Nepal 2001
The terrorist attacks on the US in early September and Maoist rebel activity in Nepal set a tone of uncertainty in the month leading up to our trip. We made some last minute changes to the itinerary to avoid Maoist hotspots, and left the US on 15 Oct 2001. While there we saw no suspicious or dangerous activity, and our first overseas trip was a great success!
The flight to Kathmandu was long, but an overnight stay in Bangkok made for a nice rest. The first phase of our trip was a ten days trek through the Langtang National Park from Dhunche to Gosainkund to Sundarijal. It was a fantastic voyage, with incredible views of the Himalayas for at least four days of the trek. We stayed two days at Gosainkund Lake, and made an attempt on Surya Peak on the second day. Although we had to turn back from just below
the summit due to the technical grade of the rock, we did make it to above 5,000 meters (16,400ft), which was a new high point for every member of the group. The trek continued down into the Helambu region, where we encountered several villages of very friendly people. A ritual sacrifice of a goat in the village of Khutumsang for the Dusain festival was a major highlight. Every bit of the goat was used for food for both the clients and the porters. It was delicious!
After the trek it was back to Kathmandu. We had one afternoon and evening to change clothes and get ready for our raft trip. The next morning we were up early and off on the bus by eight o'clock. The Sun Kosi turned out to be a relatively tame river at the lower water levels of early November, but it was still an interesting and educational journey as we stopped at villages along the way. The highlights of the rafting phase were the children and the jungle foliage.
After 23 days of constant physical activity in Nepal, we were all ready for some time to just relax. We had two free days in Kathmandu to shop, eat, sightsee, relax, etc. before heading to Bangkok. Some clients bought so many souvenirs they had to buy another bag in order to get them back to the US! We had decided to spend two days in Bangkok in order to take in some of that city's cultural sites as well. What a great idea: Bangkok was fantastic! We toured the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Golden Buddha, and spent several more hours shopping. Almost everyone took advantage of the opportunity to experience a Thai massage: what a treat! Dinners were amazing, and the Thai people were very kind and gracious. Bangkok will be a definite stop for us again.
The terrorist attacks on the US in early September and Maoist rebel activity in Nepal set a tone of uncertainty in the month leading up to our trip. We made some last minute changes to the itinerary to avoid Maoist hotspots, and left the US on 15 Oct 2001. While there we saw no suspicious or dangerous activity, and our first overseas trip was a great success!
The flight to Kathmandu was long, but an overnight stay in Bangkok made for a nice rest. The first phase of our trip was a ten days trek through the Langtang National Park from Dhunche to Gosainkund to Sundarijal. It was a fantastic voyage, with incredible views of the Himalayas for at least four days of the trek. We stayed two days at Gosainkund Lake, and made an attempt on Surya Peak on the second day. Although we had to turn back from just below
the summit due to the technical grade of the rock, we did make it to above 5,000 meters (16,400ft), which was a new high point for every member of the group. The trek continued down into the Helambu region, where we encountered several villages of very friendly people. A ritual sacrifice of a goat in the village of Khutumsang for the Dusain festival was a major highlight. Every bit of the goat was used for food for both the clients and the porters. It was delicious!
After the trek it was back to Kathmandu. We had one afternoon and evening to change clothes and get ready for our raft trip. The next morning we were up early and off on the bus by eight o'clock. The Sun Kosi turned out to be a relatively tame river at the lower water levels of early November, but it was still an interesting and educational journey as we stopped at villages along the way. The highlights of the rafting phase were the children and the jungle foliage.After 23 days of constant physical activity in Nepal, we were all ready for some time to just relax. We had two free days in Kathmandu to shop, eat, sightsee, relax, etc. before heading to Bangkok. Some clients bought so many souvenirs they had to buy another bag in order to get them back to the US! We had decided to spend two days in Bangkok in order to take in some of that city's cultural sites as well. What a great idea: Bangkok was fantastic! We toured the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Golden Buddha, and spent several more hours shopping. Almost everyone took advantage of the opportunity to experience a Thai massage: what a treat! Dinners were amazing, and the Thai people were very kind and gracious. Bangkok will be a definite stop for us again.
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