Before I came to Nepal I am pretty sure I had never said the word 'trekking'. However, I found out that Nepal is one of the best places in the world for trekking. So for my two week vacation, Elizabeth, Ryan, and I went for a little stroll in the Himalayas, specifically the Annapurna range. Our destination was the Torung La Pass 5460 meters above sea level, and a ten day walk from where we started. It became ridiculously cold and was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but now I have sexy massive calf muscles and I think my eyes could fall out of my face because I have seen the most beautiful sights I can imagine. So here are some tid bits from the trip; also check out Elizabeth's and Ryan's blogs for awesome pictures: ewray123.blogspot.com and moshinnepal.blogspot.com.
The view from the tiny plane. I believe this is Machupuchure, one of the biggest mountains in the world...ever
View from Muktinath, a pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus
The view from about 5000 meters up.
What has just been conquered
Torung La Pass, 5460 meters above sea level, 50% air pressure, the culminating point of an arduous voyage. To also put that in perspective, the tallest mountain in North America is 6193 meters high. The Himalayas are waaay bigger.
Some real hardcore folks right here.
baph re baph! (Nepali for 'wow')
Big time stuff.
A look back at what we just accomplished
We began totally unprepared, but with a lot of medication and sweet walking sticks we kicked the crap out of trekking.
Our hotel just before going over the pass.
*whistling noise that goes down in pitch as if to indicate to luscious site before your eyes.
View from the gompa in Manang.
Prayer flags...they are everywhere.
Hero of the mountain.
Inside a 1000 year old gompa, with crazy old Buddhist artifacts. A good place to find peace with the world.
Rock outside the Gompa. I have a feeling whatever it says is soul touching.
Inside a monk's room
Rainbow gloves: not primarily for the promotion of homosexual appendages anymore.
Prayer wheels, inside are prayers in Sanskrit, and since most people can't read that you just have to spin them.
Tending a wound.
This is called 'The Gateway to Heaven' for completely obvious reasons.
The sun rising on the Himalayas...pretty nice.
When trekking it is important to exert one's dominance over the trail, by ninja force if necessary.
This dude carried that huge iron thing up a really big hill. I think it might be the worst job I have ever witnessed.
I have no idea how to turn pictures the right way around.
I have been here so long that this doesn't look strange to me anymore, but I remembered that its not every day back home that goats ride on the top of the bus. It is really fun to travel with them up there.
On the way to a wedding. The groom is carried for about and hour and a half walk up a hill and rides like a stylish baller the entire time.
The Hindu festival Holi: get attacked with tika and play with water balloons all day, we must adopt this tradition in America.
Just after a women's day rally in Dhading Besi. I must say when I wear Ashish's clothes I look quite stunning.
The monkey temple in Kathmandu...monkeys everywhere try to steal your empty juice boxes and attempt to punch stray dogs...Crazytown.
