Manaslu

Back from the Manaslu trek, in Pokara

08-11-2010
Back from the Manaslu trek, in Pokara

Yesterday the Manaslu trek was finished and we arrived in Boerboele. Today we went by jeep and mini bus to Pokhara.

 'One of the basic houses we visited during the trek'

The trek was magnificent, especially the part before we went over the "Larkya La pass" was a very pure part of Nepal. The valley where the Nepali people have a very basic life and in some occasions are very poor. High in the mountains the houses where not more then some walls from rocks and a wooden roof with some iron plates. In the lower valleys the people where in most occasions Hindu and beautiful and colorful dressed while high in the mountains Boudist people who came from the old Tibet, live poor and wear old, dirty closes.

The Manaslu area showed a diversity with old forests and barren maintain landscapes.

'High Himalayan mountain landscapes during the trek' On the climb up to Samdo I got sick, probably of some food or water. I was throwing up while walking above 3000 meter, felt awful but know I had to go on to Samdo where we had to do a rest day for acclimatizing. I managed but had to take some antibiotics to recover. I was lucky because I recovered quick and managed to do some side-trips to remote valleys on the border of the old Tibet. I met an Tibetan guy who brought a cripple yak back to Samdo. We had really nice conversations about the life up in the high Himalayan mountains and I was lucky he lived for 13 years in Kathmandu and spoke perfectly English. It was a great experience meeting the local pear everywhere. During the trek we where staying with local people and I sat by the fire while the dal bat dinner was prepared. Our from Asian Heritage told me about the Nepali culture and different religions in Nepal.

 'Indian jeep for the bumpy road'

We just arrived in Pokhara by jeep and have a view over the lake and the great Annapurna range.

 'Sunset on the lake at Pokhara'

Tomorrow we will have a rest day en Wednesday we will leave early to begin with the Annapurna sanctuary trek to the Annapurna base camp.

I made a lot of photos during the last two weeks and will go through them to sort them out. Usually I take a lot of double photos with different aperture of shutter-speed. Depending on the histogram I will delete photos that are bad exposed or with a composition I don't like. But fist relax, eat, drink a beer and, have a look at Pokhara.

 'The more quit center of Pokhara compared to the chaos of Kathmandu'

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Trip to Nepal planned!

01-04-2010
Trip to Nepal planned!
over, nepal, manasalu

Nepal, het land van het Himalaya gebergte, de inmense stad Kathmandu en de vele etnische groepen zoals de Newah of Newars, Bhote, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Gurung, Tamang, Magar, Thakali, Brahman. Op donderdag 21 oktober vliegen goede vriend Wilfried en ik via Zurich en Doha naar Kathmandu.

De reis Het volgende staat ongeveer op de planning;

Manasalu Trek This trek offers you a very unique opportunity to experience relatively "untouched" region of Nepal and provides spectacular beauty along the border of Nepal and China. Controlled trekking route, which allows organized trekking groups special permits to venture round its spectacular circuit opened for trekking only since 1991. Manaslu region located in west central Nepal is 336km. provides strong walkers the best that Nepal has to offer fantastic mountain scenery, spanning altitudes from 375m to 5300 m. a diverse range of ecosystems and ethnic cultures, and a trail that puts one physically closer to Tibet than any other trek in Nepal.Basic Information Accommodations- Camping Tented Ethnic People- Thakali/ Magar/ Gurung and Chhetri etc Geography - Mountains/Countryside/forests/villages and Glacier Highest Altitude- 5213 meter Level of Difficulty - Strenuous Maximum Climb - 1800 meter Maximum Descend - 1500 Religions - Hinduism and Buddhism Total of Days on Trek - 18 Days Transportation – private jeep Trek Distance - 185 km

Weather: There are two ideal "weather windows" for Nepal. From the latter half of March until the first part of May temperatures are relatively warm, 10 to 15 degrees warmer than in the fall. Mornings are bright and clear with the air slowly becoming hazier as the day progresses. The rhododendron forests in springtime are spectacular, with color displays that are "Himalayan" in beauty. June is warm, green and less crowded, but can also include rain showers, wet trail conditions and possible flight delays. The fallseason, the latter half of October to early December, is an ideal time for the best mountain views. Clear,crisp air greets the trekker each morning and evening. However, trekking to the high Camp region (at more than 17,000 feet) can include 0 degree temperatures at night and a 50% chance of some snow anytime above the 13,000 foot level. During the day, above 15,000 feet, do not anticipate temperatures above 35 degrees. Again, your body is taking in less than half its normal supply of oxygen, and 32 degrees will feel colder than we are accustomed to at home.