My first time trekking

Nepal 尼泊尔

Back then Nepal trip was not very famous in our country, to some of them, they have never heard of this name Nepal. It was also my first time heard that name too.

One of my friends (V friend) has been reading about Nepal, she has been talking about it with another friend (J friend) of mine to go there one fine day, I've no idea how long they have been talking about it but was not making the trip out together.

One day, when V friend share with me about Nepal asking me want to go, I've no 2^nd thought and say okay, she gets so excited when my answer was “Yes”. We started to plan which date to go and she also make a call to J friend to ask her whether she wants to join this trip.

As three of us decided to go, we went to one of the travel agency who has the tour to Nepal. The travel agency shows us some of the photos…wow… those photos were nicely taken. The travel agency gives us some information which we needed, such like; must carry some US Dollars for VISA at the custom to enter into Nepal, some warm clothes for early morning and night when travel up the mountain, etc.

As we had decided the date and booked for the tour, knowing that we will be going for trekking, I went for jogging every Monday running ten rounds of the stadium size to keep myself fit as I've never went for any trekking, therefore, I make sure I can handle such activity.

As the day arrived, we flow to Nepal, on our arrival outside the airport, there were many local people asking you whether you want any transport. As we travel by tour package, there was a person came to approach us and transfer us to Hotel.

Our Nepal trip itinerary was sightseeing in the town area (Swoyambhunath Stupa, Patan Durbar Square and Tibetan refugee camp), White Water Rafting, Pokhara, 7 days trekking and visit Chitwan National Park.

Sightseeing in the Kathmandu town area was interesting, a lot things to see, we did visited some monastery, it was my first time seeing another side of the world have a different in culture and their believes.

Our trip, have another group of 4 people joining the same package, on our second day in Kathmandu, we had meet up the rest of them and we packed our bags and depart Kathmandu to another place for our white water rafting.

White Water Rafting was so exciting, it was our first time experiencing such activity, we have to travel by bus to the top mountain and started from there, we water rafting down to lower site, we had a tea and snacks before we on board our bus to travel down to next destination.

When we reach the destination, it was Pokhara town, is a small town of itself but it has a very nice night market, the whole town lights up in the evening. As we reached there in the afternoon, we had our half-day sightseeing and a two hours boating at Fewa Lake. Fewa Lake was really beautiful; you can see the backdrop of Annapurnas Mountain. In Pokhara, we also visited the museum.

After visited Pokhara, we went trekking, our first day was horrible, right beginning of the trek was so many steps continue going up non-stop (just like trekking up to Mount Kinabalu), we had to catch our breath every ten steps.

On our trek, we had cooks and porters with us, we don't have to carry our own heavy bags, all we carry was our own camera and trek slowly. We had very good cook, our meals were good, our trekking trip was very enjoyable, and three of us were sleeping in the tent.

The local people are very friendly, everyone we meet along the way, they will greet us “Namaste” meaning “hello” or “how are you” (form of greeting).

Back then, when we knew we were going to have trekking, we had imagine the place does not have a proper toilet and we might not have a proper place for shower, we had prepare the worse of it. We bought powder shampoo for our hair, don't need any water can still wash our hair, ha..ha… but in real life, there was shower room for us to shower everyday. We had cold shower on the mountain, there were time, we had ice cold water…. but most of time we pay extra to get hot water for shower.

Our trek include of hot spring and most beautiful scenic of many range of mountains, I've never seen mountain, it was my first time see so many mountains, so beautiful, we gets very excited when we trek up to 3095m high, we can see clouds floating passing through us and mountains so close to us. Especially when you trek up to Poon Hill to see sun rise, wow….. Very beautiful, many mountains range right in front of your eyes with someone was there playing flute, where can you find such back ground music at a beautiful moment, it was unforgettable moment on this trip. Back then, there was no digital camera yet, otherwise, I would take a lots of photos on that range of mountains.

Our trekking path, some were steps up and down, some easy path but there was one day trek was the worse trek and dangerous trek, we have to trek up all the way non-stop and climb down involved our both hands, it was so dangerous and that was the only way to get to another mountain, we had witness a local lady climb down carry with the baby behind her, we were so worried for her and her baby at that moment.

During trekking, you got to be very careful passing by plants along the way; I had it twice got plants poison, the first time got it, it was painful for a few hours and the pain was gone by itself, there was no medical can stop the pain at that time when I got it.

My second time got it, it was really bad for me to had it the second time, as the porters were walking in front of me, he passed by the poison plants, the things he carry behind him was caught by the plants and it bonds back, as I was walking behind him, I was trying to block the plants from hitting direct on my face and I got stuck by the plants, the first time I got it a few on one of my hand but the second times was very bad, trying to block it, I had used the two hands to block it, poison cause the pain for many hours, the pain stop after few hours later, I thought that was over but it came back another hour later on and off for two days.

Of cause, the pain does not stop me further my journey, we carry on till the whole trekking ended and approaching to Chitwan National Park.

We had elephant ride at the national park and we saw rhinos and deer. In Chitwan we stay in a resort area, very comfortable. We end our trip at Chitwan and went back to Kathmandu.

When we were back to Kathmandu, we knew our trip was about ending, so we went to do our last minute shopping early the morning, we shop non-stop until the time we had to leave to go to airport, we went back to hotel and pack our bags, ready to check out, meeting our local guide waiting for them to drive us to airport.

At that time, the local guide was with the director of the company were there, the director approaching us and said; “Shopping not enough? If you wish, you can stay for another extra three days and we will paid for the hotel and meals.” We thought he was joking with us and we replied saying; we wish and we laugh… He replied; I'm serious, you can stay for another three days for free, we were shock for a moment of silent.

The director then said; you may bring your bags back to the room. When we finally knew it was real, we were very happy to bring back our bags to the room. The director then brought us to another place to have lunch, to see another side of the Mountain View. Unfortunately, it was not a clear sky, so we were unable to see the Mountain View but we had a wonderful lunch.

As we had another three days in Kathmandu, we visited the zoo and visit the porters family members, we had try some local food too. We had a great time together throughout the trip.

When I was back to home, my heart has stay on the memory of the trip in Nepal. I got hook on traveling and I've started to love travel.

Right now (year 2006), the name Nepal is very common, to a trekking lover, this place is their aim to go there to have a look. As the world higher mountain in the world "Himalayan" is in Nepal.

Nepal trip has lead me fall in love with mountains and trekking. May be to some of you have the same experience as me too.

Thanks for reading my memory.