Adventure in the Himalayas

The Kingdom of Nepal is a small country with the highest mountains in the world within its borders, the most famous being Everest, known as Sagarmatha by the Nepalese and as Chomolungma by the Tibetans. It is positioned between the two giants of India and Tibet, which is now part of China. Nepal is economically one of the poorest countries in the world but to me, it and Tibet have always had the lure of the the fabled Shangri-la. I have read that you do not go to Nepal to change it but for it to change you and I believe that after my recent trekking experience. I have always loved to go to high places and I think I may have been Nepali in another lifetime, I felt so at home there.

Although the majority of the people in Nepal do not have the material things that we take for granted in the western world, I believe they do have a special quality that will change you for the better. This is a journey that you should be psychologically and physically prepared for. The Annapurna Circuit is approximately a 200 mile walk. The amenities on the trekking routes are rather primitive and the terrain and the altitude are demanding, although within the reach of anyone in good condition, regardless of age. There are lots of good guide books available and information on the Internet. These are some of my thoughts and experiences that I had while on the trail.

My Travel Journal

I have pretty much left my journal the way it was written day by day. It gives a better idea of how I was feeling and what I thought at the time. Some days I was very tired by evening, just concentrating on getting to the next town, and did not write much.

Elevations of the towns vary a bit depending on what book or map you are using. I took these from the Mandala Map, Round Annapurna, scale 1:150 000

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