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Travels in Nepal #13 What a view

No Comments »30th August, 2006; Category: Himalayas, Nepal, Trekking
Scene from our lodge in Monjo, Nepal

Scene from our lodge in Monjo, Nepal

The most amazing thing about the trek I did in Nepal in January of this year was my reaction to the mountain views. I could not come to terms with the fact that mountains could be so high, so steep and so magnificent. At every turn I could have taken dozens of photos. I did take a large number of photos and only some are featured here on this blog.

The photo above was taken from the back door of the lodge where we stayed in the village of Monjo. This village is on the trek I did from Lukla to Tengboche. It is the same track one takes to get to Everest Base Camp. What a view to have at your back door. The mountain shown in the photo – I haven’t worked out its name yet – towers several thousand metres above the village. It seemed only a few kilometres away.

Since arriving back home I have shown some of these photos to family and friends. Several have asked me if the colour of the sky is accurate. Yes, it is. We were fortunate that the weather during our trek was bright and sunny on all days except one.

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Travels in Nepal #12 An amazing school playground

2 Comments »29th August, 2006; Category: Himalayas, Nepal, Trekking
Playing cricket in Nepal

Playing cricket in Nepal

While on the trek in Nepal last January we spent a hour or so at the school in the village of Monjo. I was utterly amazed at the view from the school playground. This was impressive in the extreme. There would have to be very few school yards anywhere in the world with such a stunning view.

In the first decade of my 35 years of teaching I could look out the window of my classroom and see a magnificent view of the Flinders Ranges. Living so close to this “chain of rugged mountains” – the words of explorer Matthew Flinders – gave me a lifelong love of these ranges.

In the last decade of my teaching career I could see Australia’s largest river, the River Murray, from the playground of the school where I taught. This was a good view , but nothing like the view in the Himalayas.

The view may have been out of this world but teaching in the school would be a huge challenge. This village is a long way from anywhere. The physical effort of moving around these mountains is demanding. The conditions in the school are very basic with very few teaching materials.

But yard duty would certainly be inspiring.

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Travels in Nepal #11 Playing cricket in Nepal

No Comments »28th August, 2006; Category: Himalayas, Nepal, Trekking
Playing cricket in Nepal

Playing cricket in Nepal

When we had arrived at the village of Monjo on our trek towards Everest, we had lunch. After lunch we went on a tour of the village. We visited a local temple and the local school. Word soon got around that some Aussies were in town and before long we were playing with the local boys in the school grounds. Several of the boys were quite good. The equipment was very basic, but the enthusiasm more than made up for it.

I had found out only shortly before leaving on this trip that the Nepali people are ardent cricket followers and that there are quite a few active clubs in the country. This enthusiasm spills over from neighbouring India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Cricket also has a great coverage on local television.

Travels in Nepal #10 Amazing porters

No Comments »27th August, 2006; Category: Himalayas, Nepal, Trekking
One of our porters on our trek.

One of our porters on our trek.

On our trek towards Mt Everest in Nepal last January, I was constantly amazed at the abilities of the guides and the porters. The guides were always helpful and considerate, watching everyone carefully. As I struggled with some of the climbs they were always there to encourage me and help me achieve my goal.

The porters were something else. The enormous loads they carry up those steep climbs are extremely demanding. One can belittle their efforts by saying that they are extremely fit, that they do it for a living, that they are far more acclimatized than soft Aussies like me. The truth is, they are truly amazing. Loads of up to 120kg are not unknown, though the travel group we were with insist on loads not exceeding 60kg. Even this lesser load is very demanding.

The local Nepali porters are truly amazing.

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Travels in Nepal #9 Up close and personal

No Comments »26th August, 2006; Category: Himalayas, Trekking
On the trek in Nepal

On the trek in Nepal

On my trek from Lukla to Tengboche in the Everest region last January I was not completely prepared for the village life along the track. The walking trail takes you through the middle of most of the villages along the way. In many cases you have to walk right past the front door of the locals. One step off the track and you would be in someone’s humble house. It is experiencing life up close and very personal. There seems very little privacy for the village people.

For a first-timer overseas, everything was fascinating for me. I drank in deeply from the barrage of experiences in my face every step of the way. People preparing meals just a metre or so away. Children being bathed on the front step just a step to one side. Teenage girls washing their hair in the “main street” and men sitting on a wall discussing the news of the day. Actually, they were probably laughing about these crazy Aussies slogging their way up through the mountains, huffing and puffing every step of the steep climb.

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