Trekking in the Himalaya

Annapurna Trek

Hightlights of Nepal

Now that I'm leaving this beautiful country already, it's time to summarize my favorite highlights:

- hanging around in Kathmandu's Restaurants and Bars and meeting people there

- trekking in the Himalaya (and enjoying Nepal's mountain grass)

- Jazz Upstairs!!!! the best jazz bar I've been to

- the friendly and happy Nepalis


...... looking forward to come back!


Tonight I'm going back to India where I meet Florian whom I worked with together in B'lore. We'll go together to Kashmir.

Namaste Nepal!

Back from the mountains.....

Luckily I didn't stick to my original plan to avoid the mountains because of the monsoon. Nepal is not so crowded with tourists at the moment, but everybody I met told me about trekking (thank you Demian!!) and that it's in spite of seldom rain showers a wonderful experience. Finally I decided against the Buddhist monastery where I wanted to spend my time in deep meditation, and decided to go for the Annapurna Trek. I spend quite some time in Kathmandu buying everything I needed for surviving 10 days in the nature. From raincoat, shoes, sunglasses, a torch & a knife, iodine (water purifying tablets) to a sleeping bag.... everything was in my bag when I left. Although I only took the most essential things, I still had to carry around 17 kg which is quite a lot for a 10 days trek.
Arrived in Pokhara (the gateway to most of the famous treks) I shared the taxi with two French guys (Farid & Sebastien) who also came for the same trek. After a few minutes from my arrival I found trekking partners which I was very happy about.
Next day we started and very quickly I realized that I wasn't in such a good shape. But Seb and Farid where challenging me quite a lot. After the 3rd day which we spend 11 hours hiking steeply up and down I couldn't move anymore. On the same evening we met a funny group of guys, Kristen and her sister Haley from Canada and Matthew and Freddie from England. Suddenly I heard a sentence that inspired me for the rest of my trip "It's not about the destination, it's about the trip!" (Thanks Haley!!!) Next day the French guys left me a sprinted up to the top. I stayed with the other guys and took it really easy. On day 6 early morning we reached the Annapurna Base Camp and saw an incredible sunrise.
The higher we got up the mountain, the more difficult was it to breath. Up at the A.B.C. it was at times really difficult to catch my breath, and I was moving pretty slow. It was sometimes like a delirium, feeling dizzy and weak. Nevertheless we decided to stay for one day at the top, it is one of the most wonderful places of nature I've ever seen in my short life.

Thanks Seb, Farid for pushing me up the mountain!
Thanks Kristen, Haley, Matthew & Freddie for letting me join your group as a friend and having lots of fun together!!!!

Let's keep in touch!

Kathmandu Pics

Kathmandu #1

Kathmandu

Hey everybody from Kathmandu!




After half a year India, being in Nepal, Kathmandu is like a hole different world. This place seems to be more like Thailand then like India. People are not so deeply rooted in their tradition, more open and liberal. Night life here is fully developed and the streets are clean and more calm. Although this country is even poorer then it's big neighbor Nepali people seem to be more happy and joyful. I have to admit that Kathmandu itself is more expensive then any Indian city, but it offers also a lot more (for the traveler).
Looking forward to tonights Jam Session in the "Jazz Upstairs" Bar!!!!

I was actually sad to come here in the rainy season, where mountaineering is not really recommended and you also don't really have the amazing view on the mountains. Nevertheless, after talking to some Belgium guy I decided to do a 10 days trek to the Annapurna Base Camp.

In the last few days I updated my Blog with all kinds of pictures even dating back to April when I was going to Hampi and Goa. Pictures from Delhi and Varanasi are online as well.

Hope to hear also from you guys.
From Kathmandu with lots of Love, Raphael

NOW: Pictures from Varanasi

See impressions from a crazy city!
With love from relaxed Kathmandu, Raphi

Varanasi

Varanasi

Hey everybody from Varanasi!

On Monday morning at 4 o'clock I left the Camphill and took my plane up to Delhi. There I only spent a few hours before going by train to Varanasi.
Becuase I only have a few days left before my visa expires I didn't want to waste them in a big city like Delhi. Nevertheless I went to old Delhi to see India's biggest mosque, the Jama Masjid.



When I went back to the railway station in New Delhi I had troubles to find my train on the display panel. In the end I arrived one minute before the train was leaving. I found my name on the list outside the sleeping carriage and was lucky to relax. Because of the temperature of 46 centigrade I was suffering quite a big deal (friends of mine told me that they never saw somebody who sweats like me!!!). To cool down I was simply standing at the open door of the carriage but the hot air didn't have a good cooling effect. With me together there was a guy from Srinagar (Kashmir) standing there and having a nice chat. He told me about the weather in his native place and I was really looking forward to go there. It should me quite chilly and even still snowing over there. He was very proud of his country that is also called the "Switzerland of India". Sweaty I fall to a very deep. When I woke up the train was already entering Varanasi and in one minute I tried to realize whats going on, pack my things and get out of the train. Obviously I forgot something (my only trousers I brought to India), but it was only of emotional worth.


Varanasi - on the western banks of the sacred Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh - is one of the holiest cities in India. The city is even a little hotter than Delhi! Here I'm laying now in my room with diarrhea and sweating 24 hours a day. According to the weather forecast it should get even hotter. Na servas!!!
In my hotel I met a German guy whom I know from the train to Goa and who is traveling around the world. He even lives next door.
This city is amazing. Everywhere people take a bath in the holy river Mother Ganga (Ganges) it should be purifying the soul. But actually there are 1,5 mio. E.coli in 100 ml. of water and swimming water should have a desired value under 500. Most of the sewage of the city is ending up in the river and besides that often half burned human cadavers are being thrown there. "There's no better way to hedge your bets on that next incarnation than to die in Varanasi, where your body can be cast into the holy river for a watery burial.




The Ganges cleanses all sins and ensures a release from the Hindu cycle of rebirths: it's an instant passport to heaven. Many elderly and ill people come to Varanasi to die, and old Sadhus (men who have given up their worldly possessions for a life of absolute religious devotion) congregate along the river banks." (Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/theme/fatal_attractions/fatal_varanasi.htm)

I hope to recover soon and see more of this fascinating place.

May Lord Shiva bless you all!!


Chai, Chillum, Chapati - Chello Parvati

Delhi Pics

See a few pics from my 4 hours stay in the capital of India.

The mosque I've been is the biggest one in the country!

Delhi