Annapurna, There and Back Again - A Tale of 2 Irish Hobbits in Nepal
8th to 18th October 2016
We made it! Nick and I, mere babies by trekking standards, made it around a 10-day trek to Annapurna Base Camp.
For the first 7 days, I was walking around the Annapurna Sanctuary, wondering how I would put this experience into a post. I could say it's amazing, that the landscape was spectacular, that is was an epic journey etc. However, I think Nick's pictures will say all of this in a much better way than words could.
Somewhere around Day 8, I got the idea of "Annapurna Is...", a post which describes what Annapurna felt like for us. So here it is...
Annapurna Is...
Having to shake yourself a bit, or do a double blink because when you look up, the Himalayas are looking down at you.
Thinking there's no way you could climb even 1 one more step... and then realising that yes, you can in fact manage about 600 more before you stop for the night.
More dahl baht than you can shake a stick at.
Feeling massive joy when you reach a downhill part.
Shorts and a t-shirt one day, thermals the next.
Whitney Houston's "Step By Step" running through my head as I dragged myself up more and more steps (don't judge me - she powered me through it!).
Saying "namaste" up to 100 times a day (and smiling every time you do).
Panic when your knee gives in on Day 3... and then faith in humanity completely validated when trekkers staying at your lodge give you exactly the right painkillers to make it through to Day 10, and your awesome guide makes you bamboo walking sticks.
Feeling pretty pleased with yourself that you have ninja-looking bamboo walking sticks instead of puny little metal sticks like other trekkers.
Trekkers cheering each other on - I swear, it really makes you bounce up a few more steps each time someone gives you a boost, or tells you the view at the top is amazing.
Cosy tea houses where there are chats with other trekkers, guides, and porters in the evening.
Masala tea - sweet, spiced, milky tea that just warms you to your core.
Knowing what it's like to be in a cloud when you're sitting outside your tea house sunning yourself one minute, and next the clouds swoosh right on through, surrounding you.
Feeling like you're wading through water during that last, dizzy uphill to Annapurna Base Camp at 4,100 metres.
Standing on top of the world (or what feels like it) at Annapurna Base Camp.
Being immensely thankful for a sleeping bag and extra socks at high altitude.
Not minding a 5.30am start, because it means you get to see the sun coming up over Annapurna.
Learning Nepalese from Tek and Siem (our brilliant guide and porter). We're not fluent, but can ask for all the teas and say "hell yes!" In Nepalese.
Dreaming about a Snickers. I have always liked Snickers, but never actually craved one. I could barely get it out of my head until I had one on Day 9. It was pretty spectacular.
Making a tiny new friend in the shape of Eruun, a little Nepalese girl of about 3. She lived in one of the tea houses we stayed at and decided to snuggle up beside us and play games with a bottle cap while we had our dinner. She was the boss of that house and completely hilarious!
Getting swept into traditional Nepalese dancing (Nick was a natural, of course) when a little community beside one of our stops held a small concert one night.
Animals wandering casually around everywhere. Donkeys, cows, chickens, goats, monkeys, dogs... all roaming freely about and criss-crossing your path at various intervals.
Gurung bread with a fried egg on top... I am so sorry we never took a picture, because this is hands down our favourite meal in Nepal. Once we discovered it, we had as many as we could get our greedy little paws on.
Laughter and chatter at 6.00am on Poon Hill, which was packed with trekkers, guides and porters who got up in the middle of the night to climb uphill and experience one of the best sunrises in the world.
One helluva fist bump moment when we finished!
Above all, Annapurna is about the sheer, jaw-dropping beauty of the sanctuary, and the people. The people who live and work in Annapurna Sanctuary are so full of welcome, kindness and fun. They want you to experience it completely, and to share their culture with you.
So there you have it - that's how it felt for us. I'm sure it's different for everyone who treks in the Himalayas, but they probably all crave sugar and need extra thermal socks at high altitude. People are people after all :)