Himalayas… A Wandering Mind (The Path to ABC)

A chronicle of a two-week adventure, where a group of four men and two women embarked on a challenging trek to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), situated at an altitude of 4,130 meters above sea level. Their journey involved navigating arduous steps, traversing the sacred Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail) village, and reaching Poon Hill, a renowned sunrise viewpoint. The expedition tested their resilience against harsh weather conditions and the physical demands of high-altitude trekking.

Nepal: A Land Touched by Heaven

Nestled amidst the majestic Himalayas, Nepal is often described as a land closest to heaven. The Himalayas, a towering mountain range spanning five countries, serves as a bridge between the celestial realm and the earthly plane. Within its boundaries, Nepal boasts nine of the world's ten highest peaks, including the legendary Mount Everest.

Our journey spanned a significant period, commencing on November 26, 2016, and concluding on December 8, 2016.

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is a country with a strong religious faith and beliefs. Many of the city's architectural structures have been designated as World Heritage Sites.

This area is densely populated, and the traffic is heavy. When walking around to shop, extra caution is required. There is also a considerable amount of dust on the roads, so it is advisable to bring a face mask.

The Boudhanath Stupa, also known as the Boudhanath Stupa, is a large stupa with eyes of wisdom on all four sides.

We spent one night in Kathmandu to buy some supplies for the rest of our journey in the Thamel district. This morning, we had to travel to Pokhara by bus, which took about seven hours. The road to Pokhara was quite thrilling, as it was a mountain road and the bus driver was driving quite fast. There were also many curves (I must admit, I felt a bit nauseous).

Rest stops are available along the route, allowing you to use the restroom and purchase snacks or food to satisfy your hunger.

Upon arriving in Pokhara in the evening, we found it to be a more pleasant city than Kathmandu. It was quieter, cleaner, less crowded, and less chaotic. The people here enjoy a daily view like this.

Residents here enjoy daily life with this kind of view.

From Pokhara, we took a van for two hours to Nayapul to start our trek. Our goal for the day was Ulleri. The first day of the trek was intense, with endless stairs. You have to try it to believe it! It was truly challenging.

On the second day of the trek, the destination was Ghorepani. Since the first day of the trek, the fog was very thick, and no mountain peaks were visible.

As if the Himalayas were listening to our conversation, she gently revealed herself to us, offering encouragement before we embarked on our journey.

Hiking here is hot when walking, but cold when resting, and there is fog. Staying warm is important. Drink plenty of water.

The trail to Ghorepani traverses a high-humidity forest, likely due to the nearby waterfall.

We arrived in Ghorepani in the evening, and it was a very cold night. I remember that when I took a shower, the water heated by gas turned into steam before it even hit the ground. We had to go to bed early so that we could wake up early in the morning and walk to Poonhill.

In the early hours of the morning, as we ascended Poonhill, we found ourselves moving at a brisk pace. The exertion quickly took its toll, leaving us feeling fatigued. The biting cold intensified with each pause we took. Several members of our group experienced mild symptoms of altitude sickness. Despite the intermittent breaks, we were fortunate to reach our destination in time to witness the breathtaking sunrise.

This is arguably the most romantic photograph ever captured.

Despite the constant fog throughout the journey, there was a lingering fear that the sky would remain overcast.

This could be Annapurna South that we saw at Ulleri.

We cannot stay here for long as it will eat into our travel time for the day to reach Tadapani as per the trekking plan.

I am grateful to myself for getting here. It's truly worth it.

The view from the hotel's balcony is breathtaking. The red roof stands out against the blue sky, creating a striking contrast.

Our impression of Poonhill had barely faded when we had to depart.

Today's walk was easy and comfortable, passing through a different type of forest than we've encountered before. It was a pine forest, which made us excited with every step we took.

This photo captures the morning view from the dining room at the Himalayas.

The arduous journey begins at Tadapani.

The room is a small 3x3 meter space with no electrical outlets. If you need to use an outlet, you will have to pay extra. The walls are thin, so you can easily hear conversations from the next room. The bathroom is shared by both men and women. Hot water is available for a fee, but it is recommended to shower in the evening. If you shower after dark, be warned that the water pressure is weak. The Wi-Fi (also paid) is intermittent. The weather is harsh, and my legs are starting to ache. I just want to go home.

The sharp peak of Fish Tail (Mัจฉาปูชเร) is clearly visible, indicating that we are getting closer to the truth.

Sinuwa, the village where we will stay tonight, was a challenging trek today. It was an epic climb down and then back up, and in the late afternoon, we even encountered some drizzle.

From Sinuwa onwards, it is a sacred area where large meat is prohibited. All food above this point is vegetarian.

Deurali sleeps under a blanket of mist.

The harsh cold intensifies with altitude, and this place is no exception. The waterfall below adds to the suffering. When sleeping, one must wear the most layers possible, including a sleeping bag, yak wool gloves and socks, and then cover oneself with a blanket. Otherwise, it is impossible to stay warm. The distant blue dots are our accommodation.

The morning in Deurali is one I will never forget. My Canon 7D camera couldn't handle the cold and stopped working, resulting in dark images like these. This directly impacted my mental state, and to make matters worse, it was the day we were supposed to climb to ABC.

I tried to capture it again, but the resulting image was the same as before. I can hardly accept this, as I placed a great deal of emphasis on it. It is a disappointment that I never wanted to experience.

As I walked, I pondered, realizing that dwelling on disappointment would only prevent me from appreciating the beauty along the path ahead. So, I decided to put away my camera and pick up my iPhone to capture the moment.

We arrived at MBC, the base camp of the Macchapuchare trek at an altitude of 3,700 meters, for a lunch break before ascending to ABC in the afternoon. We then descended back to MBC for the night due to its warmer climate.

I'm not really comfortable taking photos with my phone. It doesn't feel like me.

We arrived at ABC around 3:00 PM local time.

The human heart, despite its small size and weight of only 300 grams, plays a crucial role in our physical and emotional well-being. Beyond its essential function of pumping blood, the heart also exerts a powerful influence on our emotions and actions. It can command us to feel sorrow and cry for days, or to experience joy and happiness. It can inspire love, hatred, and actions that surpass our perceived limits. While the heart's physical size is indeed small, its metaphorical size can be vast, as reflected in the saying, "What a person can achieve depends on the size of their heart." This raises the question: how large is the heart of someone who conquers Mount Everest? Their heart must be immense, capable of propelling their body, overcoming mental barriers, and pushing them to the summit, a height comparable to that of airplanes. Ultimately, it is through the power of the heart, a small organ that fits in the palm of our hand, that we can overcome our limitations and conquer our thoughts.

Good luck to those who will be attending ABC. You can do it!

Thank you very much for reading.

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