Day 01 Trekking ABC in Nepal

Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) - 07 to 21 October 2013

Standing (L-R) - Mohd. Shahrul Mohana Dass, Tan Kim Chan, Wong Kok Seong, Lim Min Heng, Lim Ka Tin, Song Poh, Datin Yogaranee Balaratnam, Sitta V. Kanagasabai, Andrey Avtukh, Ching Neng Bin. In front - Chief Guide Lamababu Pinasha Sherpa and 2 assistant guide - Bikas Tamang and Pemba Sherpa. Photo taken at Annapurna Base Camp.
 
Day 01 (07.10.2013) KL to Kathmandu, Nepal

Namaste! Nine Malaysian trekkers were on AirAsia flight D7-192, when Captain Kelvin Lai informed us through the PA system that we were on 3,400 km trip to Kathmandu, flying at 41,000 ft with 4 hours 10 minutes of flying time. On arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport (9.55am) we did our 15day visa (US25). We were well received by the representatives of Explore Himalaya and transferred us to Marshyangdi Hotel in the tourist district of Thamel with a short briefing. We walked out for lunch and changed money – US1=Rp.99. This October month visit to Nepal coincided with the Nepali Dasain festival which celebrated for 15 days.

Mr Andrey Avtukh a Russian, joined us to form a ten member team for the trek. In the afternoon we had a guided tour of Kathmandu visiting Boudhanath and the Basantapur Durbar Square. From here we walked through the crowded narrow streets to get back to Hotel and had another trekking briefing at 6.30pm.

At 7.00pm we had a special welcoming dinner at Utsav Authentic Nepali Restaurant, Lal Durbar with traditional songs and dances. We ate dal bhat a Nepali traditional staple food consists of steamed rice and a cooked lentil soup called dal and bhat means boiled rice. The restaurant ambiance was good with authentic Nepalese food served. Nepalese rice wine was served and we had different kinds of veg cooked differently and wild boar meat was good. Nepalese dances were performed on stage and it was beautiful to join them in the dancing. We all enjoyed it very much.

Sleeping: Marshyangdi Hotel in the tourist district of Thamel, Kathmandu – US90 a room


Explore Himalaya representatives welcomed us with flower garland as we came out of the airport.


KC Tan said: "'Namaste and thank you very much for the flower garland and meeting us."





Shahrul and I with Sabina in front of Marshyangdi Hotel.


A short briefing at the hotel on our daily activities and locations with maps provided.


Our first lunch in Kathmandu - Bryani rice at KC Cafe beside our hotel.


The many shops around Boudhanath stupa selling all kinds of souvenirs.

The entrance fee is R200 per person and always walk "clockwise" direction.

This place is also known as little Tibet settled by Tibetan refugees selling Tibetan handicraft.


An English man bowed to respect the teaching of Buddha.

The prayer wheel around the Boudhanath stupa.

A Tibetan monastery by the Boudhanath stupa.

All of us went in to be blessed for a safe trek up the holy mountain of "Annapurna".


Boudhanath is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu, Nepal.

In 1979 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Great Stupa of Boudhanath is the focal point of the district. There are at least 29 Tibetan Monasteries around Boudhanath.
This place is held holy by both the Buddhist and the Hindus equally.

The Boudhanath stupa's massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupa in Nepal.





I would love to get up to the many rooftop cafes where you can get great views of the Stupa.


Surrounding Boudhanath Stupa are streets and narrow alleys lined with colorful homes, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and street vendors.

It was fascinating to see pilgrims praying and using the prayer wheels.

A happy looking old Tibetan monk set beside a large prayer wheel and watch the world goes by.

So many Tibetan paintings and traditional hand painted "Thankas" being sold in this shop.

A large 3-D painting for sale - 'The Universe'.

A crowded street in Kathmandu - shopping during the Nepali Dasain festival.

A roundabout manned by a police officer near Durbar Square.

A road side gambling is legal during Nepali Dasain festival.


Part of the King palace Hanuman Dhoka is the Basantapur Tower overlooking the Basantapur place. In the adjoining background you can see the Patan Tower and both have beautiful carving. Basantapur Durbar Square are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

This famous Durbar Square was the hub for hippies in the early 70's.
Basantapur is the main place for all the souvenir sellers.

Early in the morning they come to install their little stalls and to deploy all their marvels.

The Newars who are the original population of the valley are famous for their skills and make very nice souvenirs.

Most of the souvenirs are specially made for the tourists so don't expect to find genuine antiques or Gurkha knives. A lot of artisans and little factories are situated in Patan and Bhaktapur.


Kathmandu Durbar Square or Hanumandhoka Durbar Square is the plaza in front of the old royal palace of the Kathmandu Kingdom. It is one of three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The King’s palace Hanuman Dhoka is the white building in Neoclassical style which was only build in the second half of the 19 th century - a huge complex besides several Buildings, Towers, and pagodas and inner court yards.

We all had very good hot milk tea at the square (L-R)  KC, Ching, Ka Tin, Wong, Lim and Song Poh.




Behind me on the left is the the Maju Deval Temple dedicated to Shiva and inside you will find a famous Lingam. The steps of this temple is a favorite place to sit and watch the daily life.

The Durbar Square is surrounded with spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the Newar artists and craftsmen over several centuries.

Behind me is the Shiva Parvati Temple. If you carefully look up just below the roof in the window you see Shiva and Parvati. They are overlooking the place, have a look where Shiva is holding his left hand! Again this Temple has fantastic carved windows and two lions guarding the entrance.

Take a look where Shiva is holding his left hand!

The Bhagwati Temple - on the ground floor you will find many Thanka dealers with high quality thankas and in the upper part is the temple of the goddess Bhagwati.

Kathmandu has a wonderful history that dates back to almost 2,500 years back.

The Kala Bhairab or black - Anyone who has strolled about the place here, the coal-black figure of Bhairabs will be unforgettable. The Bhairab is one of the many forms of Shiva, here in his angry and vengeful form. At any time people bring here represent their small sacrifices and get a swab of the powder mixed with oil paint dustup on the forehead, the temple guards was taken from the statue.

It is said that the figure had been found already in the correct form as a large stone in a field north of Kathmandu. It is also said that who should lie in front of the Kala Bhairab, would bleed to death immediately. Therefore, the Nepalese ever say when they quarrel and do not believe the other: say that times before Bhairawa!

Some of the beautiful rooftop figuring.


Very busy road with lots of cars, motor bikes on the small street and no pathway, but lots of shops, restaurants, money exchanges, good for shopping and have lunch or dinner there.


Vegetables vendors by the busy road side.

At 7.00pm we had a special welcoming dinner at Utsav Authentic Nepali Restaurant, Lal Durbar with traditional songs and dancing.  The restaurant ambiance was good with Nepalese food served. Nepalese wine was served and we had different kinds of veg cooked differently and wild boar meat was good.



Nepalese dances were performed on stage and it was beautiful. We all enjoyed it very much.




Dal bhat is a Nepali traditional staple food consists of steamed rice and a cooked lentil soup called dal. Bhat means boiled rice.



Click below:

Day 15 (21.10.2013) Kathmandu to KL
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27 comments:

  1. Alan’s dream writings31 October, 2013

    Hi NB
    That's what I've been waiting for. I'll need some good time to read in detail of your wondrous experience. At first glance, Wow, they're myriads of photos to digest, I can't wait!

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  2. Enjoy reading your post. We did the EBC track in 2008 and I love Nepal!

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  3. Gunung Angsi01 November, 2013

    Dear Ching

    Thanks for sharing......love reading your post and all the pics. Wonderful photos that bring back nostalgic memories.

    Felicia

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  4. Hi Neng Bin,

    Thank you for sharing. Amazing place it must have been. And must be such beautiful first hand experience. The sights and the sceneries. Must be captivating to see and savour.

    Could open the rest beyond your arrival first day pictures which you have so professionally documented. Appreciate your ability to direct on how to open the rest of your captions documented so well day by day.

    Awaiting with thanks again.

    How are you reachable in KL? Would be great to get to know, share and exchange our venture exploits over coffee/tea sometime soon.

    Looking forward, could get guys from Angsi Group same time together too.

    Best regards,
    James

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  5. Happy to see you are still going strong & having a good time :-) Great pictures... thanks for sharing. Wishing you good health & many more mountains & tracks to go! Cheers..

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  6. Thank you, mate. It's so enlightening and instructive and I enjoyed viewing your pax and read its contents. Thanks again.

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  7. Wonderful n fantastic pictures. What an experience....lovely...

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  8. Siak Eoi Chung01 November, 2013

    Congrats. How absolutely inspiring! So good of you to share. An amazing adventure indeed. Lucky You!

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  9. Good account of the trip. Frankly though I have been there 3 times I still can't document as detail as you do.

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  10. Thanks Neng Bin for sharing your wonderful trips. Appreciate them very much. Do call on us on your way in to visit Sitiawan.
    Peter Ling

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  11. HI, THANK YOU for sharing your wonderful trip and beautiful photos. BTW, IF we are not very fit to trek, can we enjoy the wonderful scenery of Nepal? are you from MBS, Kuala Lumpur?

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  12. Tan Toa Hock02 November, 2013

    Mr. Ching, Thank you so much for keeping me posted. I will share it with my friends. Hoping we can go there soon ...

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  13. Sitta V. Kanagasabai02 November, 2013

    Great Ching, I must cook a special lunch or dinner for you.
    Sitta

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  14. Hi Neng Bin the great and energetic traveller and trekker. Really enjoy your articles with photographic evidences....

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  15. Hi Ching, Thanks for sharing. Beautiful and what a wonderful experience.

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  16. Chew Seng Leong03 November, 2013

    Thank you very much Mr Ching for sharing your expedition with us. A truly adventurous man, I admire...

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  17. Thank you for these photos, I just returned from a 2 week holiday in Nepal three days ago, so it was good to see your photos of places that I have been
    Thank you
    Allan (Hot Bod)

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  18. Hi NB,
    In travels to strange wonderlands one tends to meet all nationalities. So you guys had a Russian Andrey for company. US$90 for a room isn't low price enough in Kathmandu, unless it's rated 5 stars status. Anyway if it accommodates 5-6 persons, then only it should be okay. Shops around the Boudhanath Stupa seem newly built, and meant for tourists'arrival, I guess. The photos tell daily routine of worships and prayers, life that goes on, eager tourists' glances etc. More to read and view from NB's work. Regards from Alan Kok

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  19. Thanks for sharing,I have been waiting so long to view this.I always enjoy reading your blog full of info and quality photos.谢谢!感恩。

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  20. Annapurna Region

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  25. Karma Eco Adventure is a leading travel and trekking company based in Kathmandu Nepal dedicated to help travelers in the country with personally crafted tours and treks. With combined experience of over 10 years, we engage travelers personally to know their requirements in order to make their holidays a reflection of their choice. Our passion for tourism and our experience in combined, we do make sure every holiday we design for our client is hassle free and enjoyable.

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