Two Months. Two Weeks.

trekking in Nepal

*while in transit from Bangkok - Vietnam

In two weeks I'll be in another flight on my way back home. HOME. Where I grew up, where the people I love are. But I'm also leaving my OTHER HOME - TRAVELING.

Not a geographical location - not a country, not a city, not a place. But a state of happiness that no other activity or material possession has ever given me. I try to fight back tears. I try not to be sad as this journey is about to take a break.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek : Days 4 and 5 "26th"

26th :)

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek : Day 3 'Early Gift'

Day 3, Nov 19 (day before  my 26th birthday) :  Landruk (1620m) - Himal Qu (1410 m) - Jhinu Danda (1750m) - Taglung (2190m) - Chomrong (2210m)

Still didn't sleep well last night. But I was dreaming of the Annapurna Peaks. Wishing that I get to see them soon. Woke up at around 6:30am. The view from our hotel was two mountain ranges of rice terraces with a river at the middle. There was fog still but only down by the river. But the mountain ranges and river was beautiful, mystical.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek : Days 1 and 2 "Dreaming of Annapurna"

on the way to Tolka

Background: As I've mentioned previously, we were supposed to go to Lukla and do the Everest Base Camp Trek but the weather was not on our side. We waited for two days and decided to just go to Pokhara and do the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek instead. We wanted to do the Annapurna Circuit but we didn't have enough time for it. I've read and watched Michael Palin's Himalaya where he also did the Sanctuary Trek, but the images of the Annapurna Base Camp was never really retained in my memory. Which I think was a good thing as I had no expectation of what the trek or the base camp would look like.

Trekking in Nepal : The Importance of Now

"Suddenly I told myself, 'You could turn around right now. Nobody would stop you.' Standing next to Jeff, my mind churned with fear, self-doubt, and endless self-questioning. Perhaps the way to approach such a monster of a mountain was to break it down into more manageable chunks, to clear my mind so heavy with expectation, and to experience the climb moment by moment, step by step. I would try not to worry about everything that lay ahead but focus on the beauty and friendship that was all around me, and no matter how high I got up the mountain, I would celebrate that as my summit." - Erik Weihenmayer, Touch the Top of the World

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek
Annapurna Base Camp

Days 1 and 2 of the Supposedly-EBC-Trek

Source: lag66
The airport scene yesterday was worse. People were already sleeping on the floor.

A few weeks ago in India, I met some people who were initially planning to go to Nepal, some to do the Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek. But news on the bad weather in Lukla (take-off point for the trek) have lead them to just stay put in India.

Almost a week ago, during our first dinner (pork chop Pinoy-style!!) in Kathmandu, the wonderful crew there kept on wishing us 'Good luck!'. And on our supposedly last night in Kathmandu pre-trek, their goodbyes were replaced with 'Hope we don't see you tomorrow!'. Same as with the hotel owners and staff.

Varanasi is India's Love-Hate Relationship

Flower Candle in the Ganges River

‘They say that traveling through India is a love-hate relationship. Dharamsala, Amritsar, and Agra were more love than hate. But here in Varanasi, it surely feels like love-hate. As much as I'd rather stay in the whole day. The ghats, the curious stares, the bathing people, the cows, the river - seem to be calling out to me to go out and take a walk again this afternoon. India! :)’ 

Remember when I said that I feel so at home in India? Well, it’s probably because I’ve never been to Varanasi! 

Varanasi : Life and Death

Today I walk alone with a goal to go the other end of the Varanasi river side. I passed by another burning ceremony. I didn't stay long not as much as yesterday. And just a few meters from it, I found a relatively deserted and peaceful place.

I bring out my book and my notebook. And I start writing about what I've been feeling ever since I saw the burning ceremony yesterday.