Day 03 Trekking ABC in Nepal

Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) - 07 to 21 October 2013
Day 03 (09.10.2013) Trekking day 01 Pokhara to Landruk (1,645m / 5,280ft, 835.hPa)
 
We had hotel breakfast at 7am and left the hotel by van at 8am for a 45km road journey to the trail-head at Phedi the starting point of the trek. Today was another long journey – an hour by van to Phedi and 7 hours and 20 minutes trekking to Landruk. We had one chief guide with 2 assistance guides and 4 porters.

The trek: Phedi > Pothana > Pittam Deurali > Tolka > Landruk

09.00 am arrived at Phedi (5,420ft, 830.hPa, 28.6C) for baggage packing by porters
09.20 am depart Phedi
10.40 am arrived at Annapurna Nature Conservation tourist check-post in Pothana
10.55 am arrived at Pothana Restaurant (1,890m/6,260ft, 804.hPa, 25.4C) for ginger tea
12.50 pm arrived at Pittam Deurali (6,700ft, 790.hPa, 26.2C) for lunch at Nice View Lodge. I had Tuna Cheese Pizza for R490
02.00 pm depart Pittam Deurali
03.25 pm arrived at Tolka (5,700ft, 821.hPa, 27.3C) for a short rest
04.20 pm arrived at Landruk (1,645m/5,280ft, 835.hPa, 26.6C) after 7 hours of trekking
06.30 pm dinner at Hotel Sherpa & Restaurant, Landruk

 The night temperature was about 12C
Sleeping: Hotel Sherpa & Restaurant, Landruk

 Note: hPa is the atmospheric pressure force exerted on a surface by the weight of air. 
The average sea level air pressure is 1013.hPa.

Another briefing by our chief guide Lamababu before we travelled 45km to Phedi.

On certain parts of  the highway we were surrounded by these mountain ram, goat or sheep.

Interesting to watch the sheep have right-of-way on the highway.

On the highway we had a glimpsed of Mt. Machapuchre or 'Fish Tail' as known by westerners.

09.00 am arrived at Phedi (5,420ft, 830.hPa, 28.6C) for baggage packing by porters.

Phedi is a small village along the highway and is where the trek starts to ABC.


(L-R) Ching Neng Bin, Wong Kok Seong, Tan Kim Chan, Sitta V.Kanagasabai, Andrey Avtukh, Datin Yogaranee Balaratnam, Song Poh, Lim Min Heng, Mohd. Shahrul Mohana Dass, Lim Ka Tin

Datin Yogaranee Balaratnam is leading the gang and followed by Wong and the rest.

Sitta V.Kanagasabai and KC took a rest for the camera shoot.


The trek immediately started ascending across beautiful cultivated fields - at far end is Phedi the starting point of our trek on the highway.
Each porter carried two duffel bags together with his own - average total weight is about 30kg.

I could easily carry it up, but, unable to walk cos' of the weight.
I am taking a break together with the guides and porters.




Getting up here is truly passing by the "heaven's gate".
10.40 am arrived at Annapurna Nature Conservation tourist check-post in Pothana.

It was a steadily 700ft climb along a high ridge trail up to this Deurali Pass at 6,700ft.

12.50 pm arrived at Pittam Deurali (6,700ft, 790.hPa, 26.2C) for lunch at Nice View Lodge. I had Tuna Cheese Pizza for R490


I am holding these marijuana plant which are grown wild in the mountain.


Do not touch this plant on the trek, very painful when prick - I was pricked twice.

As we crossed the Deurali Pass, we began a slippery descend down hundreds of steep steps to the village of Tolka (5,700ft).
The washed out trek.

The 1st suspension bridge on the trek across the Modi Khola River.

Looked like an enormous landslide happened here recently.

Taking a rest here - we gave some goodies to the children.

I was naked as I gave away my T-shirt to the poor farmer in Tolka - Tolka offered us with fantastic views of Annapurna South, Machapuchare and Hinchuli mountains.



Some beautiful lodges along the trek.

Some beautiful small hamlets along the trek.


The 2nd suspension bridge on the trek across the Modi Khola River.

The trail became exotic where the hills soar up and contours steeply exposing large field of rice.
The path levels out on the way to Landruk and opens up to great views of the adjacent river canyon as you pass through terraced fields. Landruk is a big village and would be good for an overnight stay.

Behind me is Landruk (1,645m/5,280ft, 835.hPa, 26.6C)


Saw this poster at the guesthouse.



Thakalis an indigenous of the Thak Khola region of Mustang are known for their entrepreneurship and run tea houses along the trek routes in the Annapurna region.

Sleeping: Hotel Sherpa & Restaurant, Landruk
Click below:

Day 15 (21.10.2013) Kathmandu to KL
///
Posted by 9 comments:

Day 02 Trekking ABC in Nepal

Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) - 07 to 21 October 2013
(L-R) Wong Kok Seong, Lim Min Heng, Andrey Avtukh, Lim Ka Tin, Sitta V.Kanagasabai, Song Poh, Datin Yogaranee Balaratnam, Tan Kim Chan, Mohd. Shahrul Mohana Dass, Ching Neng Bin

Day 02 (08/10/13) Kathmandu to Pokhara (823m / 2,700ft)  

We had hotel breakfast at 6am and left the hotel by van at 8.30am for a 210km road journey to Pokhara along Prithvi Highway arriving at 5.30pm. Along the way we had tea at the famous Hamlet Restaurant. We came across two accidents that caused us about two hours delay. The first accident was a lorry that got into the drain and the second was an overturned bus. 

We had Thali set lunch at River View Hotel at Ramailo Dada. We passed by the Mugling town where two rivers meet – the Marsyangdi and the Trisuli Rivers which are good for white water rafting. In Pokhara after dinner we walked along the streets and I bought two Mammut trekking pants at R1,300 (RM45) a pair and a T-shirt for R300 (RM10). 

Sleeping: The Lake Side Retreat, Pokhara – US100 a room
These are duffel bags given free to each of us - very useful for the porter to carry it.

Right in front of the hotel there is a big kukri knife shop.

The kukri is designed primarily for chopping and the shape varies a great deal from being quite straight to highly curved - from the remote Himalayan regions are the Mustang, Gurungs and Magars, who have earned world-wide fame as fierce Gurkha warriors who used the kukri knife.

The two smaller blades are used for sharpening and maintaining the kukri.

An enjoyable experience driving through the streets in Kathmandu and to Pokhara.



The first accident was a lorry that got into the drain along Prithvi Highway.

An old Coca Cola lorry - may be considered vintage.

Along the Prithvi Highway we had very good hot tea at the famous Hamlet Restaurant.

A colorful well decorated truck caught in the traffic jam.

The massive traffic jam after the accident along Prithvi Highway.

This stupid boy was seen crossing the Trisuli River on a wire cable meant for pulling basket across.

Without any safety body harness and if he were to fall it is going to be more than 100 feet below.


Looked like a bazaar along the highway with so many people.

The happy smiling faces that we see.

A coconut vendor along the road side.


The second accident was an overturned bus - it could be one of the most dangerous road in the world.

We had Thali set lunch here at River View Lodge and Restaurant.

True to its name with great view of the Trisuli River and the beautiful rice field terrace.

Delicious Thali lunch set with a choice of chicken or vegetarian with a perfect combination of home-made yogurt, freshly baked naan and basmati rice.

Sleeping: The Lake Side Retreat Pokhara – US100 a room



Click below:

Day 15 (21.10.2013) Kathmandu to KL
///
Posted by 10 comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)