Happy New Year

Happy New year to all!!!

New Years eve in Pokhara is definately eventful, there is a 5 day festival where all the streets are closed and everyone is in a party mood....a little different from Trafalgar Square ;o)

Today is the end of our seven day trek which included so many different sights and activities. The first night was on Christmas day where we were served with a Nepali meal and red wine with view across the mountains...it felt a little bit like days of the Bristish Raj in India being looked after in all respects. Not my usual camping style. When we were at 3200m overlooking Annapurna 2 (7935m) we were provided with hot water bottles to warm up our sleeping bags :o)

Each campsite we reach after a long trek of over 6 hours there is always a local villager trekking up behind us with a crate of beer and bottles of rum at 200 ruppees each (about $2)

The solar powered battery charger is working a treat charging up the ipod each night after numerous games to drink the night through. One night included dancing with the locals and getting our faces painted....mmmmm not a tiger face though, just a Hindu blessing :o)

The final trek down was a challenge with a height drop over a 1000m through the jungle which culminated in what felt like a 3 hour footbal match with the local school children....It wasn't a premiership game as there were over 30 kids playing, you had to watch out for the 'mine fields' from the cows, the undulating ground and the soft tattered ball. The game had a crowd invasion with four cows meandering across the goal at a crucial point. I would like to say it was altitude sickness rather than age that got the better of me ;o) The nepalese kids now know the meaning of "over here son".

I have some great pictures to upload onto my website and blog so watch this space!!!!

Dont forget the parecetomol and a glass of water before you go out and have a great one what ever you are doing!!!!

Nemaste....

Well...here I am

A friend told me sit of the left handside of the plane as we fly into Kathmandu....unlike the Alps where you look down at the mountain range, here you look across to the Himalaya and at 37000ft they are directly aligned with the plane's height. Its hard to imagine that people standing on top of the mountains.

Coming into the airport was also an "interesting" experience, the house and apartments are built so close to the runway that there are a few anxious moments where you think the pilot is landing short into the town.

The city is an amazing!! The vibrant hustle of bustle of daily life with the continuous noise of cars, mopeds, tuk tuks and bikes....all with their array of horns which are in constant use.

More updates of Kathmandu will follow ;o)

Nepal...Here I come

Well, only 11 days to go before going to Nepal. I am spending 24 days in and around Katmandu and the surrrounding countryside.

I have the essentials...ipod, cameras and vaccinations.

Just taking one present away with me...a hip flask given to me by a good bootneck mate....cheers Royal. Looking forward to a nice wobbly coffee on Christmas morning ;o)

Next post will be from Katmandu...