• Kristin.aroundtheworld
  • Kristin.aroundtheworld

Nepal & India 2024

A 57-day adventure by Kristin.aroundtheworld Read more
  • Himlung Expedition - The Team

    November 3, 2024 in Nepal ⋅ ☁️ -5 °C

    Climbing Sherpas:
    Lakpa - 32, Expedition Leader, known as Makalu Lakpa, Guiness World Record Holder: 3x Makalu in 16 days, climbed many more 8.000m peaks
    Mingma - 22, such a kind and attentive person, climbed Everest, Manaslu, Lhotse and Makalu, I was lucky that he was my Sherpa at Summit Push
    Tenzing
    Karma
    Dawa Sange
    Dawa
    Dawa
    Lakpa

    Kitchen and BC Crew:
    1 BC Manager - Sagar
    2 cookers
    1 assistant cooker
    2 water boys - They needed to go for 7 times 1,5h down the moraine of the glacier to get water.

    Team members:
    Gabi - 55, German, made it to 7.045m
    Lisa - 25, Dutch, 1st time in Nepal as she was 7 years old, daughter of Arien, Summiteer
    Regi - 41, German/Swiss, Summiteer
    Nepali woman - Summiteer
    Arien - 59, Dutch, he was over 25 times in Nepal, Summiteer
    Dieter - 60(?), German, made it to Camp 2
    Konrad - 37, German/Swiss, Summiteer
    Mike - 59, German, made it to 6.300m
    Reinhard - 69, German, made it to 5.900m
    Steffen - 42, German, Summiteer
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  • Kathmandu (3-9)

    November 4, 2024 in Nepal ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    As we came back 3 days earlier (good weather windows etc.) we had a lot of days to spend in Kathmandu:
    1 - Sightseeing to the local market
    2/3 - Enjoyed non Nepali food and coffee
    4/5 - Went shopping with Lakpa at LuklaOutdoor as he is Ambassador of the brand
    6 - Farewell dinner at Fire & Ice
    7/8/9 - Monkey temple
    10/11/12 - Pashupathinat Temple, we were able to watch Hindu cremations
    13/14 - Boudhanat Stupa
    19 - Singing Bowl Session
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  • Bye bye Nepal

    November 10, 2024 in Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    I was lucky and got stunning views from the plane - Manaslu, Annapurna, Daulagiri and Kailash. And I am quite sure that I even saw Himlung.
    The mountains wanted to say goodbye to me again.

    It was not an easy goodbye for me this time. I even thought about not sticking to my plans going to India, missing the flight, staying in Nepal and going for another trek. The time there was just too good and I was able to see and get to know so many great people again.
    And I knew that India will challenge me, especially the people, as there behavior can often be very strenuous.
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  • Delhi (1-2)

    November 10, 2024 in India ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    And here I am in the capital and largest city of India…in DELHI.
    It’s a tough city: huge, dirty, crowded, a lot of traffic, smelly, polluted, people who wanna scam you (kind of everyone) and hundreds of eyes staring at you.

    So I procrastinated quite a bit before I left my bed on the first morning and walked to the nearest fancy café (my kind of a safe place as usually just educated and non staring people sitting there 😅). I continued with a TukTuk to the India Gate and then went on a guided tour through Old Delhi.
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  • Delhi (3)

    November 12, 2024 in India ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    A little City tour through New Delhi:
    Gurudwara Shri Bangla Sahib ji (Sikh Temple)
    Akshardham Temple
    Lotus Temple
    Janpath Market
    Red Fort

    I finally left Delhi with the night bus to Amritsar. Won’t miss this place at all. But would still recommend going to Delhi at least once in your life.Read more

  • Amritsar

    November 13, 2024 in India ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Amritsar - site of the glorious, revered Golden Temple.

    Founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Guru Ram Das, Amritsar is home to the spectacular Golden Temple, Sikhism's holiest shrine and one of India’s most serene and humbling sights. The same cannot be said for the hyperactive streets surrounding the temple.
    It felt like we were asked every 10m if it is okay to take a photo with us. I was on a guided tour of Amritsar with Matthias and our guide Pratit.

    At the southeast end of the Golden Temple Complex is the Guru-Ka-Langar, an enormous dining room where an estimated 100.000 pilgrims come to eat every day after praying at the Golden Temple. There’s no charge to eat here, but a donation is appropriate, and voluntary help with the staggering pile of washing up is always appreciated. Catering equally to everyone from paupers to millionaires, it's a humbling demonstration of the Sikh principles of hospitality, community service and charity.
    We volunteered to help for a few minutes and rolled out a few chapatis.
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  • McLeod Ganj (1-2)

    November 14, 2024 in India ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    McLeod Ganj is the residence of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and home to a large Tibetan population, including many monks and nuns. The Tibetan government-in-exile is based just downhill at Gangchen Kyishong.

    I will stay in McLeod Ganj for 2 weeks as I will join a 10-days „Introduction to Buddhism“ course at the popular Tushita-Meditation-Centre.

    I have another 4 days before the course starts.
    I went for easy walks on my first days, explored the area, had amazing Tibetan food and started to prepare for my meditation course.
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  • McLeod Ganj (3)

    November 16, 2024 in India ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Went for a hike today:
    Dharamkot - Galu Devi Temple - Galu - Guna Devi Temple - Naddi - Tibetan Flag Temple - Dharamkot

    11,1km / 662/677hm

    I am still not get in love with India, it’s still okayish but I am far too spoiled by Nepal. The nature is nice over here but in many parts it is littered, even outside the cities in the middle of the forest and in the mountains and the people here are not as warm and friendly as in Nepal.Read more

  • McLeod Ganj (4-5)

    November 17, 2024 in India ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Took it easy as I got a little cold overnight and did my first private sound healing session. Such an interesting and peaceful experience. („Singing bowls have the ability to rebalance or heal chakras because each energy centre has a unique vibrational frequency that interacts with the vibrational frequencies created when playing a crystal singing bowl.“)

    I had a lovely encounter with a Tibetan woman. She has a small jewelry store. She fled Tibet in 2016 and can never go back. I could see the pain in her eyes. I told her that I was in Tibet last year and also did the kora trek. Her eyes lit up and she gave me a pendant to bring me luck.

    I also had a very interesting conversation about Buddhism at dinner when I sat down at the table with a Tibetan. He had already fled Tibet three times. The first time was in 2000, 48 days over the Nangpa Pass in winter in a group with a guide. They ran out of food at the end and everyone was only allowed to smell the tsampa. But they made it. But he longed to go home again, went back and spent 1 year in prison - forced labor, little sleep, no time to think. The 2nd time he set off on his own and made it in 14 days. The 3rd time he "simply" crossed the border disguised as a farmer and bought false papers. He hasn't been back to Tibet since 2006 and can never go back, he told me. I preferred not to ask what would happen if he would went back.
    He also taught me a few philosophies of Buddhism, which I am not yet able to express in my own words.

    I also joint the drop in meditation session at Tushita the next day and did a little food tour around the town by myself.
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  • McLeod Ganj - Tushita Meditation Center

    November 19, 2024 in India ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    10 Days Introduction to Buddhism Course

    „To study about Buddhist Philosophy is to study about yourself. During our courses, experienced teachers explain Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and meditation from a modern perspective, giving instruction in order to help you apply this ancient wisdom to increase peace, happiness, and compassion in your daily life. Topics include:
    - The Mind and Emotions
    - Karma
    - Rebirth
    - Love and Compassion
    - The Nature of Reality“

    It was such a nice experience. 10 days without a phone, in silence (we were aloud to speak for 1h a day during the discussion group session), with a lot of teachings, meditations, thoughts, karma jobs and 106 people living together in a community without knowing each other, without talking to each other but with such a deep connection - kind of magical.

    Our daily schedule:

    Day 2-7:

    6:00am Wake up
    6.45 – 7.30am Mindfulness Meditation
    7:30am Breakfast
    9:00 – 12:00pm Teaching
    12:00 – 2:00pm Lunch & Karma Yoga Jobs
    2:00 – 3:00pm Discussion Group
    3:00pm Tea Break
    3:30 – 5:00pm Teaching
    5:30 – 6:15pm Guided Meditation
    6:15pm Dinner
    7:30pm Guided Meditation

    Day 8-9:

    6:00am Wake up
    6.45 – 7.30am Mindfulness Meditation
    7:30am Breakfast
    9:00 – 12:00pm Guided Meditation
    12:00 – 2:00pm Lunch & Karma Yoga Jobs
    2:00 – 3:00pm Stupa Walk / Guided Meditation
    3:00pm Tea Break
    3:30 – 5:00pm Guided Meditation / Dharma Movie
    5:30 – 6:15pm Guided Meditation
    6:15pm Dinner
    7:30pm Guided Meditation
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  • Trip end
    December 3, 2024