Where in the world is...NEPAL???

NEPAL

In May, one of my dearest friends mentioned that she was thinking about taking an adventure to Nepal in November.  "Cool!", I said and added, "Isn't that where the Dali Lama lived?"  (No, that would be Tibet.)  So, Nepal...Tibet.  What's the big difference, anyway?  A LOT, as I have learned over the last few months and as my geography has improved.  So how & why did Marilyn select Nepal?  Doesn't Portugal sound like more fun?

 

It all started with The Shady Ladies of Haywood County, NC, a quilting group.  This is  rather eclectic gathering of artisans who enjoy designing with fabrics. Do not even think "quilt" as your grandmother made.  These are works of art.  They are one-of-a-kind designs from the quirky minds of the "Ladies".  There are no patterns.  The second photo  is Marilyn's self-portrait, complete with her own hair!  What does this portrait tell you about my friend?  Look closely.




The brother of one of the "Ladies" does trek tours in Nepal and happened to mention to his sister that she & some of her friends might be interested in a real adventure for a change.  Try 18 days in Nepal, roughing it.  Now a trip to Nepal, unless you are just going to the capital, Kathmandu, gives new meaning to roughing it.  Everything you take must fit into a 30lb backpack and a daypack. TWO ITEMS of LUGGAGE!!!  OMG! I have that much stuff as carry-on when I fly. (Notice my name is not on the list of Nepal trekkers.  I think my sister's purse weighs almost 30lbs.) You must be in good physical condition considering the walking and increases in altitude.  This is not hiking on the Applachian Trail; that would be considered a stroll in the woods.  Four "Ladies" signed on for the adventure of a lifetime (ages 64-70) and thus began the planning.


The first thing on the agenda was inoculations.  There were twenty in all.  When a Polio vaccination is required to travel into a country, that should give you an idea of the living conditions.  Still our "Ladies" were not deterred. Visas & passports are required. Food will consist of teas and daal. Some teas are make from Yak butter, "butter tea". 

A domestic yak in Nepal   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yak

Daal is a mixture of lentils and rice, which is eaten with your hands.  Utensils are not acceptable in these outlying villages. I gave Marilyn 200 hand wipes that can be used twice.  Once for cleaning your hands/face and again for wiping "another" area.  All trash must be burned or carried back to Kathmandu for disposal.

Another requirement was that all participants in this group be willing to improve sanitation conditions by constructing a latrine in Chupar. OY!!

Even though this was not the adventure for me, spoiled princess that I am, I was fascinated and determined to learn more about this country where my friend would be visiting. The first thing was to find a book.  Sounds rather easy. Just get online; go to a bookstore or to the library.  How many books have been published about Nepal? Not many. When asking for assistance, it was suggested that I read about Tibet.  Sorry, I know the difference now! My first book was my favorite and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read.  LITTLE PRINCES, by Conor Grennan  Next was the most obvious, good ol' Internet.  The two most interesting are the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal

  http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal 

Do not miss this short video on bus travel in Nepal.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/videos/the-bus-to-kathmandu$lptv_bus_to_kathmandu

Travel details:  How far is it from the Charlotte, NC airport to the Kathmandu, Nepal airport? about 8,012 miles.  The journey takes 34 hours.  Outbound will do a 14hr layover in Qatar and return will do a 14hr layover in Delhi, India. Exotic, absolutely.

The following images are from:
 http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/images
 

Clouds and peaks, Temang, Nepal by Richard I'Anson

 

 

Buddhist Temple, Nepal by Carol Polich

Bodhnath Stupa in mist, Nepal by Richard I'Anson

Annapurna South and Hiunchuli, Nepal by Richard I'Anson

Kumari festival, Nepal by Jane Sweeney




From the guide, John, is the following description of their adventure in Nepal.  The group will be traveling from the Helambu Region to the Tamang Village of Chupar. Ascents will start at 4,200' and range upwards to 12,000'.  I am thinking oxygen??  cold??

Our journey will be a trek through the beautiful Helambu region of Nepal and will include a

project to improve sanitation in a rural hill village. We will head out of Kathmandu to begin a

classical 10-day trek that will take us through the heart of Helambu, the home of the Tamang

and Sherpa people, known for its lush rhododendron forests, alpine meadows, waterfalls,

 Buddhist monasteries and shrines, and soaring mountain views. Dramatic views of the  

 Himalaya are frequent along our trek -- there will even be the prospect of seeing the sun rise over a mountain panorama stretching from Annapurna in the west to Mt. Everest in the east. 

At the end of our teahouse trek, we will visit the Tamang village of Chupar, a 2-hour walk “off the beaten path” which almost never sees a foreigner. Our stay here will be a unique opportunity to experience life in a traditional Tamang hill village. We will camp in tents in Chupar and during our visit we will start the construction of a composting latrine for the family of Budu Rai. Budu’s parents and extended family live in the village. This will be her first trip back to Nepal since emigrating with her husband Uttam and their children to the U.S. almost 10 years ago.

We will be led by Uttam Rai, a very experienced trekking guide who is now a Nepali American

living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Uttam successfully guided many large trekking groups

throughout the Nepal Himalaya before moving to the U.S. He and his wife Budu will

accompany us on our entire Helambu trek.

Nice teahouses or trekking lodges are located every couple of hours or so along the main

trekking route through Helambu. We will walk from 4 to 6 hours a day, stopping for lunch in

teahouses along the trail. A few more hours of walking after lunch will take us to a teahouse

where we will have dinner and lodge for the night. Porters will carry our trekking gear in

duffles, leaving us free to carry only a light day-pack. No technical climbing or other special

abilities are required for this trip. During our visit to the village of Chupar, we will camp in tents and our food will be prepared by an experienced trekking cook and staff.

and just an F.Y.I:  Nepal is possibly the least flat country in the world!

Okay.  So now you have an idea of Marilyn's adventure.  She will be keeping a journal and taking pictures. Hopefully, I will be allowed to post these when she returns.  Bon Voyage, Marilyn, on Halloween!