...continued from Everest Base Camp - Part I
Check out this album for some of our best photos from the base camp trek:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103620108216329120374/albums/5957038928973537057
The Descent
Coming down from the peak at Kala Pattar was a million times easier than going up. We trotted down the mountain to our lodge, where we were greeted by a warm breakfast. We were cold and starving when we arrived! After breakfast, it was a speedy walk down to Lukla over three days.
Here are my favorite pictures from the descent:
Reflections
This trek was the most adventurous part of our trip around the world. We didn't know what the lodges would be like, what we would be eating, or if we would actually enjoy that much hiking.
Well, the lodges were pretty basic - we got private rooms everywhere, but they only had two simple twin beds and nothing else in them. If you go, don’t expect any heating, hot water, or electricity. The food was mediocre. It’s the same boring Nepalese/Chinese/Spaghetti menu in every lodge, with a lack of fresh fruits and limited fresh vegetables. Fresh meat is pretty much non-existent (we both went Vegetarian for the duration). The hiking, though, was absolutely amazing. I looked forward to walking each day, and was never disappointed by the scenery. The pace is pretty relaxed. We took as many breaks as we felt like, and always sat down for an hour during lunch. And hey, it’s pretty cool that we got to do this much hiking without having to carry a heavy pack, set up shelter, or cook.
Plus, a nice perk of hiking in Nepal is how little you have to spend. We averaged $20 per person per day on the mountains, including food, lodging, and drinking water. The guide was another $20 a day and porter $18 a day. This was the cheapest segment of the trip so far!
Along the trail, it was fascinating to get a glimpse of the lives of those who live in the region. A lot of families there had a simple house that served as a little convenience store or a small lodge. Tourism is a major industry in the area. In the more remote villages, you see a bit more farming. Overall though, it's a pretty tough life out there. Since there are no roads anywhere near these places, so food and other supplies have to be carried in. And imagine taking days to get to another village or to the nearest airport!
Check out this album for some of our best photos from the base camp trek:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103620108216329120374/albums/5957038928973537057
The Descent
Coming down from the peak at Kala Pattar was a million times easier than going up. We trotted down the mountain to our lodge, where we were greeted by a warm breakfast. We were cold and starving when we arrived! After breakfast, it was a speedy walk down to Lukla over three days.
Here are my favorite pictures from the descent:
 |
| Day 7: On our way down from Gorek Shep, we passed through this long windy valley. By this point we had been walking for at least 8 hours! |
 |
| Day 8: A beautiful sunny day near Tengbuche |
 |
| Day 9: Second time crossing these suspension bridges. |
 |
| Day 9: A rest stop along the trail. We hiked leisurely and rested several times an hour at beautiful stops like this one. |
 |
| Day 9: We made it to Namche Bazaar! And celebrated over pizza and cake. |
 |
| Day 9: A typical street in Namche Bazaar |
 |
| Day 12: The view from our flight back to Kathmandu. We were so glad that it was clear that day. On the previous day, most flights between Kathmandu and Lukla were cancelled because of low clouds. |
 |
| Day 12: Back to civilization! An aerial view of Kathmandu. |
Reflections
This trek was the most adventurous part of our trip around the world. We didn't know what the lodges would be like, what we would be eating, or if we would actually enjoy that much hiking.
Well, the lodges were pretty basic - we got private rooms everywhere, but they only had two simple twin beds and nothing else in them. If you go, don’t expect any heating, hot water, or electricity. The food was mediocre. It’s the same boring Nepalese/Chinese/Spaghetti menu in every lodge, with a lack of fresh fruits and limited fresh vegetables. Fresh meat is pretty much non-existent (we both went Vegetarian for the duration). The hiking, though, was absolutely amazing. I looked forward to walking each day, and was never disappointed by the scenery. The pace is pretty relaxed. We took as many breaks as we felt like, and always sat down for an hour during lunch. And hey, it’s pretty cool that we got to do this much hiking without having to carry a heavy pack, set up shelter, or cook.
Plus, a nice perk of hiking in Nepal is how little you have to spend. We averaged $20 per person per day on the mountains, including food, lodging, and drinking water. The guide was another $20 a day and porter $18 a day. This was the cheapest segment of the trip so far!
Along the trail, it was fascinating to get a glimpse of the lives of those who live in the region. A lot of families there had a simple house that served as a little convenience store or a small lodge. Tourism is a major industry in the area. In the more remote villages, you see a bit more farming. Overall though, it's a pretty tough life out there. Since there are no roads anywhere near these places, so food and other supplies have to be carried in. And imagine taking days to get to another village or to the nearest airport!
 |
| This picture was taken from our lunch table. It's typical for the lodge owner to have a small vegetable garden, providing the greens for guests' meals. The only three vegetables we saw were potatoes, bak choy, and carrots. |
No comments:
Post a Comment