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martensville messenger - AUGUST 11 , 2016 - Page 9
When people ask what my favourite country is I always have trouble narrowing it down to a single answer . There are my favourite places to relax , my favourite scenery , my favourite exotic cultures , my favourite cock-fighting crowds . So it all depends what you ’ re looking for . If pressed , however , I usually end up going with Nepal . You have to enjoy hiking , of course , but if you do , well , I can ’ t think of anywhere in the world with a better combination of spectacular scenery , fascinating culture , welcoming people and dirt-cheap travel . The seasons are short , the trails are difficult , and the accommodation is usually quite basic , yet every time I find myself sitting in Kathmandu ’ s Tribhuvan Airport waiting for my flight out of the country , all I can think of is when I ’ ll get a chance to come back .
Where in the World ? Trekking the Himalayas
Sherpas as adorable as the grouchy old man in Up . There are dozens of different trekking zones scattered among the breathtaking mountains , each offering a multitude of choices as far as length , difficulty and terrain . The two most popular treks are the Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp . Both draw plenty of traffic in the high trekking seasons of spring and fall , yet offer very different experiences . Annapurna is more varied , starting in semi-tropical temperatures and lush green rice paddies before winding its way up through riveting villages into the starkly beautiful Manang Valley . Everest , meanwhile , has less interesting villages but stunning mountain surroundings by the end of day one , and the views of
Everest and several other huge peaks from 5,600-metre Kala Patthar are among the greatest in the world . No place I ’ ve ever been provides as many consecutive days of unbelievable scenery as the Everest region , other than maybe Amsterdam ’ s Red Light District . Plus , these two are just the start , as many trekkers claim the Langtang , Manaslu and Mustang regions , just to name a few , are nearly as impressive .
Besides the unparallelled surroundings , there are a number of other great aspects to trekking in Nepal . Most treks are done from village to village , allowing you to secure food , water and a bed ( i . e . narrow plywood bench covered by a musty mat ) at every stop along the way . Prices are absurdly cheap
Submitted by Dean Johnston even though they do increase the farther you venture up into the mountains . Thousands of local Sherpas rely on the trekking industry to earn their living and these amiable guides and porters can be hired for as little as $ US15-25 per day .
Basically every visit to Nepal will include a stop in chaotic and grimy - yet compelling and vibrant - Kathmandu . Its old temples and archaic street life will easily hold your attention for a couple days . But Pokhara , Nepal ’ s second city , is the real gem . While is slightly less historic and overwhelming than Kathmandu , it is also cleaner , quieter and boasts a stunning location on the picturesque shores of Phewa Lake . In the end , you can ’ t go wrong whichever city you choose as your base , and whatever trek inspires you to undertake the long journey to Nepal . Once you add in the great food , friendly people and a captivating ancient culture , your biggest problem is going to be figuring out when you can make it back again . Well , that , and climbing a mountain .
Five Things
1 . Nepal is almost exactly on the other side of the earth from Martensville , a journey of over 11,000 kilometres . Warman , in comparison , is roughly 10 .
2 . The public cremations that take place on the river “ ghats ” in Pashupatinath make an unforgettable day trip from Kathmandu and are , judging by the locals , a great place for kids to swim .
3 . Both Kathmandu and Pokhara are havens for cheap knock-off trekking gear . It won ’ t last as long , but at least the brand names are spelled right most of the time .
4 . At 5,500 metres oxygen levels are down to just 50 %, which can cause problems for trekkers but is a far more interesting way to feel nauseous and light-headed than a plastic bag filled with WD-40 .
5 . Kathmandu is just the place if you are looking for a good alley in which to braise a chicken with a blowtorch .
Dean Johnston is the author of Random Acts of Travel : Featuring Trepidation , Hammocks and Spitting and Behind the Albergue Door : Inspiration Agony Adventure on the Camino de Santiago , and really doesn ’ t see the point of geese . Check out http :// routinelynomadic . com .
Nepal has a wide variety of outstanding attractions - from ancient temples to white-water rafting to bathing elephants in the jungle - but the true stars of the show are the mighty Himalayas . Boasting the highest peak in the world in Mount Everest , and no fewer than eight of the top ten , Nepal is the promised land for hikers , climbers , mountaineers , and anyone who finds stocky little
RIGHT : Annapurna .
ABOVE : Valley near Namche Bazaar .
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