Nepal & Singapore

March - April 2023

Our first OS adventure post-covid & another adventure with Gools & Thommo Read more

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Traveler Nepal & Singapore
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- Mar 21, 2023, 7:28pm
- Altitude: 19 m
- Singapore Kampong Ayer Gemuruh Singapore Changi Airport 1.355508, 103.9853631°21’20” N 103°59’7” E
Day 1
Day 1 - Travel Day
March 21, 2023 in Singapore
Travel day
Sydney-Singapore
Singapore-Kathmandu
All flights were on time & fine.
Got to bed at the equivalent of 4am Sydney time, but felt OK despite it being 24 hours since we got up & only a little bit of sleep.Read more
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- Mar 22, 2023
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitude: 1,306 m
- Nepal Central Region Bhaktapur 27.667976, 85.42491927°40’5” N 85°25’30” E
Day 2
Day 2 Kathmandu
March 22, 2023 in Nepal ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
After meeting some of our fellow tour members at breakfast, along with Gools & Thommo, Michael & I went by ourselves into central Kathmandu, to the Thamali area.
The taxi ride in took about 45 mins & was crazy traffic the whole way!! Lots & lots of motor bikes & scooters, cars & buses, beeping, and cutting in 😲
We walked around the shopping area, buying some jackets (one for Ollie) from Outdoor wear shops.
We tried to find a walk suggested in the Lonely Planet book, but as we had no Google maps (until we used free wifi) it was hard to get our bearings.
We did eventually find a few things featured on the walk map. We also saw a festival celebration walking through the streets.
Like India, crazy traffic in the lane ways, and people asking us to buy things. But unlike the Indians, they are quite polite & don't usually persist when you say no.
After another crazy taxi ride back, we needed some quiet time to recover from the sensory overload!!

Hotel Heritage, 2nd nightRead more
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- Mar 23, 2023, 5:20pm
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 1,303 m
- Nepal Central Region Bhaktapur 27.667784, 85.42506627°40’4” N 85°25’30” E
Day 3
Day 3 Kathmandu & Bhaktapur
March 23, 2023 in Nepal ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Today, after breakfast, we joined some of our tour friends, to go into Kathmandu centre, to the Palace Museum & to the Garden of Dreams, as well as having lunch & coffee at Himalyan Java Co.
Then we got a taxi back. After a rest & messaging Georgia & Nick & Michael's golf pennant friends, we went for a walk to the Bhakatpur shops. We chatted with some school children who were on their way home from school, bought packets of chips from a cranky lady who wanted 100 rupees & Michael bought a watch for 2000 rupees, as his other digital watch had died.
We even crossed the 6 lane 😄 road - with the crowd & with the policeman directing traffic!!!
Then it was drinks and our 1st Tour dinner. Seems like a great tour group.Read more
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- Mar 24, 2023, 5:39pm
- Altitude: 859 m
- Nepal Gandaki Pradesh Pokhara Lekhnath Nadipur 28.234, 83.992128°14’2” N 83°59’32” E
Day 4
Day 3: First day of our tour
March 24, 2023 in Nepal
A big day!
Today, was the first day of our tour & and it was a big day.
After breakfast, we walked into the old part of Bhaktapur, the alley area. We went to the Pottery Square, which was interesting. An Australian group donated money to build communal pottery kilns after the 2015 earthquake.
Some of the temples were also damaged and are being restored. We saw a festival for the Goddesses.
Our guide Bippin, gave us lots of info about the temples, Hindu & Buddhist religion & practices.
After our walking tour, we got on a bus & drove to the biggest Stupor.
We then went to have lunch in a restaurant overlooking the stupor, which was very busy. I had veggie momos & Michael had a club sandwich. It was 3pm when we finished lunch.
We then went to the Monkey temple & then the ?? Temple.
We got back to the hotel after 7.30.. as I said..a big day!!
We then went to dinner at a restaurant just around the corner. Even though we weren't that hungry, we ordered food. But then Bippin also ordered starters for us to share! A yummy peanut dish, and a chicken dish which was tasty but very hot 🔥.
And surprise, surprise Michael (& I) did a karaoke rendition of Khe Sahn 😂 🎤
There were also other songs sung together, by the group, to YouTube clips on the TV 😀 A fun night ❣️Read more
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- Mar 25, 2023, 10:01am
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 1,303 m
- Nepal Central Region Bāgmatī Zone Naxal Naag Pokhari̇̄27.715059, 85.32679927°42’54” N 85°19’36” E
Day 5
Day 4: First day out of Kathmandu
March 25, 2023 in Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
An earlier start this morning.
We had to have our bags put by 7am & leave at 8am.
Our 4wds arrived & we all got a pleasant surprise!! 😀
Instead of old troopies, we have Toyota landcruisers & Pajero's- very nice & typical of the extras of G and T Travel. 🙂
We then went to another temple and the grants- crematorium site on the river. A bit confronting, as there were bodies actually being cremated on the piles of wood, but also a body being prepared for cremation. Bippin explained everything well, so it wasn't as upsetting as it could have been, but we did also think about Pa's passing & cremation.
We then drove in convey in the 4wds, through more crazy streets, then up into the mountains, over & down into the river valley.
I thought it was the roughest road I had ever driven on. Michael disagreed! He had the advantage of being in the front seat!! 🤨 It was a windy road in parts, but it was the terrible road condition, which shocked me...and with dropoffs & buses, trucks & motorbikes coming the other way 😱
We arrived at our accommodation, The Famous Farm, then had lunch.
In the afternoon, we walked down to Nuwakot to look at the Palace & the Temple. Bippin gave us lots of interesting info. It was also interesting to find out that the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake was only 10kms from here, & to also find out that the Chinese Gov is helping to rebuild this palace.
After we got back, we had predinner 🍻.
Then, sitting outside under the stars & being able to see the twinkling lights in the valley below we had the most wonderful dinner!!!!
Nepali food, with amazing mango chutney & pappadums. Just sensational to be in this location, with magnificent food & good company. After dinner, Bippin bought out a ukulele! He is actually a good singer so of course we joined in. 🎶Read more
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- Mar 26, 2023, 2:34pm
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 1,006 m
- Nepal Province 3 Bidur Nuwākoṭ 27.921412, 85.16455127°55’17” N 85°9’52” E
Day 6
Day 5 Nuwakot
March 26, 2023 in Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
After a wonderful breakfast, we set off on our walk. There was some pretty serious uphill sections with rocky steep paths. It was very challenging for some in the group but we powered on at the front of the group. Ramesh, from our accommodation, Famous Farm, was also at the front. At one point, he told Michael to lead on. Very soon after, Michael almost stepped on a snake!!! They said it was a non-poisonous rat snake, but it certainly gave Michael a scare 😱
We could see the snow covered mountains of the Langtang Range. We got to the top, where there was Malika Temple, so we made sure to ring the bell there!! It was also the site of a former fort - Nuwakot meaning 9 forts. We then descended down steep steps ( made for people to walk up to the temple) before making our way back to to Famous Farm. Phew..🥵 a big walk & it was quite warm!
After more great food for lunch, we went back to our room for a rest - some of our other tour colleagues can talk.. a lot!!
We watched some of the others zip line down. We chose to make momos instead.
Our evening activity was sundowners. We all went in the Landcruisers up to a lookout tower. Wow.. what a drive up!! Then Gools & Thommo surprised us again with nearly a full bar of spirits, wine & we got to eat the momos which had been made in the afternoon. Very impressive! The view wasn’t great because of the smoke from fires, but it was still a very impressive location. The drive down was pretty hairy.. again! So happy that we have great drivers. We were in with Kasup again 👏🏼
We had another great dinner sitting together outside, then retired to our room for a vodka & lemonade and to look at the lights in the valley & the moon.Read more
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- Mar 30, 2023
- ⛅ 6 °C
- Altitude: 2,741 m
- Nepal Western Region Jomsom Hadigaun Jomsom Airport 28.782963, 83.72503728°46’59” N 83°43’30” E
Day 10
Day 9 - Pokhara to Thasang
March 30, 2023 in Nepal ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
We had an early start after breakfast and drove to a lookout on the edge of Pokhara because there was a clear view of the mountains.
Then we drove to Thasang Lodge.
It was a horror day driving on horrific roads!!Read more
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- Mar 31, 2023, 12:55pm
- 🌨 4 °C
- Altitude: 2,673 m
- Nepal Western Region Marpha Pońkyu Kholā 28.75071, 83.68747728°45’3” N 83°41’15” E
Day 11
Day 10 - Thasang to Jomsom
March 31, 2023 in Nepal ⋅ 🌨 4 °C
We got up at 6 to see the sun light up Daulgari, on the suggestion of Gorak, the photographer.
Daulgari didn't make an appearance because of the cloud but the other parts of the range were illuminated.
After breakfast, we walked up into Thasang village. The people live simple lives in their small stone houses, and their wood piles are very important to them, for cooking & heating.
We then drove on to 3 other villages.
It was raining when we arrived in Jomsom, so after a huge lunch!! we had a quiet afternoon. The highlight was when 2 guys played music in the Himalaya Java Coffee shop! So good.Read more
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- Apr 2, 2023, 7:56am
- ☀️ -1 °C
- Altitude: 2,741 m
- Nepal Western Region Jomsom Hadigaun Jomsom Airport 28.783028, 83.7249828°46’59” N 83°43’30” E
Day 13
Day 11 - Jomsom & Muktinath
April 2, 2023 in Nepal ⋅ ☀️ -1 °C
- clear view of Mts
- drive to Muktinath: suspension bridge; selfie park; griffin bird;
- Muktinath- walk to temple - most sacred temple to Buddhist & Hindus, 108 water spouts
- Bob Marley cafe, snow
- Kepbeni, walk. Monastery
- home
- music, singing & dancing in Cafe
- dinnerRead more
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- Apr 2, 2023
- 🌫 4 °C
- Altitude: 2,690 m
- Nepal Gandaki Pradesh Thasang Karjung 28.686548, 83.60791528°41’12” N 83°36’28” E
Day 13
Day 12 - Jomsom
April 2, 2023 in Nepal ⋅ 🌫 4 °C
- F#%*ing big walk from Jomsom to Tower: Michael, Trish, Gools, Thommo, Siva & I walked up. A 2 hour walk they said!! It was 3 hours 30 minutes 😳 The first 1/3 was OK on steps, the second 1/3 was hard on a rocky path with some snow & the final 1/3 was f$#*ing tough - steep, snow covered & I had no powerleft in my legs! I had to hold Michael's had to keep me balance & be encouraged to keep going.
The others had driven to the top & cheered us on to finish.
The view of Nilgiri range was spectacular!! We were shattered!!
We then drove down the mountain (another hairy drive) to a village, where we had lunch at what looked like accommodation. The room where we ate was dark, with low seats. They were lighting the fire, so the room was smoked out. We loved the apple chips, they gave us. We also sampled apple brandy (like rocket fuel to start but grew on you). 😄
We then went back to the hotel, had a coffee & a shower, then went to a bar, where Rajeesh (our musican) was playing.
Eddie played guitar & Michael & Bippin sang songs 🎤😄
Then dinner & bed!!Read more
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