• We are Living the Dream
  • We are Living the Dream

Nepal Tibet Bhutan India 2019

Mount Everest here we come. One more for the bucket list. Lue lisää
  • Out and About

    5. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    This is definitely a much prettier place than Kathmandu.

    There are footpaths which are nice and wide, traffic is not as chaotic, you can cross the road without taking your life into your own hands.

    We are staying in a Hotel in walking distance to Phewa Lake it is freshwater lake which is stream fed but a dam regulates the water reserves, therefore, the lake is classified as semi-natural freshwater lake and is the second largest lake in Nepal.

    After our walk it was time for afternoon tea and we found an interesting named restaurant. However nothing like home, the café serves German cakes and the restaurant is Nepalese, Chinese and India.
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  • Dinner

    5. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Dinner tonight was just a short walk away so many places to eat it was hard to make a decision. We did not feel like local so we selected a restaurant which sounded Japanese but it was Italian, Chinese and a bit of everything. Sizzling Chicken with vegetables and chips was the choice then banana fritters for dessert. Back to Hotel as a very early start tomorrow.

    Fit Bit Stats:
    24,837 Steps
    192 Floors
    17.19 Km

    A very bumpy ride indeed. We have walked up at least 6 floors.
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  • Sarangkot for Sunrise

    6. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    A very early morning for sunrise over the mountains.

    Sarangkot is a former Village Development Committee west of Pokhara. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a total population of 5,060 with 1,010 individual households.

    The village is located on Sarangkot mountain at an altitude of 1600m and is renowned for its panoramic Himalayan views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu as well as down on the city of Pokhara and Phewa lake.
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  • Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour

    6. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 0 °C

    The morning continues with a Helicopter Tour to Annapurna Base Camp, this should have been Everest Base Camp but was cancelled due to weather, no I still need to do Everest Base Camp to remove from my bucket list.

    We flew over different forest, villages, rivers, spectacular panoramic view of Dhaulagiri mountain, Machhapuchre mountain, Himchuli mountain and Myriads.

    The Annapurna Sanctuary is a high glacial basin lying 40 km directly north of Pokhara. This oval-shaped plateau sits at an altitude is 4130 metres and is surrounded by a ring of mountains, the Annapurna range, most of which are over 7000 metres. With the only entrance a narrow valley between the peaks of Hiunchuli and Machapuchare, where run-off from glaciers drain into Modi Khola River, the Sanctuary was not found by outsiders until 1956 due to high mountains on all sides, the Annapurna Sanctuary receives only 7 hours of sunlight a day at the height of summer.

    Our guide told us it would be cold so we rugged up expecting it to be cold and snowy but it was actually quite warm.

    John had a few breathing problems and felt a little dizzy I was fine until getting back to the helecopter to come back to the home and I slipped and fell out just a little graze but I think brusing will appear later today.

    It was fun and I am sort of glad we did it but dissappointed as well Everst was the plan.
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  • Davis Falls

    6. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Today is sightseeing around Pokhara

    Devi waterfall is 2 Km from the centre of Pokhara City. The water falls directly into a deep and narrow canal. According to one of the many local legends, the name is a reference to a tourist, named Davis, who tumbled into the sinkhole and drowned, taking his girlfriend with him and was never found, and hence the name Davis waterfall, named in his memory by the people of Pokhara. This place has many nicknames like Davy's Fall, David's Fall or Davis's Fall, all mean the same thing `The Davis Water Fall'.Lue lisää

  • Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

    6. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Located close to Davis Falls is Gupteshwor Mahadev cave it is Nepal's most famous cave. It's also rumoured to be the longest cave in Nepal and is 2950 meters and has over 200 steps down which means we had to come back up. The cave is said to be have been discovered in the 16th century. The main cave entrance was not constructed until 1991. The main cave contains two chambers with several shrines located throughout. The largest of these shrines is dedicated to Shiva. Once at the bottom you also see Davis Falls entering the cavern.Lue lisää

  • Tibet Refugee Settlement

    6. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Our tour guide took us to a Tibet Refugee Settlement which was interesting reading all about the issues in Tibet, articles and pictures of the Dali Lama.

    The settlement is very close to Davis Waterfall so it was an easy walk. We watch some ladies cleaning. spinning and making rugs from Yak wool.Lue lisää

  • Dinner and a Show

    6. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Well that was a very long day.

    We still needed dinner so we walked back into the main area of the village and went back to Boomerang for dinner.

    John is still not feeling well from our trip to Annapurna this morning so we did not stay out for long. Just Spag Bol and a burger for dinner whilst watching tradional dancing and singing.

    Fit Bit Stats:
    21,367 Steps - I do think this might be a little high but not by much
    43 Flights of Stairs - again this is a little high but I think we did walk at least 30 flights
    14.79 Km
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  • The Drive

    7. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C


    Today we are driving to Chitwan and we decided to hire a car with driver as we did not want to take the bus again. The drive from Pokhara to Chitwan took just over 4 hours and is only 130 Km away. We had one quick loo stop and then back on the road. The first half the roads were dreadful dancing roads but the second half were quite good until we reached Chitwan city then we were back to dirt bumpy roads for 30 min to reach the resort.Lue lisää

  • Chitwan

    7. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

    Chitwan District is one of 77 districts of Nepal, and is located in the southwestern part of Bharatpur, the fourth largest city of Nepal. Bharatpur is a commercial and service centre of central south Nepal and major destination for higher education, health care and transportation in the region.

    The district takes its name from the Chitwan Valley, one of Nepal's Inner Terai valleys between the Mahabharat and Siwalik ranges, both considered foothills of the Himalayas.

    Chitwan has a Dense Forest and was a land of leopard and Bengal tiger let’s hope we see some, but with our luck I am guessing we will not see any animals.

    Chitwan is the home land of Tharu people, who are renowned for their art and drawing. Their houses are decorated by religious drawings denoting different phases of history, culture and environment along that time.

    The people inhabiting the Chitwan District are predominantly peasant farmers. The popularity of growing mustard in Chitwan is attributed to the predominant soil type silt, resulting from the flooding of the Narayani River and tributaries. Chitwan is also profusely spotted with clay lands, which are very good for growing rice, wheat and vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, radish, potato, broccoli, cucumbers, pumpkins, and carrot.
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  • Dinner and a Show

    7. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ 🌙 33 °C

    How much food can one eat and how many shows. The food here is not too bad, drinks a bit on the expensive side but they do have a happy hour.

    The show was different to the others we have seen but what made this one more fun is we joined in and became part of the dance group.

    Fit Bit Stats:

    10,344 steps
    11 flights of stairs
    7.16 Km

    These a little lower than other days but we still feel tired from everything we are doing.
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  • Citwan National Park

    8. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Boy are we going to need a rest when get home.

    Up and out of the resort by 8.00 am to go on a canoe ride down the Narayani River.

    On the way to the river we saw a Jackal and drove through a small village. As we drove along I became upset when I saw a little boy who looked very monkey like crawling along the ground with a large bump on his back. It was like being in a National Geographic show when they go to the small villages and help the locals.

    Once we were on the river it was very peaceful and we saw birds and a few crocodiles.
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  • Jungle walk to Crocodile Breading Centre

    8. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Off the canoe and a short jungle walk with an explanation about the plants we passed before we arrived at a crocodile breeding centre.

    This was quite interesting as apparently the gharial crocodile are endangered and the centre is assisting in breading them and releasing them back into the wild.

    Gangetic crocodiles known as Gharials or Mugars, eggs are hatched, brought up, and released into rivers after 8 years.
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  • Jeep Safari

    8. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 39 °C

    The afternoon activity was a Jeep Safari through Chitwan National Park. No tigers unfortunately, bummer, well not real ones anyway.

    Heaps of birds, a few different sorts of deer, wild boar, monkeys and a Rhino taking a bath. We did see a bear sloth but could not get any photos it was too quick.

    Before heading back to the resort we stopped for iced tea and cookies taking in the sunset.

    Fit Bit Stats:
    Steps 14,057 I beleive roughly 4000 steps are actually due to the bumpy road in the jeep
    13 Flights of Stairs
    9.73 Km
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  • Relaxing Poolside

    9. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

    After our walk a relaxing swim was in order. Well not really, we cannot touch the bottom so you need to treadwater or swim. John put his thongs on to give him a bit more height.

    Then a flock of Americans swooped and landed near us now we have no bird or jungle sounds only American, why oh why are they so loud.Lue lisää

  • Local Tharu village by Ox Cart

    9. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 39 °C

    Another interesting excursion, we went by ox cart to the local Tharu village and visited a couple of the homes and chatted to some residents. One of the homes we visited belongs to the sister of one of the guides at the resort . Another belongs to is a 77 year old man who has 2 sons 4 daughters, 18 grandchildren and relaxes by smoking marijuana and watching animal documentaries.

    Chitwan National Park is the Homeland of the Tharu people who are the original tribe of this region. They have their own language, culture and traditional beliefs. They were the only inhabitants of Chitwan up until the late 1950s.
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  • At the Airport and in the Air

    10. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

    Typical in Nepal the flight is delayed. Apparently the plane we are going on for our 20 min flight is still in Kathmandu. The flight was interesting. We were right at the pointy end of the plane we even received inflight services of 1 lolly and glass of water.

    I could stretch my legs right up to the door to the cockpit or even rest them on the exit door. No overhead luggage bay so they sat on the seat behind, John sat a little sideways as the window curved above his seat and there was nowhere to stretch his right foot until nearly the end of the flight when he found that there was a little shelf he could rest 1 foot on. Oh the joys of travelling.

    It is all about the experience.
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  • Gokarna Resort

    10. toukokuuta 2019, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Arrived at Hotel 2.15 pm and we leave tomorrow morning at 4.30 am. What a bummer this is really nice place a few days would have been lovely. You would not think you are in Kathmandu so green and lush no dirt or dust.

    Before we did anything we went for a massage and it was lovely.

    We then went for a walk around the hotel grounds which are huge. As Hotel is in the forest you need to keep your windows and doors shut in case the monkeys and other animals find their way into your room.

    When we arrived in our room right outside the window was a spoted deer. Closer than when we where at Chitwan National Park.

    Just wish we could have stayed longer but the adventure continues. Our drive to starts Tibet tomorrow.

    Fit Bit Stats:
    7317 Steps
    5 Flights of stairs
    5.06 km

    A little low today not much walking but still very tired and ready for bed.

    Goodnight
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  • Leaving Nepal

    11. toukokuuta 2019, Kiina ⋅ ⛅ -3 °C

    Today was a big day up at 4.00 am to start our journey to Tibet.

    In the 4WD are 3 other people all very nice and seasoned backpackers. As you know John and I are more your 5 star travellers. Not sure where to start with today. We drove along for 9 hours on the worst roads or should I say tracks we have ever been on. I don't think I could really explain how bad it was.

    We then arrived at the Nepalese border and that was just unorganised. Our visa to enter China was a group one shared with travellers in another 4WD and they got stuck in a traffic jam so we had to wait 50 min or so for them to arrive and sort out our exit from Nepal. We then got back into the car for 5 min to the next check point where our bags are searched in a shack with dust everywhere. We then walked across the Chinese border in the dust and over rocks to the Chinese Immigration we paid $5US so a porter could carry our bag it was just awful and that is being polite.

    At the Chinese border we met our next tour guide, he seems OK but hard to understand. Then it is time for immigration to check our bags again the only thing that made this pleasant was the building was quite nice and no dust.

    Now in Tibet and 9 of us climb into a dirty minivan which is going to be our transport for the next 8 days. Oh the joys of backpacking, I keep telling myself it is all about the experience and the stories we can tell our children and grandchildren.
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