sister? How’s she? How is her leg? And my only reply was “She is coming on a horse”. HAHAAHAH Among these questioners, one was from South Africa. He was a middle-aged man, fat and tall. He is an architect. He informed me about the greenhouses. He is one o
f the members in developing that concept in SA. Amazing encounter!!

At Sinuwa

I had my potatoes at Upper Sinuwa and fried rice at Chhomrong. At chhomrong, we had left our stuff which we did not need and we ought not to carry for that distance. While I was eating, didi showed up in a horse. She informed me that we are not staying at Jhinu but going to Pokhara with Tek uncle and Milan vai. I was like what the…!!! What about my legs. Tek uncle and Milan vai said the same thing to me and even Didi needed to go to the office ASAP so I was like I will try.

Didi and I started walking from Jhinu guest house till MatQ. It is a new jeep stop near to

MatQ Jeep Station

Jhinu in that area. Reaching there was a bliss but it was another headache after knowing the system there. Total Syndicate. You have to reserve! If you are a group of 8-10, its alright but if you are 4 or 5 or even 3, you have to reserve. Even if you let others join you, the jeep owners won’t let you. This has happened to us. Therefore, I personally do not recommend MatQ for solo or group of 2-3-4 people. Just walk up to Sinuwa or Kiul. NRs 1250 for 69km is not worthy. Just because it was getting dark, didi could not walk and she had to go to the office the next day, made me ride on it otherwise I was so furious to ride seeing the Syndicate.

congratulations

The jeep drove us to Prithvi Chowk from where we caught the night bus to Kathmandu. Buses are not comfortable enough but I managed to come in a piece in Kathmandu. The memory of the night bus for me is asking people to eat at "12 midnight". LOL!

The trek has been bittersweet but the most memorable one in some ways that I’d never forget. And I have learned many lessons from this trek which will be a building block for me for future. Lastly, I would like to appreciate the determination of didi who accomplished ABC in her first go.

A cheap Itinerary especially for Manoj Vai

Day1- Ktm-Pokhara-Kiul

Day 2- Banuwa/Sinuwa

Day 3- ABC

Day 4- Bamboo/Sinuwa

Day 5- Pokhara/Kathmandu via night bus

Day 6- Kathmandu

सररर दिक्तेल बजारमा

दिक्तेल नगरपालिका

खोटाङसँग मेरा भावनात्मक नाता भएका कारणले गर्दा खोटाङ जिल्ला कस्तो पो छ भन्ने खुलदुली आउनु स्वभाविक नै थियो। काठमाडौ खाल्टोमा २५+ बसन्त बितिसक्यो र मेरा फोक्साले कति क्विन्टल धुलो खपे होला भन्ने म भन्न चाहन्न। यो खाल्टोबाट बाहिर जान मौका पाउनुलाई म मेरो अहोभाग्य नै ठान्दछु। आज भन्दा झन्डै २ वर्ष अघि म एउटा संस्थामा qualitative research on female reproductive health को लागि Interview दिन गएको थिए। त्यसमा १४ वटा जिल्लाहरु थिए र एक खोटाङ पनि थियो। मुगु मा रारा पर्ने र खोटाङका चिनेका दाजुभाइ साथीहरु भएका हुनाले मैले यी दुई मध्ये मा चै जान्छु भन्ने अठोटका साथ Interview दिन गएँ तर अफसोच फेरी यो कलिलो अनुहारले गर्दा धोका पाइयो। "You look very young" भनिहाले! साँचैनै म मेरो उमेर जतिको देखिन्न जुन राम्रो नि छ अनि यस्तै यस्तै भएर नराम्रो पनि। खोटाङ/ मुगु जान नपाइने भयो।

बाटो.....

मेरो इच्छा भने नेपालका ७७ रै जिल्ला घुम्ने छ र बस्न चै सधैँभरी हिमाललाई गहभरि राखेर बस्ने छ। ११ महिने UNDP को प्रशिक्षणले मलाई फिल्ड भिजिटको लागि खोटाङ जाने अवसर दिलायो त्यो पनि ३ दिनको लागि सकिने बेलामा। अजिङ्गरको आहारा दैवले जुटाउँछ भनेझैं भइदियो। खोटाङ अफिसियल कामबाट गइए पनि खोटाङ जानियो, देखियो र बुझियो। काठमाडौँबाट ७ बजे यु.एन. लेखेको गाडीमा ठाँटका साथ सररर जान पाउदा पब्लिक गाडिमा जाँदा हुने सुबिधाभन्दा धेरै नै सुबिधा पाइयो। सुनकोशीको तिरै तिर, जापान सरकारको अनुदानमा बनेको बाटो र बाटाभरि फलेका काँचो आपको दृश्लेय यात्राको सुरुवात मिठो नै भयो। बिस्तारै उखरमाउलो गर्मी ले गाडिको ए.सिलाई पनि मात दिदै गयो। पहिला मिठो र पछि पिरो परेजस्तै बाटो चिप्लो भएर सुरुमा एक ठाउँमा गाडी सललल हुँदा मन आत्तियो र मनले भन्यो। “Welcome to the Adventurous Road!” 

हलेसुङ

सुनकोशीको पुल तरेर ओखलढुङ्गा प्रवेस गरियो र जयरामघाट हुँदै, घुर्मी हुँदै हामी दिक्तेलका लागि अघि बड्यौ। यता तिर बाटो राम्रै छ। हाम्रो यस अफिसियल मिसनमा मेरो मेन्टर (UNDP को सर), २ जना विदेशी र १ जना स्वदेसी consultant, UNDP को एउटा म्याम, वन मन्त्रालयका उप-सचिव, दुईजाना ड्राइभर दाई र म थियौँ, २ वटा गाडीमा। म बसेको गाडीले अर्को गाडीलाई पर्खनु परेको हुनाले हलेसुङ पार्क मा हामी रोकियौं र डाँडा काँडा हेर्न र फोटो खिच्न लागियो। निकै रमाइलो लाग्यो। उ पर डाँडाको बिच कोशी बगेको, उ पर झुरुप्प परेको हलेसी बजार। मन फुरुङ्ग भयो र भन्यो, २७ औँ जिल्ला!

बाटोहरु....

हलेसी मा भएको होटेल हलेसी मेरो ट्विटरको साथी रुसाको हो। हलेसीमा पर्सि पल्ट बस्नु पर्ने हुँदा पहिले त्यै बस्ने निर्णय त भाको थियो तर बिडम्बना योजना परिवर्तन भो जुन कुरा म एकछिन मा भन्छु। दिक्तेल जाने बाटोमा आर्मीको क्याम्प कटेपछि एक पल्ट फेरी गाडी चिप्लियो। यता चै बाटो कच्चा रहेछ र मनसुन याम चै छलेर नै जानु पर्ने रहेछ सोचेँ। जानु अघि के सोचेको थिए भन्दा प्रायस: सदरमुकाम भनेपछि सहर होला, जे होस् म बस्ने गोदावरी गाँउ भन्दा राम्रो होला तर म चकित परेँ र उप-सचिव सरलाई भोलिपल्ट सँगै फर्कदा सोध्न नि भ्याए “ कसरी नगरपालिका भयो?” मेरो गाँउ त सहर रहेछ यो भन्दा पनि भन्न पछि परिन। 

पौडेलसर एसेलु भनेपछि भुतुक्कै

दिक्तेलमा रन्तपार्क पुगेपछि हिलो भन्ने कुरा के रहेछ मज्जाले बुझेँ। डेर फिट जति हिलो ले गहिरा भएका पाङ्ग्राका बाटा र फेरी पानीले गजगज! अहो! कति सास्ती पो रहेछ खोटाङबासिलाई। ठाँउ राम्रो छ। बादलुको घुम्टो अडिरहने पहाडको काखमा भएको बजार रहेछ झुरुप्प परि बसेको! तर पुर्वाधार को कमी छ। भर्खरै मात्र बाटोले छोएको जिल्ला हो अरे खोटाङ सुन्दा मनमा खसखस भयो कि म काठमाडौको छेउको गाँउ गोदावरीलाई अविकसित सोच्थे, गलत रहेछु भनेर। त्यस दिन बेलुकी मेयरसर को होटलमा बसियो। मेयरनी दिदि साह्रै मेजमानी दिन सिपालु! होटल राम्रै थियो तर मनसुन भएर होला कोठामा किराहरुले राती कराएर र मितेरी लगाउन आएर सुत्न चै गार्है भयो। भोलिपल्ट हुने कार्याशाला समापन गरि हेलेसि तिर लागियो। दिक्तेलमा त्यस दिन बस्ने प्रारम्भिक योजना थियो र जालपा तिर एउटा गाडी र लामीडाँडा तिर आर्को गाडी जाने योजना थियो तर बाटोले जान दिएन। जालपा चै सार्है जान मन थियो, मैले चिनेको आन्टिको नाम जालपा भएर होला सायद! दोश्रो दिन हलेसिमा जाने निधो भएपछि, दुवै टोली हलेसि तिर लाग्यौँ। हलेसि तिर लाग्दै गर्दा बाटोमा फलेका पहेला पहेला ऐसेलोका दानाले मनलाई दिगग्ज पाराले आकर्षित पार्यो र ओर्लेर एसेलु खायौँ। खै कसरी पो कुन बेलामा मलाई पनि खोटाङे जुका ले खाइहालेछ।

टिम

हलेसिमा मेरो मेन्टरको टिम चै मेरो साथीको होटलमा बस्नुभयो र म, UNDP  को एक जना म्याम र २ जाना विदेशी त्यस सँगै को तिब्बेतन होटलमा। म सरहरुसँग एउटा गाडिमा फर्केको थिए र म्यामहरु अर्को गाडीमा। अर्को गाडी अघि आएर रुम बुक गरेर फेरी अन्त फिल्ड भिजिटलाई हिड्नु भएछ र चाबी छोड्न बिर्सनु भएछ। सरहरुलाई चै तल रुम थियो र मन नपरेर मेरो साथिको मा जाइहाल्नु भयो। २ घन्टा जति चै म होटलमा एक्लै परे। तर होटलमा आफ्नो उमेरका दुईजना केटाहरु थिए र एकछिनमै साथी भैहाल्यौँ। हलेसिको खाप्से र उरिस्साको आँप पनि दिए खानलाई मलाई, र खाए। बेलुकी चै थेन्दुक खायौँ। बौद्धको भन्दा छुट्टै लाग्यो, कोरियन सुजेबि जस्तो। नाचो आकार र साइजका कच्चा रोटि उसानेर सुकेको च्याउ र सब्जिमा पानि हाली उसानेको परिकार!

लामिडाँडा

भोलिपल्ट हलेसी महादेव दर्शन गरियो पहिले त त्यहाँ फोटो नि खिच्न दिन्थे तर हामी गएको बेलामा दिएनन्। राम्रै हो किनभने त्यहाँ चमेराहरु बस्छन् र फ्लास चमेराहरुको लागि राम्रो होइन। हलेसि महादेव हिन्दु धर्मावलम्बिहरुको लागि मात्र नभएर बौध्द धर्मावलम्बिहरुको पनि धार्मिक थलो हो। त्यहाँ पुगरे यि दुवै सँगै पुजा अर्चना गरेको देख्दा मन रमायो। यसैलाई भनिन्छ धार्मिक सहिष्णुता। पल्तिर भएको गुफा पनि पुगियो। त्यहाँ भित्तामा सानो दुलो छ त्यहाँ सास फुकेर शंख जस्तो आवाज बज्दो रहेछ। भनिदो रेछ यो गुफामा कुनि के पो हुँदा शिवजीले पार्वती र आफु लुक्न आउनुभाको हो रे।

फोटो खिच्ने "सेल्फि" "वेलफी" भनुम् न, क्रम जारी थियो र मेरो मेन्टर को फोनमा भएको फोटो खीच्दा उमेर बताउने एप को नि बिल्ला उडाइयो। त्यसपछि मेरो साथिको होटेलमा रोटी तरकारी नास्ता गरी काठमान्डौँलाई हिड्यौँ। खोटाङ फेरी जाने मौका कहिले पो जुर्ला र खै? तर आशा र प्रार्थना गर्छु कि नेपालको नागरिकहरु काठमाडौ बासि जस्तै देसका अन्य जिल्ला का मान्छेहरुले पनि काठमाडौसरी पुर्वाधारहरु प्रयोग र सुविधा महसुस गर्न सकुन्!

मिसन टुङ्गियो

महिला ट्रेकिङ गाइड तालिम: फिल्ड भिजिट

म ट्रेकिङ सार्है मन पराउने मान्छे। गोजीमा अलिकति पैसा होस् र एक-दुई जना सहयात्री, यो छोरी हिमालको काखमा रमाउने भएकाले साथी-भाइ माझ मलाई, “जिन्दगी छ त तेरो, कैले कहाँ पुग्छस् कहिले कहाँ” भनेर खिजाइहाल्छन्। सुन्दा मलाई रमाइलो लाग्छ र भन्छु “ आर्को पाली त पनि हिन् म गाइड बन्छु र मलाई स्पोनसर गरेस्”। मजाक-मजाक मा भनेको यो कुरा कुनै दिन साँचो होला भन्ने सोचेको पनि थिइन।

म विकासमुलक परियोजना तिर, समाजसेवा तिर, जलवायु परिवर्तन र विपत जोखिम न्युनिकरण कार्यक्षेत्र तिर ढल्केको मान्छे। मन मा केहि गरुङ भयो भने, मन सार्है नरमाइलो मान्यो भने, एक्लै हुने मन जागेर आयो भने, मेरो लागि उपचार भनेकै हिमाल हो। जब त्यो हिमाल देख्न पाउँछु, हिमालसंगै नजिक हुन्छु, मन तेत्तिकै खुशिले भरिदिन्छ र मनमा आनन्द आउँछ र मन शान्त हुन्छ। यही एकमात्र कारण हो जसले गर्दा मलाई हिड्ने जाँगर आउछ। अर्को भनेको चै काम नै हो! आब परियोजना तिर काम गर्दा कति घुम्नुपर्छ, सबैजना अबगत नै हुनुहुन्छ।

यति हुँदा हुँदै पनि कसरी कसरी म गाइड तालिम तिर आकर्षित भए। एकदिन म फेसबुकको न्युज फिड स्क्रोल गर्दै थिए, नेपाल माउन्टेन एकेडेमी; (संस्कृति, पर्यटन तथा नागरिक उड्यान मन्त्रालय; अन्तरगतको एक सरकारी संस्था) ले महिला सशक्तिकरणको उदेश्यले महिलालाई मात्र ट्रेकिङ गाइड को तालिम दिने सुचना प्रकासित गरेछ, त्यो पनि जम्मा रु: ५००० मा १ महिने कोर्स अनि अन्तिम मा गाइड लाइसेन्स। मलाई त खुवा पल्टियो। तालिममा धेरै कुरा सिक्न मिल्ने र विशेषत: महिला भएको हिसाबले बाटोमा परिआउन सक्ने समस्यालाई कसरी हल गर्ने भन्ने कुरा नि सिक्न मिल्ने भएर चै धेरै नै आकर्षित भए। आफिस मा ठगेर एकछिन छुट्टि लिएर साथी र म गयौं फारम भर्न। त्यहाँ एक जना सर हुनुहुँदो रहेछ, अध्यक्ष सर। सोचेका थियौँ सरकारी मा काम गर्ने ठुलाठाला पदका मान्छे भाउ खोज्छन् तर भइदियो के भने, सर त सारो मजाको हुनुहुदो रहेछ। निकै हौसला र मोटिभेट गर्ने र बोलाई पनि तेतिकै down to earth पाराको। उहाँले यति मजाले बुजाउनु भयो कि मेरो लागि साथी गइदिएको साथी पनि फारम भरु भरु भएर उसको बाबालाई सोधेर पर्सि पल्ट गएर भरेछ। दुई सोल्टिनी एकै ठाममा भयौँ, कुरो मिल्ने भएकाले निकै नै उत्साहित भयौँ।

म फेरी UNDP को intern र मेरो साथी WHO को! Project validation workshop को जिम्मा मलाई भएको भएर, म त डल्लै बिजि थिए। फेरी Interview जानु पर्ने थियो यहि तालिमको लागि। फेरी सरलाई ठगे अनि दुबैजाना गयौं। बेलुकी साथी नतिजा प्रिन्ट गर्दै लेराउछ र उसको नाम र मेरो नाम मा Pink कलर ले हाइलाइट गरेर सेता सेता दाँत देखाउदै मलाई च्याप्न आउछ। एकछिन खुसीले उफ्रेम् अपिसभित्रै। रमाइको भाको थियो।

तालिम सुरु हुने दिन भयो, स्थान: नेपाल पर्यटन बोर्ड बिहान ६:३० देखी। पहिलो दिन बिहान जाँदा चिया र कुकिज थियो र तेसपछि क्लास सुरु भयो। सरहरु पनि खतरा-खतरा expert हुनुहुदो रैछ। कोही national geographic hero, कोहि धेरै परियोजनामा जलवायु परिवर्तन र विपत् न्युनिकरण मा काम गेरका, कोहि त्रि.वि. का प्रोफेसर, कोहि खतरा हिमाल चड्ने, बाफ्रे बाफ्.. मन त खतरा खुशी भयो। ब्रेकमा फेरी बिहानको नास्ता थियो। सोचे, पहिलो दिन भएर पो हो कि! तर यो क्रम दिनहुँ थियो। नास्ता पनि फेरी फेरी। अरे वाह! बिहान म केहि नखाइ अफिस जानेलाई खुवा भयो। १० बजेसम्म क्लास अनि लाग्यो छोरी फेरी पुल्चोक। धेरै चिज सिकियो। मलाई नेपालको कतिपय कुरा थाहा थिएन र टुरिजमको बारे त टु पनि थाहा रहेनछ। तर मलाई घुम्नु-डुल्नु मन पर्ने हुनाले सबै कुरो छिट्टै मानसपटल ले टिप्यो। म्याप को अरु प्रयोग नजान्ने “म” ले, कम्पास चलाउन नि सिके र म्याप पनि। एकजना साथी ले GIS सिकाएर गुण लगाएको थियो, त्यो पनि काम लाग्यो। अझै धेरै सिक्ने क्रम त जारी नै छ। 

तालिमको दोश्रो हप्तामा हामी फिल्ड भिजिटलाई हिनेम्, जेठको १३-१९, घोरेपानि-पुनहिल। हामी ३० जना प्रसिक्षार्थी, ४ जना खतराको सरहरु र ६ जना सपोरटर दाई-दिदिहरु यात्राका लागि जेठ १३, आइतबारका दिन पर्यटन बोर्डबाट हिडेम्। बाटोमा दामी रमाइलो भयो। हल्ला पार्टिहरु लास्टमा जम्मा भयौं र गीत गाएर बसै थर्कायौं र कतिपय त निदाउन नि सकेनन्। “साइलादाइ” बन्दै र्याप गाको त मेरो नामै साइलादाई रह्यो। मेरो नाम “साहरा मिश्र” प्राय: लाई थाहा छैन तर “साइलादाइ” भनेर फेमस भए। राम्रो हो, माया पाउनु त!

फिल्डको यात्रा फेदी देखी सुरु भयो। करिब ४५ मिनेटको नाक ठाडो उकालो हिनेर तल्लो धम्पुसमा दामी होटेलमा बास बसेम्। होटेल छिरेको ३० घन्टा नबित्दै फेरी क्लास सुरु हुने थियो! आफु त्यो दिन ग्रुप –ए! हामी ५ जना थियौं लिड गर्नुपर्ने र रुम को व्यवस्था, ब्रिफिङ, क्लास मिलाउने, चिया-नास्ता बन्दोबस्त, सब गर्नु थियो त्यसैले क्लासमा त झुपु-झुपु भएयो। त्यो दिन ब्यागमा सामान कसरी हाल्ने र मिलाउने भन्ने सिकाउनु भयो र ग्रुपमा कसरी हिड्ने लिड लिने भन्ने कुरा भयो। झुपु-झुपु भएपनि सिक्न चै सिके। दोश्रो दिन ग्रुप-बी को पालो भएकोले बेलुकीनै उनिहरुले आफ्नो काम सुरु गरे, बिहान ६:३० बजे उठ्ने सन्देसका साथ। घरमा ७ बजे उठेर ८ बजे अफिस हिड्ने मलाई हिडाइको थकानले सारो पारेर उठ्न पो सकुला नि नाई भन्ने लागिराथ्यो। तर हाम्रो “ब्रो जोन” याङ्जि ले बिहान बिहान ५ बजे चार्जर लिन आको निउमा उठाइ छोड्यो। अब के निन्द्रा लाग्थ्यो। एकछिन बात मारेम् र रेडि भएर ७ बज्न १० मिनेट अघि नास्ता खान गएम्।

हाम्रो यस तालिममा विभिन्न क्षेत्रका साथिहरु हुनुहुन्छ। ४ जना त म्याराथन मा भाग लिएर जितेका पनि। अहो! कति कुद्ने हुन्। मिरा राई जस्तै छन् सबै। धम्पुस बाट अब लानद्रुकको यात्रा थियो, जम्मा १६ किमि! उकेलो ओरालो र तेर्सो। यस दिनको ग्रुप लिडरमध्ये एक जना बर्दिया को चेली हुनुहुन्थ्यो, सम्भवत: तराई क्षेत्रबाट आएकी पहिलो महिला ट्रेकिङ गाइड र उहाँ चरामा काम गर्नुहुने हुदाोरहेछ, बि.सि.एन् मा, उहाँको छेउ-छेउ पर्दा चरा देखीयो भने, यो फल्ना चरा त्यो फल्ना चरा भनि नाम भन्नुहुन्थ्यो, एकछिन सम्झेको थिए, तर आहिले त बिर्सिपनि सके, चराको नाम! आफु त हल्ला पार्टि र दहि चिउरे, जो सँग नि मिल्यो, हल्ला गर्यो हिन्यो। अन्त छन् साइलादाई फेमस!

उमेरले नेटो काटे पनि अनुहारले दिदैन, त्यसैले पनि होला, बहिनीहरुले पनि दिदि नभनेका! ठिकै छ। राम्ररी लान्द्रुक पुगेम। १५ मिनेटमै क्लास फेरी। हैट! म त निदाए एकछिन क्लासमै। बसाई रमाइलो भयो। थाकेर होला सायद सुतेपछि एकैपल्ट भोलि बिहान भयो। ६ बजेसम्म त सुतें तर। यस दिनको यात्रा थियो घान्द्रुक गाँउ। मलाई मन पर्ने गाँउ। म पैले पनि घान्द्रुक-धम्पुस, घोरेपानि-पुनहिल गइसकेको भएर बाटो थाहा थियो र हिड्न पनि गार्हो भएन। पैले थाहा नभएको कुरा “लान्द्रुक भनेको लामो रुख र घान्द्रुक भनेको घना रुख” थाहा भयो। मसँगै हिन्नु हुने हाम्रो सपोर्टर दाजुबाट प्राप्त जानकारी हो यो। करिब ४ घन्टामा हामी हाम्रो गन्तव्यमा पुगेम्।

म सुरुमा ५ वर्ष अघि घान्द्रुक गाँउ पुगेको थिए। त्यस बेलाको सम्झनाले मन सार्है पिरोल्यो र आशु नि खस्न थाले। कता कता मनमा नरमाइलो नि भयो। २ वर्ष अघि पनि पुनहिल जान लाई पुगेको गाँउ हो। वरिपरि हेर्यो वातावरण पहिलेको जस्तो थिएन। गाँउमा धेरै बाटो बनेछन् र बाटोले पर्यावरणको धेरै विनास भएछ। क्लिउ सम्म चल्ने गाडी आहिले गाँउको मुखमै रहेछ। ५ वर्ष पहिलेको घान्द्रुक, २ वर्ष अघिको घान्द्रुक र अहिलेको घान्द्रुक..... मलाई मौन बनायो। खुशि छु, गाँउमा बाटो आयो तर साथसाथै वातावरण मासिएको देख्दा खीन्न पनि। त्यस दिन घान्द्रुक गाँउ सबै घुमियो, साथिहरुले त गुरुङ भेषमा फोटो नि खीचेछन्, चिटिक्क परेर!

म र मेरो यु.एन को साथी भोलिपल्ट काठमाडौ फर्कनु पर्ने भएकाले हामीले अनुमति लिएर भोलि पल्ट बिहान काठमाडौंकालागि रवाना भयौँ। दुवैजनाले धेरै साथीहरुको माया पाएर होला बिदा लिदा धेरैको मन निरास भयो र हामीलाई नरमाइलो नि लाग्यो। तर फेरी पर्सी सोमबार देखि क्लास भैहाल्छ नि अनि भेटुला भन्दै मुस्कान लिदै हामी दुई साथी फर्क्यौं। यो तालिमको यात्रा मा धेरै कुरा सिक्ने र माया मिल्ने आशा छ र अन्त्यमा महिला गाइडको लाइसेन्स पनि। यसलाई मैले राम्रो उपलब्धि मानेको छ र भविष्यमा के छ के छ, जे भएपनि आफुलाई तयार पार्न लागिपरेको छु।

Mardi Expedition: Adventure with Peace

Mardi Himal Expedition

Words are not enough to share the adventure and the ecstasy I had felt from my last trek to Mardi. For a job holder, it is always hard to arrange the holidays but since I am making the trend since last 7 years to go somewhere out on my birthday and easy to get holidays for the birthdays, I managed to get the holidays and this year it had been Mardi.

To be honest, it was not so-so good in a sense that I was accompanied by a couple. So next time, I am planning to go solo if I find no friends. Anyway, headed to Pokhara @ 7 AM hoping if we could reach Pokhara early in order to make it to Dhampus the same day. The luck was taken away by the highway jam. It took us more than 8 hours to reach Pokhara that day leading us to miss the last sumo to Dhampus. Therefore, we headed to Damside to my favorite hotel at Pokhara: Hotel KC. I like this hotel as it is economical and very nice.

way to Pothana

Next day, we headed to Harichowk to get a sumo to Dhampus but the Sumo was going only at 11 AM. Wandering around Hari Chowk, having some breakfast was worthy to kill the waiting time. It took us nearly one and half hours to reach Dhampus and from there the real adventure started.

Note: if your tank gets full, be ready to go behind the bushes! Not applicable to the Foreigners: D

Traveling through the small tiny stone paved way amidst the woods with the fog was absolutely amazing. Staying behind for snapping the pics was not a good idea to me as the sound of something walking in the woods totally freaked me. I literally got pale and frightened and started yelling at my friends and ran in fright. A little further, my friends were waiting and found it was just a dog. However, even so, how would I know the dog would not bite me? That was scary.

Pitam Deurali

SunaKhari

Walked past Pothana. It was already 2 PM and about to rain when we reached Pitam Deurali. But we wanted to reach to Forest Camp that day. Since the team was good at walking, we were motivated that we could reach in about 4 hours. Dreaming to reach Forest Camp sooner, we tighten our shoelaces and started walking. We walked and walked. Up and Down, hill and valley.

This is just to say. It was all the way straight UP! It was getting darker and also started raining. I was about to cry for the reason that I never had walked after evening ANYWHERE. And imagine, it was dark, raining and no distant lights as well to say we are near to forest camp. At 7:20 PM, we finally made it. We reached Forest Camp, 2550M, and all the panic turned into happiness. It was a super tiring day. So, after having the hot daal bhaat, I slept a sound sleep, keeping in mind that there are more uphill to walk.

Forest Camp

Next day, we were determined to go to High camp. We left forest camp at 8 AM and the journey started uphill. I wanted to see the Rhododendrons blooming but the Climate Change has changed the patterns and seasons for the native species. Anyway, so the walk continued. It is good that ACAP has kept the blue and white sign all the way long and the direction signs so that no one gets lost. All the signs were horizontal but at one place the sign was vertical, indicating it is 90 degree up the way that you need to walk.

Low Camp

Finally, the trail led us to Low camp, 2970M where we stayed for a tea break. Badal Dada was about 2 hours walk from there. I was frustrated along the way for the reason that weather was not nice and I thought I will not be able to see the mountains. However, one of the trespassers told me the weather had been blissful in the morning and the mountains are at least visible in the morning. Better to have something than nothing kept my willingness alive and we reached Badal Dada around noon. I did not see the beautiful scenery of the mountains from far as it was snapped in the pictures by others where Badal Dada seems to be sitting happily in the lap of the mountain. We rested at Badal Dada for a while and then started walking towards High Camp, our destination for the day.

High Camp: Poor Visibility

The weather got chilly and foggy. Visibility was very poor. Maybe of 5m distance. At about 1:45 PM, we reached at High Camp and sheltered in. Minutes after we got the room, a blizzard approached. Mardi Base Camp was a NO NO thought. The blizzard continued for more than one and half hours and stayed put, taking the scarf of clouds away and bestowing the best view of Mount Fishtail, Mardi, HimChuli and Annapurna Ranges. My heart started racing. I love mountains so much that even after dying I want to be buried near mountains. I have told my family about this as well so they let me trek for my happiness.

It was freezing but I did not miss any opportunity to see the horses grazing, hot tea, hailstones, cold breeze, the crows flying, clouds going away, people having fun and taking pictures. I am thankful that I got to pee very late at night. It was around 2AM and I saw the stars twinkling so bright and moon shining so brightly and so close. The mountains were white and it was the definition of purity and serenity to me. I wanted to stay there for a bit but it was freezing cold. It was very amazing. I really was at peace. This is why I go trekking. Mountains keep me at peace. When I’m loaded, when I feel burdened, when I am low, mountains are the sources to revitalize me. This is the reason why I trek.

Since the blizzard took away all the doubts for the next day, we started walking towards the Mardi View Point, 4300M at 5 AM in the morning. It was cold and dark. Obvious scenario. I did not have the head torch but the mobile torch was also worthy. No gloves and holding the mobile had turned my hands blue and numb. The way up was steep up and narrow. I literally crawled at many places to make sure I was walking safely. If you miss your step, your life is at stake. One of the guides, the last night of that morning, was telling stories to people that one girl had died while taking a selfie as she missteps on the way. 

Fishtail and Mardi

It took us approximately 3 and half hours to reach the Viewpoint, 4300M. It was freezing there. A lot of people had already reached there; mostly couples and the group of friends. Watching them, seeing them having fun was another fun. I was very close to the mountains. And just the down route was the route to ABC. A lot of Heli were coming and going and were very close. Heli is the only way of food transport to these places. The same day, we headed back to Sidhing Village, 1900M to make our journey back to Kathmandu.

It never is cozy walking down. We left High Camp 3700M at 10:30 AM and reached Low camp at around 12:00PM where we stopped to have the noodle soup. One bowl of noodle soup was NRs 250 and I even could not finish the bowl for my appetite was gone due to too much of walk. It was a hard walk as we needed to come down from 4300M to 1900 M on the same day. Legs were freaking shaky and there is no sign of human but the woods and birds chirping. I did not enjoy that bit because of the tiredness. I was concerned about reaching Sidhing Village and rest. Well at 2PM, we reached Sidhing village and stayed at a nice hotel. I drank wild in order to have a good sleep. The next day, I was fresh and my legs were not hurting as well. Bestowed the blessings :D.

View Point

Sidhing Village has the facility of transport in a Pick Up Van. If you are lucky, you will get a cabin or else you ought to travel riding on the hood. I think the hotel owner liked me for I was funny the other night saying “M O M O momo. मोमो माने भैँसिको मासु”! I even commented on his about to drop jeans. Well, the good thing about alcohol is, you do not hide what you want to say. So, the story connects here as the hotel owner called me and offered to go in the cabin in another vehicle and introduced me to the driver of that vehicle. Lucky thing.

It took NRs 500 each to reach to Hari Chowk from Sidhing and about 2 hours. We departed from Pokhara at 12 PM and luckily it was 5:30 PM when we arrived in Kathmandu. Getting a micro to go home after 6 is a very difficult thing for the residents of Godawari and I happened to be one of them. I called my brother and got a lift to go home and the journey ended.

Trek Itinerary

Day 1: KTM to Pokhara

Day 2: Dam Side to Hari Chowk to Dhampus to Forest Camp

Day 3: Forest Camp to Low Camp to Badal Dada to High Camp

Day 4: High Camp to View Point to Low Camp to Sidhing

Day 5: Sidhing to HariChowk to Pokhara to Kathmandu

Manang: Tilicho Diaries

Tilicho Lake

With the mental and physical tiredness at work, I seriously needed a holiday escape. And fortunately, this time around my friends and my time matched. So, we decided to make a Manang Trip to Tilicho. It was a luck driven journey as well because initially, we had heard the hotels in Manang, especially at Base Camp is super busy and will get no rooms to sleep. However, we took the chance on it and made our journey. The journey started from Kathmandu Balaju Bus Park. The 8 days journey from/to Kathmandu. The itinerary is:

Day 1: Travel from Kathmandu to Besisahar.

Day 2: Besisahar to Chame

Day 3: Chame to Humde

Day 4: Humde to Khangsar

Day 5: Khangsar to Tilicho Base Camp

Day 6: Tilicho Base Camp-Tilicho-Tilicho Base Camp- Khangsar

Day 7: Khangsar-Manang-Besisahar

Day 8: Besisahar-Kathmandu

House at Humde

This trip had cost around NRs 15000 each for three. Had we got the more money, we would have passed through Thorung-La and come back to Kathmandu via Jomsom/Muktinath. We've been unlucky this time but surely in future.

The trip was challenging to be honest. Guys living in the altitude of 1400m were trying to adjust in the altitude of 3000+ and 4000+ in a day gap. I had blood clots on my nose and had difficulty in sleeping. My friends had also breathing problem and all of us could not sleep most of our nights . The beds are not comfy which I never hoped as well because I know how hard life is out there and even having a simple thing underneath your body is a lot. 

Pisang

The jeeps are available from Besisahar until Khangsar and will charge a Nepalese from NRS 2500-NRs 3000 each. It would have been much difficult to go to Khangsar directly in terms of breathing, so we had stayed at Chame and Humde. The way of Manang is dangerous in my view and the walking trails are small. It had been the very challenging trek for me. Coming down from Tilicho, I had counted the 15 turns that one should walk uphill while going to Tilicho. The high altitude walks, small walking trails and the less oxygen, what do you need and en course, a lady having your lady's days.I surpassed this situation.
Tilicho Base Camp is at 4210m and you get to walk uphill to 4919m straight uphill. It took us 4 hours to reach Tilicho Lake. We also could not stay there for long as it was freezing cold. Coming down been more difficult for me. I had nausea, I had a headache, my legs were shaking to walk downhill, my face was swollen and the blood clots on my nose. But I did it. I did make Tilicho. I accomplished it. It took us 2 hours to be back from Tilicho to Basecamp.

Bhrakha

After the lunch, we started walking back to Kangsar where we assumed to have a jeep to go down to the Besisahar. We stayed at Khangsar that night but on the very next day, there was no jeep so we walked down to Manang. There was no jeep again. We did not think of the day. It was the Vai Tika day, the fifth day of Tihar, and the jeeps won’t be operating. I was really frustrated to hear that as I had no power to walk and we could not think of staying at for our money was running out. Slowly and slowly, we did walk and while almost reaching to Bhraka, a jeep came from Chame to Manang. We were praying and hoping for the jeep to return. But the local people motivated us to walk for there is no certainty that the jeep will return for being the Tika day. So, we moved ahead. Nearly reached Humde and there came that jeep to Chame.

Shiree Khadka

 Lucky us, the Jeep allowed us in its back and we reached to Chame around 11 in the morning. Upon reaching there, we decided to eat something and afterward we needed to walk as there would be no any vehicles. My friend was proposing to walk until Chamje or before that as it is downhill. Few steps ahead, there was a jeep which was planning to go to Humde to pick its passengers. However, since he could not make the communication, the driver became ready to go to Besisahar. We paid NRS 1750 each to come down to Besisahar from Chame.  It was around 12:30 PM when we started driving. Along the way, he picked many travelers and slowly and safely he dropped us in Besisahar at 8:00PM. We got relieved for we did not need to think of the money now as it would be sufficient to go back home. The night at Besisahar was relieving and we had a good sleep finally.

on the way to Tilicho

Tilicho Lake

The next day coming to Kathmandu was a torture as there were no drivers for the microbus coming to Kathmandu because all the drivers had gone home to have blessings from their sisters the previous day. Waited for more than an hour, a bus appears. A big crowd of people waiting and limited seat. Again, being lucky, we were allowed to have seats in the bus cabin. The bus had picked so much of passengers where three people were sitting in a two-seater, 4 in a three seater and even in the bumper.  I never will forget for being vomited over by a little kid in the ride. It was a torturous bus ride for me. Many of the travelers to Kathmandu were stranded for having limited vehicles. I assumed myself lucky to get a bus and even a seat as well despite having soaked trousers in vomit.

Around 4 PM, we reached Kalanki and departed for our house. The overall trip was memorable and full of excitements and challenges. However, I will never ever go to Manang by foot again. I will prefer heli instead :P

My next destination will be determined by the number of holidays I will have and also the budget. I'm planning to visit Janakpur and Sindhuli this Christmas though with a friend who is from Sindhuli. I am planning for Mustang and Dolpa too but prolly, this will happen in 2018.

Hasta la Vista Baby! See you in my next experience.