Backpacking with Style

Catching up

leigh-and-tim — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 18:38:00 GMT

Can't believe we've not updated since 2007!!

Since then we've been to Nepal together, and separately visiting projects for The Pahar Trust Nepal (www.pahar-trust.org ) ; been to visit friends in Moscow; wonderful small group holiday in Vietnam; simply fantastic time in Croatia with family for son's wedding; lots of breaks in France.

This year Tim's returning to Nepal & Leigh's off to Singapore & Brisbane and our first ever winter holiday in the Alps!

back to kathmandu

leigh-and-tim — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:17:00 GMT

Blog 25 11

Here we are back in Kathmandu after our adventures in Pokhara. paragliding was stunning for Tim, John, Lottie, marilyn and Debbie! The Singdi party had a very tiring but excellent trip and the usual regal welcome at the village. All the children on parade as usual. One of the guides was a former pupil who remembered the W-o-T primary school visit in 1999. They had to buy sandals to cross rivers so they could do the trekking in 1 day and Keith’s size 14 caused some problems! Barring several leeches along the way they all came through with no problems. They were too late and too tired to join the rest of us for a meeting with Pokhara Fishtail Rotary which went well with lots of questions and discussion. They feel much more progressive that we do as they have 3 lady members! We will be discussing a long term link with them when we get back. After that we went on to Narendra’s house for a rooftop party. Great views on moonlit snowy peaks, lots of chatting to his and Chandra’s familes, beer, wine and some Aussie fizz bought be David A as a treat for us all. Met up with Devi the med student again who presented me with a tie to much comment from the rest of the team. It went well with the Nepali Topi all the men received - little purses for our ladies.

Our 6^th internal flight saw us back in Kathmandu, some sporting our altered Rotary polos – we had Nepal 2007 embroidered in matching gold thread under the logo and Clifton.

Beautiful sunny day, as it is today, so not loking forward to the weather in UK. Spent some time sorting out all the trekking costs and hotels in the East – around £50 each!! Spot of shopping last night in small groups – Thamel is so busy now with vehicles up and down the narrow streets – I much preferred it during last year’s curfew when I was virtually the only western shopper! All the unaccompanied men have put a lot of thought into buying presents so please remember that back home!!

Today we go to Bhaktapur and then back to Kathmandu on a coach tour to see all the ancient sites before a final night do at Rum Doodle bar.

See you all soon.

paradise and paragliding

leigh-and-tim — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:34:00 GMT

23^rd Nov

Waiting in Pokhara this morning for one of those experiences that a few of us are foolhardy enough to do. Don’t know about the rest, but for me it is along the lines of climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge just because I am 50 – this time it is paragliding over Pokhara! I’ll not say who else is doing it!

We have just had an incredible trip up from Pokhaha to a lodge owned by Narendra and Chandra – must be one of the best places to stay in th eworld with stunning views up a gorge filed with blue-white water from mineral deposits and overshadowed by Fishtail and the Annapurnas. Good beds, proper toilets – Shangri-La and paradise were heard as people tried to find words to describe it. Even by moonlight it was incredible as the mineral rich water perfectly reflected the light to compliment the snowcapped peaks. In front of the lodge is a round patio area with stepped seating around the sides to allow a perfect view. We jokingly suggested to Chandra that he needed a large fire bowl for us to sit round all evening rather than going inside to eat. 5 minute later a wheelbarrow has had its wheel removed and in propped up on a stone with a log fire which burned all evening. The next morning we trekked through jungle, passing monkeys and adding to our list of birds – the most impressive of which had been 2 lammergeyers wheeling above us as we arrived. We reached a Magar village with buffalos threshing rise, dung fueled methane gas works, drying millet and soy beans and other ‘medieval’ farming practices.

Soon time to trek out of the valley to catch the public bus back to Pokhara and visit the Gurkha museum – great memories triggered for me of my time with QGE – photos of Perowne barracks and Sekkong swimming pool!

I’ll keep this short as local computers seem incapable of dealing with large chunks of text or photos. As long as all the paragliders are OK we will have a big party on Narendra’s roof terrace tonight as a farewell to Pokhara as it is back to KTM tomorrow.

arrived in pokhara

leigh-and-tim — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:07:00 GMT

14^th November. Well we arrived safely in Kathmandu after good flights and being met at the airport by dawa and a motley crew of porters who needed tipping. First garlands were hung round necks. Minibus ride in was usual weaving though traffic, pedestrians and cows. Saw the squalor, funeral pyres and monkeys, so reminded me that it is a place to see once! H0tel Manaslu comfortable but Dawa presented another change to program – no direct flights to suketar so via birat at 8 in the morning! Able to hand over$536 each for all the flights. Walked into thamel to look around and eat at a restaurant with dancing. The bill at the end NR1000 each – exchange rate 127 to pound!

Taxi back organised for hopalong then mit and I lost the rest of them who had just set off to walk back. Annoying questions seem to be diminishing so I may start being less of a tour guide soon.

20^th Lots of catching up to do due to lack of internet and power for much of the eastern end of trip. Many of the party now sympathise with Prince Philip as they tagged along with a series of occasions where ‘Dr Tim Sahib’ was the star attraction as well the very special health post opening and a school opening. Two plaques to unveil and then a succession of banners across roads welcoming dr Tim and his party. These were followed by much garlanding and clapping, dancing and singing and then requests for support for their particular project. We were really representing PTN for much of the time so just made speeches that didn’t commit anyone to anything!.

Met lots of old friends in the high villages as well as back in Dharan and Bedetar which is just up into the hills. Jerry and I went to the proposed site of a Gurkha Memorial Park high above Dharan. A new road is supposed to be being created but it was a real 4 wheel drive landrover track for about 50 mins each way. Over a dry river bed an dup the other side. Beautiful place and a great project to support in some way. We also checked out the old BMH Dharan, not sure what the others thought about walking through A+E and various wards on our guided tour.

Evening meal on a roof top with Dharan Gopa Rotary club – 80% doctors so talking shop most of the night. Good food and hospitality. Flight to KTM yesterday afternoon with time for quick check in and off to Rum Doodle Bar. Filled in a Yeti Footprint with our details, seemed to be the only Rotary rondel in the place. Have already booked there for our last night

Up at 6am (everyone getting used to that) for breakfast and 8pm flight to Pokhara. Early morning fog meant a delay to 9.30 but all forgiven as we had fabulous views of the mountains. Pokhara beautiful in the sun with the lake, fishtail mountain and the Annapurnas. Free time (at last said some) to wander, shop and sightsee. Some have been on the lake and riding bikes. Some planning paragliding from high up back down to the lakeside. Photos to die for I imagine.

Peter, Geoff, Keith and Jerry are preparing for the trek to Singdi school tomorrow and the rest of us will head for the hot springs. Basic accommodation there so only one night before coming back to Pokhara for my room with a bath (first since Bristol) and mountains an lakes out of the window!

On to Dharan

leigh-and-tim — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 01:47:00 GMT

The trekkers still only have intermittent connections, they're hoping for better next week. The first stage has been successfully completed, El Presidente has improved his horse riding skills, and his calf muscle is now much better. JW gave them all a scare but is apparently OK now, avoided the walk back up to Suketar, with at least one other in a rather exciting, adrenalin land cruiser ride instead. The trekkers are visiting another village, where after a surprisingly warm welcome have had a request for another health post - they have also met up with rotarians in Dharan - at least one is a medic - so may be able to direct request there. Hope I got that right. There was to be a BBQ for them tonight, ie Saturday. Hopefully the trekkers will be able to add to this soon & even some photos.

Arrived in Suketar

leigh-and-tim — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:42:00 GMT

Well they got there - Had a call on Wednesday before the partying and trekking began! Welcomed at Suketar by a band, flights good despite going via Biratnagar. Hope travellers can add a story when they reach Taplejung.

Preparation

leigh-and-tim — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:44:00 GMT

Getting everything together for the trip. Not my usual trip with a few friends but 15 of us in total as so many people helped with raising money to fund the building of the health post at Suketar. Hope I have covered all the medical options and remembered my Rotary shirt!

Gallery: Manly and Mosman

leigh-and-tim — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:19:00 GMT

last couple of days

Gallery: on to sydney

leigh-and-tim — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Gallery: melbourne and the neighbours

leigh-and-tim — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 23:03:00 GMT

city sights

Gallery: yarra and ocean road

leigh-and-tim — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:18:00 GMT

Gallery: kangaroo island

leigh-and-tim — Sun, 7 Jan 2007 22:47:00 GMT

Gallery: Trees & coast

leigh-and-tim — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 11:44:00 GMT

trip south