tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49642103524195081602024-03-13T23:09:45.505+11:00Get It India!“Remember what Bilbo used to say: It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-84544102645718071542007-11-22T23:05:00.000+11:002007-11-22T23:24:39.390+11:00Back To India<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/R0Vy9O2vcVI/AAAAAAAAAWI/lsKAJJ0C22Q/s1600-h/Sadhuyellow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135637346371203410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/R0Vy9O2vcVI/AAAAAAAAAWI/lsKAJJ0C22Q/s400/Sadhuyellow.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>See you later Nepal, I've had a blast. I'll be back soon I think (hope)...</div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-21202497269271734072007-11-19T22:21:00.000+11:002007-11-19T22:57:47.587+11:00Cricket In KathmanduAs with an Australian summer, Saturday in Kathmandu means a game of cricket in the park. The only difference is that in Kathmandu it means 19 simultaneous games in the park, meaning 19 six-stitchers in various states flying around in all directions. No old tennis balls here.<br /><br />From the moment I was identified as an Australian I was in. The 16 year old captain of the team picked me from the bunch and ushered me over to mingle with my new high-fiving teammates, then informed me he had brilliantly won the toss of the coin, and sent the opposition into bat on a pitch that offerred plenty of lateral ball movement for the seam bowlers. I was sent to field in the covers, and the match began.<br />At one end of the field, razor wire protected the nice grass, whilst various forms of motorised transport sped through the ground at varying intervals as a shortcut around the traffic. Throught the Kathamndu pollution haze, the Himalayas provided a very un-cricket backdrop.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/R0FzN-2vcUI/AAAAAAAAAWA/mPE59PnrefM/s1600-h/DSCF0392.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134511734227169602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/R0FzN-2vcUI/AAAAAAAAAWA/mPE59PnrefM/s400/DSCF0392.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />After 8 overs I was thrown the ball by my captain, and the crowd hushed as I marked out my runup. My 2 overs yielded 0/18 before I was politely told my services were no longer required. 'I'm a batsman', I assured him.<br />'Like Ricky Ponting, sir?'<br />'Yeah, like him.'<br /><br />We bowled the other side out for 'about that', then it was my moment to shine. I opened the batting and wore the full brunt of a 160cm Nepali speedster who sent my off stump cartwheeling 4 balls into the opening over. My protest at the nature of his suspicious action fell upon deaf ears, and I was left to wait til the 2nd innings. (Of course there was a 2nd innings, none of this 20-20 rubbish, this was a test match!)<br />In the second innings I got my eye in quickly and paddled around a quick 40-odd, mainly because my pride was destroyed. As far as the Nepali guys were concerned, all Australians were good at cricket, so it was important for both nations that I performed to some level.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/R0FynO2vcTI/AAAAAAAAAV4/HdsPjDgMyHs/s1600-h/DSCF0388.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134511068507238706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/R0FynO2vcTI/AAAAAAAAAV4/HdsPjDgMyHs/s400/DSCF0388.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Being a sporting tragic I could've stayed here all day, but after 6 hours the match abruptly finished. I think we lost, but as with almost all contests I have seen in Nepal, nobody seemed to care.<br /><div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-85360052962008405502007-11-15T17:07:00.000+11:002007-11-16T16:59:27.930+11:00Island Peak - 6211 metres above sea levelStephen Mercer: Mountaineer. I'd like to thank my sponsor, Lolly Burgess, for knitting my scarf and beanie.<br /><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvsUe2vcSI/AAAAAAAAAVw/O4IJT6sCjQU/s1600-h/DSCF0370.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132956036943016226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvsUe2vcSI/AAAAAAAAAVw/O4IJT6sCjQU/s400/DSCF0370.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>'It's not so bad,' says my sherpa, Dawa.<br />'Do you think I'll make it?' I queried quietly.</div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>'Maybe. I don't know.'<br />Not exactly a vote of confidence, but we smashed it. It was one the hardest things I've ever done, but the feeling of standing on top of a mountain is pretty special once you actually get some oxygen into your lungs.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvj7O2vcFI/AAAAAAAAAUI/_d07DDX6FAc/s1600-h/DSCF0230.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132946807058296914" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvj7O2vcFI/AAAAAAAAAUI/_d07DDX6FAc/s400/DSCF0230.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>We started in our own little Base Camp at around 5000m. I shared a tent with a Birmingham lad named Will, and as a result we became friends very quickly.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvkp-2vcGI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/g_TvpnMgCAk/s1600-h/DSCF0259.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132947610217181282" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvkp-2vcGI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/g_TvpnMgCAk/s400/DSCF0259.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>We awoke at 2am to find an half an inch of ice lining the inside of our tent and the tops of our sleeping bags. It was -12 degrees <em>inside</em> the tent, which had been assured was 'warm'. Dawa whipped up some Spam noodle soup for breakfast, then we were off. Will pulled out after an hour because he couldn't breath, so it was just Dawa and I creeping past the other groups by headlamp.</div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvlte2vcHI/AAAAAAAAAUY/cC8BpTrjajY/s1600-h/DSCF0250.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132948769858351218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvlte2vcHI/AAAAAAAAAUY/cC8BpTrjajY/s400/DSCF0250.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>As the sun came up we reached the ice-pack, and I had to take off my gloves for 15 minutes to strap on my crampons. From there I lost feeling in my hands for about 90 minutes; my feet were long gone. It was here that I was seriously doubting myself.</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvmLu2vcII/AAAAAAAAAUg/enr2VBDkZes/s1600-h/DSCF0266.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132949289549394050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvmLu2vcII/AAAAAAAAAUg/enr2VBDkZes/s400/DSCF0266.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>We trudged over this marshmallow-land, short roped to each other for about an hour. </div><div>'Don't fall in the holes', says Dawa. 'Ok mate,' was all I could muster as I tried to think of something like 'No sh*t sherlock!'</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvm_u2vcJI/AAAAAAAAAUo/yvWasR_-Xjg/s1600-h/DSCF0316.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132950182902591634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvm_u2vcJI/AAAAAAAAAUo/yvWasR_-Xjg/s400/DSCF0316.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>When we reached the first rope line, I had to pummel my hands against each other for 20 minutes to get the feeling back into them so I could operate the rope line.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvnZO2vcKI/AAAAAAAAAUw/T8lgclyjJNk/s1600-h/DSCF0310.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132950620989255842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvnZO2vcKI/AAAAAAAAAUw/T8lgclyjJNk/s400/DSCF0310.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>After the first rope line, (above), we climbed up this ridge (below), which was about a metre wide, 300 metres to the top.</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvn5O2vcLI/AAAAAAAAAU4/17YSZKt1Yik/s1600-h/DSCF0276.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132951170745069746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvn5O2vcLI/AAAAAAAAAU4/17YSZKt1Yik/s400/DSCF0276.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Well, almost to the top. This little pitch was put there just to make sure you really wanted to get to the summit.</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvo6-2vcMI/AAAAAAAAAVA/gjl5fdUO850/s1600-h/DSCF0300.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132952300321468610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvo6-2vcMI/AAAAAAAAAVA/gjl5fdUO850/s400/DSCF0300.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>And then I was on top, 6211 metres above sea level, minus 16 degrees Celsius, blue sky, no wind. Why would you want to be anywhere else in the world?</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvpZ-2vcNI/AAAAAAAAAVI/a-HEXX7kMrU/s1600-h/DSCF0299.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132952832897413330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvpZ-2vcNI/AAAAAAAAAVI/a-HEXX7kMrU/s400/DSCF0299.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>....and I looked like this: (cold)</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvqBO2vcOI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/xu5YuPwkh-s/s1600-h/DSCF0279.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132953507207278818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvqBO2vcOI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/xu5YuPwkh-s/s400/DSCF0279.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>And this: (tired)</div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvq4e2vcQI/AAAAAAAAAVg/vgzU-fd-ek0/s1600-h/DSCF0371.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132954456395051266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvq4e2vcQI/AAAAAAAAAVg/vgzU-fd-ek0/s400/DSCF0371.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>And this: (stoked)</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvri-2vcRI/AAAAAAAAAVo/h49AmBvYhhM/s1600-h/DSCF0325.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132955186539491602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvri-2vcRI/AAAAAAAAAVo/h49AmBvYhhM/s400/DSCF0325.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvqcu2vcPI/AAAAAAAAAVY/oYCl4HMjg8k/s1600-h/DSCF0268.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132953979653681394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvqcu2vcPI/AAAAAAAAAVY/oYCl4HMjg8k/s400/DSCF0268.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>What's next?</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-52153809294632905402007-11-15T16:34:00.000+11:002007-11-15T17:05:04.350+11:00Mt Everest Base CampThat's it....<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvdze2vcBI/AAAAAAAAATo/lN_PUGjDwO8/s1600-h/DSCF0147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132940076844544018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvdze2vcBI/AAAAAAAAATo/lN_PUGjDwO8/s400/DSCF0147.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I've never been to the moon, but I imagine it's somewhat like the Mt Everest Base Camp, and the Khumbu Glacier running up to that point.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvbmu2vb9I/AAAAAAAAATI/hlveOE2JQgk/s1600-h/DSCF0143.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132937658777956306" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvbmu2vb9I/AAAAAAAAATI/hlveOE2JQgk/s400/DSCF0143.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvdB-2vb_I/AAAAAAAAATY/CBltFUyMylU/s1600-h/DSCF0182.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132939226441019378" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvdB-2vb_I/AAAAAAAAATY/CBltFUyMylU/s400/DSCF0182.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvdbe2vcAI/AAAAAAAAATg/9HQT6ikXlHE/s1600-h/DSCF0146.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132939664527683586" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvdbe2vcAI/AAAAAAAAATg/9HQT6ikXlHE/s400/DSCF0146.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>After reading countless books on the numerous Everest expeditions over the past 90 years, arriving at the site of these triumphs and tragedies gave me an eerie sense of history. Hundreds of people have died here, and when you look at the obstacles going against the climbers you really have to question their sanity. But when a climber is asked why they climb Everest, the stock answer is, 'because it's there'. </div><br /><div>'Bottom of the Top of The World!' (that's not Everest behind me, it's the teasingly named, 'Lo La').</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvgW-2vcDI/AAAAAAAAAT4/7rYVHYXh57s/s1600-h/DSCF0181.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132942885753155634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvgW-2vcDI/AAAAAAAAAT4/7rYVHYXh57s/s400/DSCF0181.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>You can't actually see Everest from the Base Camp, but the path is staring you in the face; the Khumbu Icefall. This 200 metre deep frozen river crawls down the hill at around a metre and a half per day, and the constant crackling of that movement shakes the entire camp.</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvegu2vcCI/AAAAAAAAATw/PkVc6VIg0pA/s1600-h/DSCF0160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132940854233624610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rzvegu2vcCI/AAAAAAAAATw/PkVc6VIg0pA/s400/DSCF0160.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>There was one expedition from Thailand making an attempt at the summit when I arrived, to celebrate the King's 80th birthday. They didn't make it, but they didn't seem bothered really. They did check my vital signs, and my resting pulse rate was 103 bpm, with an oxygen stauration level of 72%. Not so good at sea level, but at 5500m, apparently that wasn't too bad.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvhNe2vcEI/AAAAAAAAAUA/MQALyiAhmbg/s1600-h/DSCF0148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132943822056026178" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvhNe2vcEI/AAAAAAAAAUA/MQALyiAhmbg/s400/DSCF0148.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-58273746265494545622007-11-15T15:19:00.001+11:002007-11-15T16:31:57.875+11:00Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park, NepalHome of the big mountains. Some of them you can get half way up with a ladder though....<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvTpe2vb2I/AAAAAAAAASQ/y21cZr6F63w/s1600-h/DSCF0081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132928909929574242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvTpe2vb2I/AAAAAAAAASQ/y21cZr6F63w/s400/DSCF0081.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The trek started with a death-defying 30 minute flight from Kathmandu to the hillside village of Lukla. The runway here is a 400 metre slither of asphalt angled at around 20 degrees, with a 700 metre vertical drop at one end. The scenery on the flight was quite extraordinary, however just as the mountains' calming influence was taking hold, a steep dive down to the runway had us all clutching something tight. From cruising altitude to alighting the aircraft took around 2 and a half minutes.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvOd-2vbvI/AAAAAAAAARY/7B7SrkuF8H8/s1600-h/DSCF0006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132923214802939634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvOd-2vbvI/AAAAAAAAARY/7B7SrkuF8H8/s400/DSCF0006.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>But it was straight back onto the trails, yaks and all...<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvQiu2vbxI/AAAAAAAAARo/x8y2tCjsvFk/s1600-h/DSCF0020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132925495430573842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvQiu2vbxI/AAAAAAAAARo/x8y2tCjsvFk/s400/DSCF0020.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>The exciting part of this trip was doing it by myself, ie no guides or porters. It's not particulaly hard to follow the trail up the valley, or find somewhere to sleep for the night, but it did give me plenty of 'Stephen time' to re-align my chakras and get back to nature.</div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvQ9e2vbyI/AAAAAAAAARw/uQm-AYfXi9c/s1600-h/DSCF0030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132925954992074530" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvQ9e2vbyI/AAAAAAAAARw/uQm-AYfXi9c/s400/DSCF0030.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvTC-2vb1I/AAAAAAAAASI/4Wia7G2o434/s1600-h/DSCF0055.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132928248504610642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvTC-2vb1I/AAAAAAAAASI/4Wia7G2o434/s400/DSCF0055.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Half way up to Everest I spent the night at Tengboche (3867m), home to an active monastery. Among a handful of other uncultured swine, I was privileged to witness a daily prayer and devotion ceremony by the monks which lasted around 3 hours. The only interruption was from a gaggle of Japanese flash-photographers who thought they were at the zoo.</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvSgO2vb0I/AAAAAAAAASA/QM-hlHvrjb4/s1600-h/DSCF0343.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132927651504156482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvSgO2vb0I/AAAAAAAAASA/QM-hlHvrjb4/s400/DSCF0343.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvSKu2vbzI/AAAAAAAAAR4/NKbS8BCmX9c/s1600-h/DSCF0048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132927282136969010" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvSKu2vbzI/AAAAAAAAAR4/NKbS8BCmX9c/s400/DSCF0048.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>After 7 days of walking I reached Gorak Shep, a collection of 4 lodges at 5100m. Thankfully the dreaded altitude sickenesses avoided me, however many were not so lucky. The drone of helicoptors filled the valley every 2 hours or so, making the area feel like a MASH camp as stretchers scurried back and forth.</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvUz-2vb3I/AAAAAAAAASY/V__C21ffPkc/s1600-h/DSCF0188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132930189829828466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvUz-2vb3I/AAAAAAAAASY/V__C21ffPkc/s400/DSCF0188.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Kallar Pattar is a 5700m hill which provides the closest views of Mt Everest. I took a risk against the trend of the majority of the other trekkers, and the hovering weather, and hiked up for sunset. I scored.</div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvVae2vb4I/AAAAAAAAASg/qOJLFZLsldk/s1600-h/DSCF0115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132930851254792066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvVae2vb4I/AAAAAAAAASg/qOJLFZLsldk/s400/DSCF0115.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvWVO2vb5I/AAAAAAAAASo/oOLEeTv9zQM/s1600-h/DSCF0101.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132931860572106642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvWVO2vb5I/AAAAAAAAASo/oOLEeTv9zQM/s400/DSCF0101.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvW-O2vb6I/AAAAAAAAASw/G2jrRAX2hqk/s1600-h/DSCF0111.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132932564946743202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvW-O2vb6I/AAAAAAAAASw/G2jrRAX2hqk/s400/DSCF0111.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvYBe2vb7I/AAAAAAAAAS4/uK8LahboAaM/s1600-h/DSCF0133.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132933720292945842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvYBe2vb7I/AAAAAAAAAS4/uK8LahboAaM/s400/DSCF0133.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>From Gorak Shep, I then made my way up to Everest Base Camp, across to Island Peak, then back down to my buddies who were waiting for me in Lukla.</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvYd-2vb8I/AAAAAAAAATA/HGYBwfpULzE/s1600-h/DSCF0369.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132934209919217602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RzvYd-2vb8I/AAAAAAAAATA/HGYBwfpULzE/s400/DSCF0369.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-6486763022111902822007-10-30T15:26:00.001+11:002007-10-30T15:31:45.858+11:00Happy MO-vemberTo all the gentlemen taking part in the coming month's facial hair festivities, I wish you the best of luck. I've got a bit of a head start on the 'ol soup strainer. Hopefully it'll keep me warm up the mountain.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyazXq2LHKI/AAAAAAAAARQ/L3pdp7B6VX8/s1600-h/DSCF0524.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126982445027761314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyazXq2LHKI/AAAAAAAAARQ/L3pdp7B6VX8/s400/DSCF0524.JPG" border="0" /></a>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-47468925173999216742007-10-30T14:21:00.000+11:002007-11-16T17:08:16.455+11:00Off Again - Mt Everest and Island PeakThis one should be fun...<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Ryam1a2LHII/AAAAAAAAARA/-BsP1Mcl-ds/s1600-h/everest-island-peak.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126968662477708418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Ryam1a2LHII/AAAAAAAAARA/-BsP1Mcl-ds/s400/everest-island-peak.gif" border="0" /></a><br />Tomorrow I fly from Kathmandu into Lukla, onto a paddock, I mean <em>runway</em> inclined at 18 degrees, which should make for an interesting start. From there Ill make my way up through the villages to The Mt Everest base camp, sitting at 5400m. Hopefully the weather will be clear and I'll be able to stand at the bottom of the Top of the World with a decent view of the surroundings.<br />From there, (hopefully fully acclimatised), I'll stroll back down the hill to Dingboche and hook a left to Chhukung, where I get to strap on the big boots, sharpen up the crampons and ice axes, and practise my knot tying in preparation for Imje Tse, better known as Island Peak. The name Island Peak was given as the mountain sits as a land mass surrounded by glaciers from larger surrounding mountains, including Lhotse and Nuptse.<br />We will have one practice run up to the top of Chhukung Peak, which is around 5700m, before moving through a couple of camps to the base of Island Peak. Then a 3am start will have us trenching through the dark to hopefully reach the summit (that sound so cool) by around 9 or 10am. 6166 metres above sea level should give us a clear view of Pumori, Ama Damblam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and maybe Everest. The photo below is the final 100 mtres on the South Ridge. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyatTq2LHJI/AAAAAAAAARI/GIvAsKYHZ4c/s1600-h/island.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126975779238517906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyatTq2LHJI/AAAAAAAAARI/GIvAsKYHZ4c/s400/island.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This will be my first taste of proper climbing, and though I've been assured it's 'an easy one' by my sherpa, (a real sherpa!) I'll still be taking my time. Harnesses, ropes, carabinas, sharp things on my hands and feet, pitching tents in the snow, teas brewing on a propane stove, endless amounts of Gore-Tex, -20 degrees on a clear night: should be fun?<br />I'll be back in kathmandu between the 18-22 of November, depending on the weather. Again, wish me luck!</div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-62506722912011029192007-10-29T19:45:00.000+11:002007-10-29T20:05:29.432+11:00Time On My Hands in Kathmandu<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWe7q2LHFI/AAAAAAAAAQo/rqHE8_AQeCM/s1600-h/DSCF0490.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126678498782157906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWe7q2LHFI/AAAAAAAAAQo/rqHE8_AQeCM/s400/DSCF0490.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWhDa2LHGI/AAAAAAAAAQw/4g0hsAsTP5s/s1600-h/DSCF0495.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126680830949399650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWhDa2LHGI/AAAAAAAAAQw/4g0hsAsTP5s/s400/DSCF0495.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWh_q2LHHI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/-uRSAR4Fs3s/s1600-h/DSCF0492.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126681866036518002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWh_q2LHHI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/-uRSAR4Fs3s/s400/DSCF0492.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-14839052324093858212007-10-28T15:47:00.000+11:002007-10-29T20:08:42.546+11:00The Kids of Nepal<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQYta2LG9I/AAAAAAAAAPo/rtfsN1MsZM0/s1600-h/DSCF0525.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126249444434189266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQYta2LG9I/AAAAAAAAAPo/rtfsN1MsZM0/s400/DSCF0525.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126675359161064514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWcE62LHEI/AAAAAAAAAQg/CM7gfkzpoDM/s400/DSCF0059.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWWza2LG_I/AAAAAAAAAP4/ksuCCHt_SoY/s1600-h/DSCF0476.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126669560955214834" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWWza2LG_I/AAAAAAAAAP4/ksuCCHt_SoY/s400/DSCF0476.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWY_a2LHBI/AAAAAAAAAQI/V5n05lTvqTQ/s1600-h/DSCF0501.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126671966136900626" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWY_a2LHBI/AAAAAAAAAQI/V5n05lTvqTQ/s400/DSCF0501.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQYcq2LG8I/AAAAAAAAAPg/C6Yed-9Azwg/s1600-h/DSCF0465.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126249156671380418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQYcq2LG8I/AAAAAAAAAPg/C6Yed-9Azwg/s400/DSCF0465.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQVna2LG6I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/JeapJQfS-qg/s1600-h/DSCF0060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126246042820090786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQVna2LG6I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/JeapJQfS-qg/s400/DSCF0060.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQXO62LG7I/AAAAAAAAAPY/gncG8XWO0rU/s1600-h/DSCF0467.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126247820936551346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQXO62LG7I/AAAAAAAAAPY/gncG8XWO0rU/s400/DSCF0467.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWZea2LHCI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/FsAVlscjREY/s1600-h/DSCF0526.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126672498712845346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyWZea2LHCI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/FsAVlscjREY/s400/DSCF0526.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-10506626578878259222007-10-28T14:44:00.000+11:002007-10-28T15:44:11.445+11:00More Annapurna - Week 2, Over The PassAt the top of Thorung-La Pass. Icy cold.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQHFa2LGwI/AAAAAAAAAOA/Xj9hCx75BBg/s1600-h/DSCF0263.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126230065541749506" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQHFa2LGwI/AAAAAAAAAOA/Xj9hCx75BBg/s400/DSCF0263.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Day 13-Appalling Fashion 101 in the Mustang Valley.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQIiK2LGxI/AAAAAAAAAOI/eKToA9PpEe4/s1600-h/DSCF0297.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126231658974616338" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQIiK2LGxI/AAAAAAAAAOI/eKToA9PpEe4/s400/DSCF0297.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Day 14-Suspension bridge #294. The longest bridge of the trip was a shaky 150 metres long.<br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQKkq2LGyI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/mdg-RlmDhCE/s1600-h/DSCF0332.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126233900947544866" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQKkq2LGyI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/mdg-RlmDhCE/s400/DSCF0332.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQL462LGzI/AAAAAAAAAOY/U2T_Q-aEMzk/s1600-h/DSCF0356.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126235348351523634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQL462LGzI/AAAAAAAAAOY/U2T_Q-aEMzk/s400/DSCF0356.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Day 15-Danny looking way more buggerred than usual. We were all nursing the only hangover of the trek, after spending 7 hours in the 38 degree natural hot springs the afternoon/evening before, where they serve cheap beer and popcorn in a 5 hour 'happy hour'. We weren't the only ones doing it tough as a result.</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQM862LG0I/AAAAAAAAAOg/XSpENi2kqho/s1600-h/DSCF0366.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126236516582628162" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQM862LG0I/AAAAAAAAAOg/XSpENi2kqho/s400/DSCF0366.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQOH62LG1I/AAAAAAAAAOo/lcwgzYnLDyI/s1600-h/DSCF0378.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126237805072816978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQOH62LG1I/AAAAAAAAAOo/lcwgzYnLDyI/s400/DSCF0378.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Day 16-The best views from the trek at the delightfully named Poon Hill. I wish dawn was at a more civilised time of the day, as it seems all the nice places to see on this trip are best viewed at sunrise, which in this case meant our walk started at 4am again.</div><div>Mount Machtapuchre (fishtail)</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQRlq2LG4I/AAAAAAAAAPA/mC06EaT710k/s1600-h/DSCF0413.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126241614708808578" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQRlq2LG4I/AAAAAAAAAPA/mC06EaT710k/s400/DSCF0413.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div><div> </div><div>Dhaulagiri in the centre.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQQgK2LG3I/AAAAAAAAAO4/sk9C1H9rJNY/s1600-h/DSCF0424.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126240420707900274" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQQgK2LG3I/AAAAAAAAAO4/sk9C1H9rJNY/s400/DSCF0424.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Day 18-The bus back to Pokhara, where 3 eye fillet steaks and a hot shower were waiting patiently...</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQSza2LG5I/AAAAAAAAAPI/mGDDo6TzKeo/s1600-h/DSCF0481.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126242950443637650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyQSza2LG5I/AAAAAAAAAPI/mGDDo6TzKeo/s400/DSCF0481.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-16348977119472673042007-10-25T22:23:00.000+10:002007-10-25T22:57:36.875+10:00More AnnapurnaDay 5-The mayor of Chame, a village of around a thousand people. After requesting his photo, he insisted I enjoy a drink with him of the local rice wine. Kind of a cross between vodka and Windex.<br /><div><div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyCMsK2LGqI/AAAAAAAAANQ/5T9UBJC_Yvo/s1600-h/DSCF0117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125251066401331874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyCMsK2LGqI/AAAAAAAAANQ/5T9UBJC_Yvo/s400/DSCF0117.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Day 8-Gangapurna Lake, 4000m. A run up 10 stairs left you struggling for 5 minutes. Climbing up to this fluoroescent lake had us needing a rest day.</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyCOMa2LGrI/AAAAAAAAANY/h274A6oMNCU/s1600-h/DSCF0203.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125252719963740850" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyCOMa2LGrI/AAAAAAAAANY/h274A6oMNCU/s400/DSCF0203.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Day 9-Yak Khaka. Creatively named after the yaks. This guy was a total poser.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyCQBq2LGsI/AAAAAAAAANg/kBwwo6S4MN8/s1600-h/DSCF0219.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125254734303402690" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyCQBq2LGsI/AAAAAAAAANg/kBwwo6S4MN8/s400/DSCF0219.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Day11 - going over the top of Thorung-La Pass at 5416m. This was the one bit of sky we saw on this day. Seconds after this photo was taken I was enveloped in snow, and visibility fell to about 15 metres.</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyCRgq2LGtI/AAAAAAAAANo/pp6dfHZp6zs/s1600-h/DSCF0264.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125256366390975186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RyCRgq2LGtI/AAAAAAAAANo/pp6dfHZp6zs/s400/DSCF0264.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-34606913956970668232007-10-24T21:40:00.000+10:002007-10-24T22:42:03.119+10:00Annapurna Circuit - 18 Days of Nature's FinestThe journey started out with my 2 travelling partners pulling out cause they're sooks. Who ever heard of a landslide hurting anyone.... Luckily the father and son combo of Danny and Andrew Hogan from Melbourne were standing by to jump in their place. Danny is the CEO of a local council who lives in a town of 100 people, and Andrew is an accountant that lives for the Collingwood Magpies, but they're actually really fun and interesting guys.<br /><br /><strong>Andrew (left) and Danny, smiling at 4 am in shin-deep snow at -8 degrees C. Troopers.</strong><br /><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx80smxvGBI/AAAAAAAAAMo/addSI0J40NU/s1600-h/DSCF0248.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124872841898956818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx80smxvGBI/AAAAAAAAAMo/addSI0J40NU/s400/DSCF0248.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div><br /><div><strong>Me at the same time: colder than it looks.</strong> </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx89ImxvGFI/AAAAAAAAANI/SxP3kj5Bqro/s1600-h/DSCF0252.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124882119028316242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx89ImxvGFI/AAAAAAAAANI/SxP3kj5Bqro/s400/DSCF0252.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>We left on the local bus from Kathmandu with our guide Sajit, and our porter, Bessunta. Sajit started as a porter when he was 12 years old, serving his apprenticeship for 4 years until he graduated to trainee guide. For 2 years he acted in this role before successfully passing his exams to become a full-blown guide at age 18. Now aged 23, he demands quite a bit of respect from his peers, as he is fluent in all Nepali languages, English, French and German. Bessunta was 32 years old, and happy to be a porter. So we were in good hands.<br /></div><div><strong>Sajit</strong></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx8yFmxvF_I/AAAAAAAAAMY/2jSXW6vYRDE/s1600-h/DSCF0034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124869972860803058" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx8yFmxvF_I/AAAAAAAAAMY/2jSXW6vYRDE/s400/DSCF0034.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Bessunta (he's in there somewhere, above the thongs)</strong></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx8zNmxvGAI/AAAAAAAAAMg/aj8Jus8NFm0/s1600-h/DSCF0023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124871209811384322" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx8zNmxvGAI/AAAAAAAAAMg/aj8Jus8NFm0/s400/DSCF0023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I could bore you with a day-by-day account of the trek, but the best way is just to show a couple of photos from each day. The photos should give you an idea of the countryside, but there really is no camera lens wide enough to show you the magnitude of the scenery. It's just bloody huge.<br /></div><div>Each day started at around 6am, walking by 7, finished by 2 or 3, in bed by 8pm.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Day 1 - Riding on the roof of the bus with the locals</strong><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx8wa2xvF-I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/myUg_hlJHd8/s1600-h/DSCF0008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124868138909767650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx8wa2xvF-I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/myUg_hlJHd8/s400/DSCF0008.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />There were enormous slips of land like this puppy every half an hour for the first week. We didn't see any in action luckily.</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx82j2xvGCI/AAAAAAAAAMw/r9Pqyj18UX8/s1600-h/DSCF0044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124874890598357026" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx82j2xvGCI/AAAAAAAAAMw/r9Pqyj18UX8/s400/DSCF0044.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Day 3 - Marajuana grows wild up around here. These little guys rub the buds and leaves between their hands, then scrape off the resin that gathers and sell it to the trekkers as smokable hashish. Clever kids. Stupid trekkers with the altitude rising.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx85rGxvGDI/AAAAAAAAAM4/MvXxHLwRPtg/s1600-h/DSCF0048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124878313687291954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx85rGxvGDI/AAAAAAAAAM4/MvXxHLwRPtg/s400/DSCF0048.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Day4 - Waterfall #628</div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx87IWxvGEI/AAAAAAAAANA/8kbtutBNeYI/s1600-h/DSCF0070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124879915710093378" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rx87IWxvGEI/AAAAAAAAANA/8kbtutBNeYI/s400/DSCF0070.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>More to come....</div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-79430007148077496232007-10-21T00:39:00.000+10:002007-10-21T19:59:26.197+10:00It's OKFor anyone that's concerned, I made it back OK. Photos will be up in the next day or two.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-84901073905895664512007-10-03T21:40:00.000+10:002007-10-03T22:00:03.843+10:00On To Annapurna<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwOEBmxvF9I/AAAAAAAAAME/9lzYxq3W19Q/s1600-h/jarsang_khola.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117078764746905554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwOEBmxvF9I/AAAAAAAAAME/9lzYxq3W19Q/s400/jarsang_khola.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwOAiWxvF7I/AAAAAAAAAL0/WlwQAqOfe_k/s1600-h/annapurna_circuit_trekking.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117074929341110194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwOAiWxvF7I/AAAAAAAAAL0/WlwQAqOfe_k/s400/annapurna_circuit_trekking.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Apparently the weather on the mountains has settled now, and the snow/landslides have stopped, so tomorrow my sherpa I set off on a trek around the Annapurna Circuit, which I am now aiming to complete within 18 days. The maximum altitude reached will be at the peak of Thorung La Pass, which at a height of 5416 metres above sea level stands as the highest publicly trekked mountain pass in the world. It's actually higher than the Mt Everest Base Camp, and has a realtive oxygen level of around 55% compared to sea level, so this bit will be taken a little slower.</div><br /><br /><div>I should (hopefully) be back in civilisation by about the 22nd or 23rd, so I will put up some photos and comments then. Wish me luck!</div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-56268025984925247992007-10-02T18:15:00.000+10:002007-10-02T19:16:29.073+10:00Kathmandu - waiting for the landslides to stop (!)<div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIICGxvF3I/AAAAAAAAALU/8RmlB5PMud4/s1600-h/DSCF0147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116660958918285170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIICGxvF3I/AAAAAAAAALU/8RmlB5PMud4/s400/DSCF0147.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Thamel, the main tourist hub of Kathmandu, is full of interesting arts and crafts stores, separated only by an equivalent number of trekking stores, hostels and travel agents. This store seems to be packed all hours of the day, with demonstrations available on request.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIDXGxvF0I/AAAAAAAAAK8/anD1vPlcx54/s1600-h/DSCF0134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116655822137399106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIDXGxvF0I/AAAAAAAAAK8/anD1vPlcx54/s400/DSCF0134.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIJwGxvF4I/AAAAAAAAALc/nhYes5c9znA/s1600-h/DSCF0132.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116662848703895426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIJwGxvF4I/AAAAAAAAALc/nhYes5c9znA/s400/DSCF0132.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>This is a plate of delicious Nepali 'buff momos'. Like the Indians, Nepalese people don't eat cows (but mysteriously there are none in the streets here?), but they cleverly get around it by eating the equally tasty buffalo.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIBC2xvFzI/AAAAAAAAAK0/pHx_avbYQfA/s1600-h/DSCF0157.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116653275221792562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIBC2xvFzI/AAAAAAAAAK0/pHx_avbYQfA/s400/DSCF0157.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>Today I was supposed to be setting off on a 20 day trek around the Annapurna Circuit, however some adverse weather and a series of landslides have put that plan on hold for a few days. That has given me some more time to enjoy Kathmandu, including holiday stuff like reading, eating, drinking, watching the cricket with the locals and sleeping in.</div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIGXGxvF2I/AAAAAAAAALM/ysQt-7qVJ70/s1600-h/DSCF0148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116659120672282466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIGXGxvF2I/AAAAAAAAALM/ysQt-7qVJ70/s400/DSCF0148.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIKumxvF5I/AAAAAAAAALk/gL7PXA6s7Ys/s1600-h/DSCF0125.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116663922445719442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIKumxvF5I/AAAAAAAAALk/gL7PXA6s7Ys/s400/DSCF0125.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIMK2xvF6I/AAAAAAAAALs/Wujhr4ypVfs/s1600-h/DSCF0131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116665507288651682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIMK2xvF6I/AAAAAAAAALs/Wujhr4ypVfs/s400/DSCF0131.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>More goods are transported by people-power in Nepal than all other forms of freighting combined. This includes food, water, fuel, textiles, building materials, and in this case, a fridge.<br /></div><div></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIEn2xvF1I/AAAAAAAAALE/Wnv4MjP7elU/s1600-h/DSCF0146.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116657209411835730" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RwIEn2xvF1I/AAAAAAAAALE/Wnv4MjP7elU/s400/DSCF0146.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-89804814727109085432007-09-30T16:14:00.000+10:002007-09-30T16:52:37.030+10:00Catch Up PhotosCaptain Gore-Tex, ready for a mountain.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv8_zDG1KxI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/17vQR8qrH8M/s1600-h/DSCF0114.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115877847956007698" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv8_zDG1KxI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/17vQR8qrH8M/s400/DSCF0114.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Downtown Kathmandu.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9GpDG1K3I/AAAAAAAAAKk/1jfNje58kUk/s1600-h/DSCF0119.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115885372738710386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9GpDG1K3I/AAAAAAAAAKk/1jfNje58kUk/s400/DSCF0119.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The road from the border to Kathmandu followed this river for about 4 hours.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9DYjG1K1I/AAAAAAAAAKU/aMbTsiflbBg/s1600-h/DSCF0107.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115881790735985490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9DYjG1K1I/AAAAAAAAAKU/aMbTsiflbBg/s400/DSCF0107.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Standard Nepalese landslide clean up operation.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9BZzG1KzI/AAAAAAAAAKE/91-2lMlfJok/s1600-h/DSCF0093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115879613187566386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9BZzG1KzI/AAAAAAAAAKE/91-2lMlfJok/s400/DSCF0093.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The surly Nepalese lady to my left was totally hogging the seat, so I ended up having a gearstick on my butt, which was less than comfortable given the number of gear changes required on these roads. It could've been worse though, the two guys on my right are sharing the drivers seat, and yes, one of them was driving. The driver is the one with the hash reefer on the far side.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9AszG1KyI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/syt2lRBHL3w/s1600-h/DSCF0071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115878840093453090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9AszG1KyI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/syt2lRBHL3w/s400/DSCF0071.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Motorcycle anyone?<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9FrTG1K2I/AAAAAAAAAKc/DkPKvaLr8mI/s1600-h/DSCF0065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115884311881788258" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9FrTG1K2I/AAAAAAAAAKc/DkPKvaLr8mI/s400/DSCF0065.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Public burning ghat on the Ganges River, Varanasi. The body is wrapped in gold foil at the water's edge.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9CVzG1K0I/AAAAAAAAAKM/UgU9CH33Egc/s1600-h/DSCF0019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115880643979717442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Rv9CVzG1K0I/AAAAAAAAAKM/UgU9CH33Egc/s400/DSCF0019.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-61061614645498991842007-09-29T19:48:00.000+10:002007-09-29T20:14:39.232+10:00Varanasi to Kathmandu38 hours, 5 government buses (79 Indians, 1 Aussie per bus), 1 Mazda 121 (2 Indians, 2 Koreans, 3 Nepalese, 1 Aussie), 1 6 hour sleep in a train station waiting room, 1 suspiciously easy border crossing, 1 dodgy travel agent, 1 4WD (7 Indians, 4 Nepalese, 1 Aussie), 6941 near death experiences, 2 bottles of water, some deep fried somethings from the side of the road to eat, and some wicked body odour later, I made it to Kathmandu. Into a 2 hour traffic jam. It was awesome.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-21909194447533782422007-09-26T18:14:00.000+10:002007-09-26T18:36:16.234+10:00Varanasi, Uttar PradeshNightime celebartion for Shiva on the waterfront.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoVdzG1KtI/AAAAAAAAAJU/3scNOJARLjU/s1600-h/DSCF0029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114423928511867602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoVdzG1KtI/AAAAAAAAAJU/3scNOJARLjU/s400/DSCF0029.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />'Autorickshaw'</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoVGzG1KsI/AAAAAAAAAJM/G-epiGDg0X8/s1600-h/DSCF0017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114423533374876354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoVGzG1KsI/AAAAAAAAAJM/G-epiGDg0X8/s400/DSCF0017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoWfjG1KvI/AAAAAAAAAJk/t9fsSPCyoAo/s1600-h/DSCF0049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114425058088266482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoWfjG1KvI/AAAAAAAAAJk/t9fsSPCyoAo/s400/DSCF0049.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Varanasi, the city of Shiva, is one of the holiest cities in India. Hindu pilgrims come from across the country to wash away their sins in The Ganges River, and it is regarded as the best place for a Hindu to die, as it offers a chance to escape the cycle of rebirth. The burning of dead bodies is an everyday occurence along the riverfront, with the creamtion process in full view of everyone, including me this morning. I don't think I'd ever seen a dead body before this morning, but today I saw 5, in various states of decomposition, washed up on the shore, metres away from others bathing and swimming.</div><div></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoWITG1KuI/AAAAAAAAAJc/t8ZQXYSofRs/s1600-h/DSCF0047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114424658656307938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoWITG1KuI/AAAAAAAAAJc/t8ZQXYSofRs/s400/DSCF0047.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div></div><div>The thing is, the whole place kind of smells like poo, which takes away from the holiness a touch. The smell isn't surprising though when you look at the stats on the river. Every day around 60,000 people take a dip along a 7km stretch of the river, with around 1.2 million people living within that area. Along this same distance, 30 sewerage outlets spew their contents into the river all day, every day. This results in the Ganges water being so polluted it is septic, ie no dissolved oxygen exists. Water samples from the river show that the river has 1.5 million faecal coliform bacteria per 100ml, compared to Sydney's reading at less than 500!</div><div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoW4DG1KwI/AAAAAAAAAJs/Vcd2dGiIlEU/s1600-h/DSCF0056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114425478995061506" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoW4DG1KwI/AAAAAAAAAJs/Vcd2dGiIlEU/s400/DSCF0056.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-83037450422778885172007-09-26T17:57:00.000+10:002007-09-26T18:13:15.369+10:00Agra to Varanasi<div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoSvzG1KpI/AAAAAAAAAI0/hEHiio2jNRE/s1600-h/DSCF0002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114420939214629522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoSvzG1KpI/AAAAAAAAAI0/hEHiio2jNRE/s400/DSCF0002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>This leg was supposed to be easy. Leave Agra at 9:30pm to arrive in Varanasi at 9:30 am. I had my own bed with air conditioning and everything. </div><div> </div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoUPTG1KrI/AAAAAAAAAJE/hS243bCOAVQ/s1600-h/DSCF0009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114422579892136626" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoUPTG1KrI/AAAAAAAAAJE/hS243bCOAVQ/s400/DSCF0009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>After enjoying a home-cooked dinner on the train platform with an Indian family, I boarded the train and fell asleep within an hour. I awoke to pouring rain, and the train standing still, in a vast green countryside that I had yet to see in India. Apparently we had been that way for 4 hours due to a tree falling over the tracks.</div><br /><div>We arrived in Varanasi at around 4:30, making the trip a luxurious 19 hours in duration. The trip included 2 interesting meals, (no idea where they came from), and about 15 chai. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoTSzG1KqI/AAAAAAAAAI8/RNqUO-V_MXc/s1600-h/DSCF0012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114421540510050978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvoTSzG1KqI/AAAAAAAAAI8/RNqUO-V_MXc/s400/DSCF0012.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-7744592990734333902007-09-24T20:47:00.000+10:002007-09-24T21:26:20.258+10:00Agra, Uttar PradeshIt has been a very interesting 24 hours.... Some things you would expect on a journey to India, others you would not.<br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113722495927921186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RveXhDG1KiI/AAAAAAAAAH8/zCqB074yKQQ/s400/DSCF4209.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>Yesterday's travel from Jaipur to Agra was my most death defying journey yet. Considering how popular the road is as a tourist link, my assumption was that it would be at least bitumen. It was, kind of, but it was moreso a dirt track complete with divided road (your choice which side you drive on), all forms of livestock, burning vehicles, and people just generally hanging out on the highway. The soundtrack of Ricky Martin, Vengaboys, Backstreet Boys and multiple Indian dance anthems made the trip fly by though.....<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RveZ4TG1KjI/AAAAAAAAAIE/RNGHVvJvrcA/s1600-h/DSCF4259.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113725094383135282" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RveZ4TG1KjI/AAAAAAAAAIE/RNGHVvJvrcA/s400/DSCF4259.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>This morning I visited the Taj Mahal, the world's greatest monument to love, which certainly lived up to the reputation. I always thought it was a palace, but it's actually a mausoleum for the wife of the 17th century Emporer Shah Jahan. Mumtaz Mahal, the bride in question, died whilst delivering the couple's 14th child. Who could blame her for taking the easy option.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RveW7TG1KhI/AAAAAAAAAH0/xkAdXwoM2JY/s1600-h/DSCF4260.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113721847387859474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RveW7TG1KhI/AAAAAAAAAH0/xkAdXwoM2JY/s400/DSCF4260.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>Old Mr Shah must've been pretty under the thumb though, as he employed 20,000 labourers to build the Taj, taking a total of 22 years. At the completion of the building, he cut off the right hand of all the skilled tradesmen so they could never build another structure of the same quality. Heavy.</div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RveaeTG1KkI/AAAAAAAAAIM/vNbIV-UMSTg/s1600-h/DSCF4252.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113725747218164290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RveaeTG1KkI/AAAAAAAAAIM/vNbIV-UMSTg/s400/DSCF4252.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Halfway through the visit, I realised I had eaten my first dodgy curry. Lets just say it was a dead heat.<br /></div><br /><div>Last night was the interesting part. I had arranged with my driver for a 5:30am pickup to go and see the Taj. I awoke at what I thought was 5:30 to some loud banging on the door. 'A little over-enthusiastic for this hour?' I thought to myself. I checked my watch and it was in fact 3:30am. I opened the door, covered in a mear scrap of Bonds undies, to find 7 Indian police officers brandishing very big, very aimed, very scary looking guns. A million thoughts rushed through my paranoid head as to why they would visit me, but before I could pinpoint one they were in my room telling me very loudly to sit on the bed with my hands up. They looked in the bathroom, under the bed, in the cupboard, out the window, then left, slamming the door behind them, leaving me a little perplexed to say the least.<br /></div><br /><div>Once I was dressed, I asked the manager what it was about. He said it was a 'tax problem'. Yeah buddy, and I'm Krishna. I later found out 2 Japanese girls who were supposed to be staying at the hotel were missing. I don't know what has happened since. But don't worry, I'm fine.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvecyjG1KlI/AAAAAAAAAIU/BFhP2sp3tM8/s1600-h/DSCF4310.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113728294133770834" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvecyjG1KlI/AAAAAAAAAIU/BFhP2sp3tM8/s400/DSCF4310.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>I also saw a couple of impressive forts.</div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RveeqjG1KnI/AAAAAAAAAIk/WNKV8nOXor8/s1600-h/DSCF4218.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113730355718072946" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RveeqjG1KnI/AAAAAAAAAIk/WNKV8nOXor8/s400/DSCF4218.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-80797144519659118012007-09-22T22:57:00.000+10:002007-09-22T23:00:51.004+10:00Indian Scaffolding<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUR2DG1KgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/b7EY2DTuRSI/s1600-h/DSCF4147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113012572193630722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUR2DG1KgI/AAAAAAAAAHs/b7EY2DTuRSI/s400/DSCF4147.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Yep, sticks and bamboo.</div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-59062036305834496822007-09-22T22:20:00.000+10:002007-09-22T22:57:30.182+10:00Jaipur, Rajasthan<div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUMJzG1KbI/AAAAAAAAAHE/_OaSHhLWklQ/s1600-h/DSCF4145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113006314426280370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUMJzG1KbI/AAAAAAAAAHE/_OaSHhLWklQ/s400/DSCF4145.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>Last night Mack and I went to the local theatre to see an indian film, 'Chak De India'. Mack neglected to inform me the entire film was in hindi, but it turned out to be twice as much fun trying to figure out what was going on. It was kind of 'Mighty Ducks/League of Their Own/Remember The Titans', but the funniest part was the cheering, booing and mid-film standing ovations for the various characters. The theatre itself was an incredible venue, made more special by management insisting that I be seated in the 'special guest' balcony viewing. Stephen 1-India 1</div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUKQjG1KZI/AAAAAAAAAG0/oqC5E_H2XFw/s1600-h/DSCF4159.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113004231367141778" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUKQjG1KZI/AAAAAAAAAG0/oqC5E_H2XFw/s400/DSCF4159.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>exotic animals</div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUNSzG1KdI/AAAAAAAAAHU/R3IWItyUk8Q/s1600-h/DSCF4169.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113007568556730834" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUNSzG1KdI/AAAAAAAAAHU/R3IWItyUk8Q/s400/DSCF4169.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUMuzG1KcI/AAAAAAAAAHM/S6IE-2P6XM0/s1600-h/DSCF4184.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113006950081440194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUMuzG1KcI/AAAAAAAAAHM/S6IE-2P6XM0/s400/DSCF4184.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />not so exotic animals<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUPvzG1KeI/AAAAAAAAAHc/sVq5wpZjI6Q/s1600-h/DSCF4192.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113010265796192738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUPvzG1KeI/AAAAAAAAAHc/sVq5wpZjI6Q/s400/DSCF4192.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Cows rule in India. They have right of way in all situations (and you can't eat them here either!)</div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvULMTG1KaI/AAAAAAAAAG8/v18V1CekxC8/s1600-h/DSCF4188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113005257864325538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvULMTG1KaI/AAAAAAAAAG8/v18V1CekxC8/s400/DSCF4188.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Jaipur is a shoppers delight, and the indian people are incredible, if not persiatnt salemen. Never before have I been so interested in buying a pashmina, rug or loose precious stone.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUQ0zG1KfI/AAAAAAAAAHk/7MTusRZsmjI/s1600-h/DSCF4175.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113011451207166450" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvUQ0zG1KfI/AAAAAAAAAHk/7MTusRZsmjI/s400/DSCF4175.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-41236690483370412642007-09-21T23:17:00.000+10:002007-09-21T23:51:00.528+10:00New Delhi, Northwest India<div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvPF3TG1KTI/AAAAAAAAAGE/-bsqs6N7pEM/s1600-h/DSCF4086.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112647555808045362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvPF3TG1KTI/AAAAAAAAAGE/-bsqs6N7pEM/s400/DSCF4086.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>I finally arrived in India, land of cricket, cows and curries full of excitement and ready to immerse myself in a whole new world. Wrong. India is definately winning after kicking my butt last night. A late arrival withou a prior accommodation booking was a bad idea (I tried without sucess from Bangkok), so I ended up in a travel agent at 1am (why was he open I asked?) booking a tour for the next week to ensure I had a place to rest that night. </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvPHaTG1KUI/AAAAAAAAAGM/zCpmmyg5qsk/s1600-h/DSCF4099.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112649256615094594" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvPHaTG1KUI/AAAAAAAAAGM/zCpmmyg5qsk/s400/DSCF4099.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112652048343837026" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvPJ8zG1KWI/AAAAAAAAAGc/W6pYlLmcB-U/s400/DSCF4100.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div>It turned out to be blessing in disguise, as my driver/tour guide/bodyguard/ all round nice guy, named Mahesh Kumar (I'm calling him Mack) has been fantastic. He took me too his home for breakfast, which was delicious, and I met his wife and two children. The photo here was taken on the roof of his building, which has a 360 degree wiew of Delhi.<br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvPIfjG1KVI/AAAAAAAAAGU/DF7GXsUtN9Y/s1600-h/DSCF4122.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112650446321035602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvPIfjG1KVI/AAAAAAAAAGU/DF7GXsUtN9Y/s400/DSCF4122.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>Delhi was a bit much for me, too busy and smelly, so we left this morning and are now kicking back in Jaipur, known as the pink city. 200 years ago the entire city was ordered to be painted pink by the guy in charge, and it remains that way today.</div><br /><div></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvPLHjG1KXI/AAAAAAAAAGk/d5Pm44jHs9k/s1600-h/DSCF4115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112653332539058546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvPLHjG1KXI/AAAAAAAAAGk/d5Pm44jHs9k/s400/DSCF4115.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvPMDjG1KYI/AAAAAAAAAGs/vkMH1x1D7S0/s1600-h/DSCF4123.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112654363331209602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvPMDjG1KYI/AAAAAAAAAGs/vkMH1x1D7S0/s400/DSCF4123.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-29000556932251497012007-09-19T19:54:00.000+10:002007-09-19T20:32:09.360+10:00Back in Bangkok<div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvD2wWQQ9hI/AAAAAAAAAFc/CSgBpQTZCT0/s1600-h/DSCF4047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111856887533467154" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvD2wWQQ9hI/AAAAAAAAAFc/CSgBpQTZCT0/s400/DSCF4047.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Would you let this guy into your country?<br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvDzfGQQ9gI/AAAAAAAAAFU/ddj6en1sPG8/s1600-h/DSCF4057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111853292645840386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvDzfGQQ9gI/AAAAAAAAAFU/ddj6en1sPG8/s400/DSCF4057.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>For a long time I didn't think India would either, but today, 9 days after submitting my application, I finally got my tourist visa for their country. Just in time, as I fly out tomorrow afternoon!!! Relief...<br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvDy1mQQ9fI/AAAAAAAAAFM/H4HlHHUr3Fg/s1600-h/DSCF4058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111852579681269234" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvDy1mQQ9fI/AAAAAAAAAFM/H4HlHHUr3Fg/s400/DSCF4058.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br />That was enough excitement for today. After 14 hours on a bus yesterday (who knew it was the wet season?) from Phnomh Penh to Bangkok, I needed a day off today.</div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvD3rGQQ9iI/AAAAAAAAAFk/opMTUbRsuAs/s1600-h/DSCF4044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111857896850781730" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvD3rGQQ9iI/AAAAAAAAAFk/opMTUbRsuAs/s400/DSCF4044.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Final views of Pnomh Penh...</div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvD5DWQQ9jI/AAAAAAAAAFs/cG8FSrXxj-s/s1600-h/DSCF4031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111859412974237234" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvD5DWQQ9jI/AAAAAAAAAFs/cG8FSrXxj-s/s400/DSCF4031.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvD5qmQQ9kI/AAAAAAAAAF0/iulCufZJVDw/s1600-h/DSCF4036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111860087284102722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvD5qmQQ9kI/AAAAAAAAAF0/iulCufZJVDw/s400/DSCF4036.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvD6P2QQ9lI/AAAAAAAAAF8/XWhmKHmCobE/s1600-h/DSCF4038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111860727234229842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/RvD6P2QQ9lI/AAAAAAAAAF8/XWhmKHmCobE/s400/DSCF4038.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964210352419508160.post-65633905176599703392007-09-17T20:52:00.000+10:002007-09-17T21:14:00.986+10:00Favourite Signs Of CambodiaVote for your favourite in the comments!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Ru5g-sHoEVI/AAAAAAAAAFE/317Iof0cC-8/s1600-h/DSCF3758.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111129257223393618" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Ru5g-sHoEVI/AAAAAAAAAFE/317Iof0cC-8/s400/DSCF3758.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Ru5fLcHoEUI/AAAAAAAAAE8/J1Nuounx_30/s1600-h/DSCF3944.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111127277243470146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Ru5fLcHoEUI/AAAAAAAAAE8/J1Nuounx_30/s400/DSCF3944.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Ru5d9cHoETI/AAAAAAAAAE0/XltYkcXu1ms/s1600-h/DSCF3606.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111125937213673778" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Ru5d9cHoETI/AAAAAAAAAE0/XltYkcXu1ms/s400/DSCF3606.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Ru5de8HoESI/AAAAAAAAAEs/xH2jBUYaHB8/s1600-h/DSCF3905.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111125413227663650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mMCfFoqM918/Ru5de8HoESI/AAAAAAAAAEs/xH2jBUYaHB8/s400/DSCF3905.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830327216793018371noreply@blogger.com1