WANDERLUST: 3/29/09

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

People of Nepal

The trek was as much cultural as it was physical and meeting the people along the way was a huge part of the experience. We have great respect for the integrity and hard work that encompasses the daily lives of the rural Nepalese. The children were extremely welcoming and expressed a mutual interest in us, as well as an amazing ability to take a simple item like a string or potato and turn it into hours of fun.

Watch how you go...

Ian and Greg

slingshot...

Playing hot potato with a potato...

Nepal - Annapurna Trek

We flew to Kathmandu to prepare for our 6 day trek through the Annapurna range. Dorchi, our guide, greeted us at the airport and gave us more information about the trek. Still, none of us really knew what was in store. It turns out that 6 invigorating, rigorous, and mind-blowing days were ahead.

To understand the scale of the Himalayas you must see them in person. We were viewing peaks that were close to 30,000 feet tall. The tallest peaks in the U.S. only reach 13,000 feet. On top of that, the trail we were taking went through many rural villages where we met hard working and friendly men, women and children. The villages sat on terraced slopes that made for picturesque vistas at every turn. What made it even better, was that we were experiencing this with our wonderful friends. Liz and Sam brought laughter and a sense of appreciation that enhanced each day (we love you guys!).

Physically, this was the hardest thing we have ever done. On average, we hiked 6-7 hours per day, mostly uphill. We were running on pure excitement and the delicious food that the tea houses made for us. In total, we climbed about 10,000 feet and approximately 58km! This experience has further opened our eyes to how people in this world are living and has given us a great sense of personal achievement.

Watch how you go...

Ian and Greg

Kathmandu...