Day 1 - Pokhara to Nayapul to Ulleri

Nepal Trekking Trip Journal - Nov 22nd ~ 30th, 2009 (8 days)

(Nayapul-Ulleri-Ghorepani-Poon Hill-Tadapani-Ghandruk-Chommrong-Landruk-Dhampus-Phedi) Total distance trekked approx. 160km

Members of this trip:

From Malaysia (in alphabetical order) - Ai Lan, Ms Hing, Hong Leng, Hooi Hong, Lee Chin, Meg, Pao Wen & YP.

Our Nepal support team – Nigma Jangbu Sherpa, our guide, Ang Gelu Sherpa, our assistant guide, and our porters: Da Finzu Sherpa, Temba Sherpa, Ang Furba Sherpa and Ang Pasang Sherpa.

Note: All the height could be approximates as I get varied figures.

Nov 22 Sun - Bus ride to Pokhara (900M) from Kathmandu (1337M) at 7.30am. Stopped for lunch at Highway Restaurant at Gunadi around 12pm and arrived Pokhara bus stop at 3pm. From there our porters also arrived about 15 mins later on the next bus and took all our bags to the Base Camp Resort. We followed our guide, Jangbu to the trekking permit office to apply for the ACAP permit and we got the permits on the spot. We then walked from there to our hotel. Last minute shopping for those to get ready for Day I trekking next morning.

Nov 23 Mon - Drive to Nayapul (1070M) for about 45 mins and start our trek to Ulleri (2010M). It’s an ascent of 940M on Day 1. No small feat. Stopped for our first Dal Bhat lunch at Hille, Mamata Guesthouse. In mid morning around 11am we stopped for our first glass of Hot Lemon Honey, at Sanam Teahouse at Sudame, this will soon become our routine energy drink. Our itinerary said 4 hours but we took 6 hours to reach Ulleri. The weather is quite pleasant at 23 degrees C, but as we were going uphill all the way up 3,700 steps from Tikhedunga (1500M) very soon we started to sweat. By the time we reached the hotel, Meera Guesthouse it was close to 6pm and there was no more hot water from the solar heated shower! By dinner time, it was very cold. We sat at the table near the door as it was the only table vacant. The door is constantly being opened and left a gap with cold wind gushing in as people come in and out. The heater or furnace is crowded with guests who were here earlier than us. After a fried rice dinner, Jangbu came to brief us about tomorrow’s itinerary. Jangbu also ordered us a mustang coffee, which tasted like black coffee with vodka. We went to bed after dinner in the cold cold room as all of us were bone weary from the day's uphill climb. The blankets smelled of everything and the room reeks of the day’s smell on the trail. First day of our trekking experience in Nepal. Felt miserable.

Next day... Ulleri to Ghorepani