WELCOME TO…?

After about 24 hours in transit, we have finally arrived safely in… Kathmandu, Nepal!

Visa on arrival: check. Mandatory selfie by the “Welcome to Nepal” sign: check. Collect baggage from the carousel: check. Locate the driver to transfer us from airport to hotel: check. Receive a special, warm welcome from the guide: check. Get local SIM card for easy communication and recharge with data: check and check. And off we go…

Okay, so, we know I’m in Kathmandu – now for the why? But first, for everyone’s benefit, and so we’re all on the same page, let’s just explain where in the world Nepal actually is, and what are the main reasons people come here for.

Nepal is a relatively small, land-locked country that boarders Tibet (China) on the North and India on the South and West. People from all around the world come to Nepal for numerous reasons, but the rich cultural experience is a huge one, and, of course, Nepal is home to one of the most (if not the most) magnificent mountain ranges on the planet, the mighty Himalayas. There are countless trekking routes available and waiting to be explored and possibly even discovered and traversed for the first time, and that unmatched adventure and natural beauty leaves any hiker, mountaineer or thrill seeker coming back again for more. I know this first hand because I was here just over a year ago when I went on another mission to the abode of Lord Shiva, Mount Kailash, but that is another story for another day. The point is that I’m back again, and more excited than ever, to embark on my next adventure.

So, why am here? Some of you may already know this, but the reason I have traveled to the land of the Himalayas is to undertake a journey to Mount Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar. In a nutshell, the trek is 12 days long, which includes travelling from Kathmandu to Lukla (charter flight), the up trek (and acclimatisation days), the down trek, and the flight back from Lukla to Kathmandu. The posts following on from this one will get into the details of each day as it happens, I’ll let you know how long each day is, what distance we’ll be covering, what altitude we are gaining, how easy (or more likely, how difficult) each day is and what we’ll see on the way.

I’m going to try and update everyone with pictures and posts every 2nd or 3rd day (Wi-Fi willing) so that you really feel like you are part of the journey and are able to share the amazing experiences with me. Please feel free to leave a comment or suggestion, or ask me any questions about the trek (you can use any platform that is most convenient and accessible for you), and I will respond to them as and when I get the chance.

P.S. Please don’t judge if (when) you see me wearing the same set of clothes for 2 or 3 days…  #mountainlife

P.P.S That’s my dad in the picture with me. Did someone say daddy-daughter goals? 

#daddydaughtergoals

Wish us luck, everyone!

Bye for now…