Still in Namche for our aclimatization
Still with surprisingly good food
the milk rice for breakfast was like Thai stciky rice desert
yumms
*Headache*
The climb up to EverestView was a short 400m
But it was a steep and hard climb
Heavy breathing, dusty trails, cold cuttign winds
A side pressure pain developed as I descended
Flitting forwards and backwards around my temples
Finally it decided to settle in front of my eyes
Pounding ferociously with a vengence.. *groans*
Itslike eye strain magnified my a gazillion times
But the view
ohhh the view
was worth the cut-throat price of hot chocolate
although wine would have gone better with the view
or perhpas nice chilled champagne
But somehow Everest seems much less spectacular
for being so far away
with its small disctinct peak
Compared to nearer mountains like Thermserku
which loomed down at us..
I can see their snow trails
some melting and slipping down mountain passes
reminding me of what I may be facing in the days to come
dangerous but thrilling..
I am not sure it was the whole "being-spiritual-in-Nepa" thing going
or the constant reminder that our lifes are in the not-so-safe-hands of
Little-Miss-Indicisive Nature
But that night:
I dreamt that my grandad called me
He had passed on about a year ago
In my dream I had knew that he was dead
And that was my only chance to talk to him again
I woke up with tears streaking down my face
Saddening but werid at teh same time...
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Day 5 :: Namche Bazar::
Our route went a was a constantly winding route
Which meant that everytime I think a flat ground is up ahead
I turn around and find another long flight of rocks awaiting
It seriously f*s with your mind ;p
Like a f*ing steep zigzag maze
A constantly labourous climb
breathing deep panting breaths
I had spent much of the climb looking at the ground
at least I dont have to see whats up ahead ;p
Thank god for my inhaler ..
My poor baby had his first bougth of AMS today..
He looks cold and pouty
Thankfully the lodge today is a 100% improvement from yesterdays..
It was like an upgraded from a shophouse hostel to say a passable 3-star hotel.
Right now enjoying life is >>
lounging beside the furnance
radiating with heat from a fire fueled by yak dung
drinking hot chocolate with honey..
watching my socks dry while waiting for dinner
>> sooooo exciting huh ;p
But this feels like the calm before the storm
before the cold, the pain
When I am trekking
my focus shifts inwards
I am contained
But yet I am expanded
Open to let nature in
and fill me with its splendor
I become one and everything all at the same time
Stop rolling your eyes there ;p
Very cheesy-pop-karate-kid-ish I know..
but it is from the bottom of my small-sugar-maddened-heart.
Which meant that everytime I think a flat ground is up ahead
I turn around and find another long flight of rocks awaiting
It seriously f*s with your mind ;p
Like a f*ing steep zigzag maze
A constantly labourous climb
breathing deep panting breaths
I had spent much of the climb looking at the ground
at least I dont have to see whats up ahead ;p
Thank god for my inhaler ..
My poor baby had his first bougth of AMS today..
He looks cold and pouty
Thankfully the lodge today is a 100% improvement from yesterdays..
It was like an upgraded from a shophouse hostel to say a passable 3-star hotel.
Right now enjoying life is >>
lounging beside the furnance
radiating with heat from a fire fueled by yak dung
drinking hot chocolate with honey..
watching my socks dry while waiting for dinner
>> sooooo exciting huh ;p
But this feels like the calm before the storm
before the cold, the pain
When I am trekking
my focus shifts inwards
I am contained
But yet I am expanded
Open to let nature in
and fill me with its splendor
I become one and everything all at the same time
Stop rolling your eyes there ;p
Very cheesy-pop-karate-kid-ish I know..
but it is from the bottom of my small-sugar-maddened-heart.
Day 4 :: Phakding :: lower expectations are always better
::7.20 am :: And we are still waiting to fly...
A long start
A long mid day
A long ponderous walk to the end
After seeing a wonderful looking resort
As we entered Phakding
Our rickety little lodge seemed to pale in comparison
Its like walking past Raffles Hotel
Then stopping for the night at a 2 storey shop house hostel
with flickering light bulbs leading to your room.
It seems like everything is "rickety"
Well I guess that's what we get when we go budget
Perhaps I have forgotten about my backpacking days
Or even Kilimanjaro, where we dint even have beds to sleep in
Its all about managing expectations as usual...
The first of many freezing ass nights to come
The cardboard-thin walls look too flimsy for comfort
I hope my feet don't freeze
I wonder how the poor animals keep warm
I see a few stray-looking dogs outside :(
Brrrr...
The real voyage of discovering consist not in seeing
new landscapes, but in having new eyes...
~ by Marcel Proust
A long start
A long mid day
A long ponderous walk to the end
After seeing a wonderful looking resort
As we entered Phakding
Our rickety little lodge seemed to pale in comparison
Its like walking past Raffles Hotel
Then stopping for the night at a 2 storey shop house hostel
with flickering light bulbs leading to your room.
It seems like everything is "rickety"
Well I guess that's what we get when we go budget
Perhaps I have forgotten about my backpacking days
Or even Kilimanjaro, where we dint even have beds to sleep in
Its all about managing expectations as usual...
The first of many freezing ass nights to come
The cardboard-thin walls look too flimsy for comfort
I hope my feet don't freeze
I wonder how the poor animals keep warm
I see a few stray-looking dogs outside :(
Brrrr...
The real voyage of discovering consist not in seeing
new landscapes, but in having new eyes...
~ by Marcel Proust
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Day 3 ::Stranded in Kathmandu ::
Lukla lost in the clouds...
5.30: the time we were due report at the lobby
4.45: was the time we set our alarm
4.50: was when the black out happened in the hotel
It seems on hindsight, an omen of things to come
Bounded for Lukla
We had been rearing to go,
to finally start real trekking
we sat on a rickety small plane
and flew over our destination
the winds were not to our favour
and the clouds forbid us to land
We ended up back at the Kathmandu Airport
Tired and grumpy with an unsatisfactory breakfast in our tummy
The wait became a postponement till the next day
our hopes were dashed
and new fears were added to the success of our trip
We ended up sight seeing around Kathmandu
Under a punishing sun after a brisk shower
Such unpredictability is the weather ...
While inflexibility weights us down
Expectations are always set after all
A zen attitude is a boon to travelling
We saw 3 famous temples and 1 ancient city
and learned about the stupas,
the meanings of the face on every stupa
The "eyes" represent the all-seeing eye of the gods,
looking out into the world
The "nose" symbolises that all religion are 1
No discrimination
The symbol is used to represent the no 1 in their currency notes as well
The is no "mouth" as the gods do not speak to humanity
The interesting blend of Buddhism and Hinduism
and the existence of the caste system
make this country seem familiar yet mystical
Refreshing yet traditional
Along the say, we had witnessed no less than 6 weddings
The guide told us that today was an auspicious day to get married
Perhaps today is just not a good day to fly.. ;p
While I am not superstitious
It is hard not to feel at peace
watching the prayer flags fluttering in the sky
To watch the prayer wheels turn around and round
and feel the sun shine on your face
I could not help but to send a silent prayer to the heavens above
That tomorrow brings a smooth sailing flight....
5.30: the time we were due report at the lobby
4.45: was the time we set our alarm
4.50: was when the black out happened in the hotel
It seems on hindsight, an omen of things to come
Bounded for Lukla
We had been rearing to go,
to finally start real trekking
we sat on a rickety small plane
and flew over our destination
the winds were not to our favour
and the clouds forbid us to land
We ended up back at the Kathmandu Airport
Tired and grumpy with an unsatisfactory breakfast in our tummy
The wait became a postponement till the next day
our hopes were dashed
and new fears were added to the success of our trip
We ended up sight seeing around Kathmandu
Under a punishing sun after a brisk shower
Such unpredictability is the weather ...
While inflexibility weights us down
Expectations are always set after all
A zen attitude is a boon to travelling
We saw 3 famous temples and 1 ancient city
and learned about the stupas,
the meanings of the face on every stupa
The "eyes" represent the all-seeing eye of the gods,
looking out into the world
The "nose" symbolises that all religion are 1
No discrimination
The symbol is used to represent the no 1 in their currency notes as well
The is no "mouth" as the gods do not speak to humanity
The interesting blend of Buddhism and Hinduism
and the existence of the caste system
make this country seem familiar yet mystical
Refreshing yet traditional
Along the say, we had witnessed no less than 6 weddings
The guide told us that today was an auspicious day to get married
Perhaps today is just not a good day to fly.. ;p
While I am not superstitious
It is hard not to feel at peace
watching the prayer flags fluttering in the sky
To watch the prayer wheels turn around and round
and feel the sun shine on your face
I could not help but to send a silent prayer to the heavens above
That tomorrow brings a smooth sailing flight....
:: Kathmandu Day 1&2 :: Prelude to Chaos
Feverish with sleep
I had arrived in Kathmandu
the airport being just a red brick building
so nondescript in its construction
you wonder if it had began for that very purpose
The winds had rocked the plane
with the in-fight lights slightly fading suddenly in flashes
For a moment I wondered if we will never make it down
And pondered how will we die
if the plane had crashed
I had decided, actually it all doesn't matter
If I had died, it will just be an end of life
Then nothing matters anymore
anyway...
There was another scare as we left the airport
where we were fleeced by masquerading porters
and Zhuang learned a dear 200 USD lesson.
Sometimes I think he is too nice
and sometimes I wonder how streetwise he is
I worry, sometimes
The transport workers' strike had paralyzed the roads
we felt vulnerable while people banged the outside of our vans
there was just a huge mass, crowded around
it was not violence in action
it was the potential of violence that was scary
like a time bomb ticking away
Scary but mildly exciting
Nothing like that could have happened in Singapore
We are too ordered, too rule-abiding
and too caught up in our own lives to care
In a sense, I think we have lost the passion,
the believe, the need to stand for our rights.
Perhaps it comes from poverty
Perhaps it comes from social uncertainty
Perhaps its comes from a free-thinking mind
But who is to blame
for our current benign state of mind
Perhaps no one
Even so, I am aware but not willing to change anything
So why should others??
Day 2 awaits
~with sunny side-ups, baked tomatoes and milky think Nepalese tea
Life is good for now :p
I had arrived in Kathmandu
the airport being just a red brick building
so nondescript in its construction
you wonder if it had began for that very purpose
The winds had rocked the plane
with the in-fight lights slightly fading suddenly in flashes
For a moment I wondered if we will never make it down
And pondered how will we die
if the plane had crashed
I had decided, actually it all doesn't matter
If I had died, it will just be an end of life
Then nothing matters anymore
anyway...
There was another scare as we left the airport
where we were fleeced by masquerading porters
and Zhuang learned a dear 200 USD lesson.
Sometimes I think he is too nice
and sometimes I wonder how streetwise he is
I worry, sometimes
The transport workers' strike had paralyzed the roads
we felt vulnerable while people banged the outside of our vans
there was just a huge mass, crowded around
it was not violence in action
it was the potential of violence that was scary
like a time bomb ticking away
Scary but mildly exciting
Nothing like that could have happened in Singapore
We are too ordered, too rule-abiding
and too caught up in our own lives to care
In a sense, I think we have lost the passion,
the believe, the need to stand for our rights.
Perhaps it comes from poverty
Perhaps it comes from social uncertainty
Perhaps its comes from a free-thinking mind
But who is to blame
for our current benign state of mind
Perhaps no one
Even so, I am aware but not willing to change anything
So why should others??
Day 2 awaits
~with sunny side-ups, baked tomatoes and milky think Nepalese tea
Life is good for now :p
Monday, June 11, 2007
:: Pictorial Prelude Day 1-3:: Kathmandu Beckons
:: 28th May 2007::
A amazing send-off party for 6am in the morning
saying goodbye to a grey, drizzling Sinagpore
The pretty courtyard of our hotel by day
transforms into a romantic get-away to enjoy the cool nights
Irish coffee and sweet sherry makes the night melt away
:: 28th May 2007::
The colourful streets of Kathmandu
An effervescent of reds, blues and pinks
And yellows, oranges and golds...
In a foreign land,
In a foreign cafe
Through a pretty window lattice-work..
I glimpse the sunlight falling through
in amber oblongs
The promise of adventure,
unknown and excotic beckons
A amazing send-off party for 6am in the morning
saying goodbye to a grey, drizzling Sinagpore
The pretty courtyard of our hotel by day
transforms into a romantic get-away to enjoy the cool nights
Irish coffee and sweet sherry makes the night melt away
:: 28th May 2007::
The colourful streets of Kathmandu
An effervescent of reds, blues and pinks
And yellows, oranges and golds...
In a foreign land,
In a foreign cafe
Through a pretty window lattice-work..
I glimpse the sunlight falling through
in amber oblongs
The promise of adventure,
unknown and excotic beckons
Sunday, June 3, 2007
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