Tibet Adventure

Horsemen around Lake Namtso

Chih Lin, Siang Yu, Ethan and Leonard embarked on their graduation trip to Nepal and Tibet in May this year. They had intended to do a long trip to Tibet until they saw what we have on trekking in Nepal.

Deepak put together a 19-day Ghorepani Trek and Central Tibet Tour for the bubbly group. For their Central Tibet Tour, the excitement includes crossing Nyalamu pass (3800m) and Lalung La pass (5082m), Tashilunpo Monastery, Lake Namtso Drepung, Sera Monastery, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Bazaar, crossing the Karo La (5010m) and Kamba La (4794m) Pass, Lake Yamdrok Tso (Turquoise Lake), Khumbum Stupa and Phalkot Monastery.

Over a KFC dinner last week, we were happy to learn that they are out in the working world now and reminiscing the trip has brought back wonderful memories and lots of laughter!

Looking through their trip photos, we could literally felt their excitement along the trip. I was most impressed by the shots taken at Lake Namtso and the sun tanning yaks along the beautiful shores against the backdrop of snow peaks.

Their customized itinerary is as follow while all photos featured are copyrighted with compliments from the group.


Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu
Day 2: Kathmandu – Pokhara - Birethanti
Day 3: Birethanti- Ulleri
Day 4: Ulleri - Ghorepani
Day 5: Ghorepani – Poonhill - Tikhedhungga
Day 6: Tikhedhungga – Birethanti - Pokhara
Day 7: Pokhara - Kathmandu
Day 8: Kathmandu - Zhangmu
Day 9: Zhangmu - Nayalam
Day 10: Nayalam - Tingri - Latze
Day 11: Latze - Shigatse
Day 12: Shigaste - Gyantse (3950m)
Day 13: Gyantse - Lhasa (3650m)
Day 14: Lhasa - sightseeing
Day 15: Lhasa - sightseeing
Day 16: Lhasa-Lake Nam Tso-Lhasa
Day 17: Lhasa – full day free and easy
Day 18: Lhasa – Kathmandu - Nagarkot
Day 19: Nagarkot- Kathmandu- Singapore

Click here to view photos their Tibet journey.

Click here to view other info on Tibet

Trekking Jomsom (Noreen & Aden)

Trekking the classic Jomsom route

Noreen and Aden approached us earlier this year for their trek to Jomsom, Nepal. At their request, Deepak put together a 19-day program covering the classic Jomsom route, whitewater rafting in the famous Kali Gandaki River and Chitwan National Park for a safari experience.

The Kali Gandaki River is one of the major rivers of Nepal and a left bank tributary of the Ganges in India. The headwaters of the river are formed at an altitude of 3,900 m in the Mustang region of Nepal, which borders Tibet. The river is notable for the deep gorge through which it flows and for a large hydroelectric facility in Nepal.

Deepak happened to be in Nepal while they were there so they met up for meals. It was unfortunate that the rafting at Kali Gandaki (Grade 4-5) did not happen due to transport strike. However, we managed to turn the situation around and arranged for rafting at Trishuli River (Grade 2) – well, not a total loss after all.

Rinji was their chief guide for this trek and apparently a joy to have around. Though a senior guide, Rinji still comes across as rather shy and can be quite stiff around strangers. That said, he is one real popular guy among our trekking groups!

Their customized itinerary is as follow while all photos featured are with compliments from Noreen and Aiden.

Day 1: Arrive - Kathmandu
Day 2: Kathmandu – Pokhara - Birethanti
Day 3: Birethanti - Ulleri
Day 4: Ulleri - Ghorepani
Day 5: Ghorepani – Poonhill - Tatopani
Day 6: Tadapani - Ghasa
Day 7: Ghasa - Tukche
Day 8: Tukche - Marpha-Jomsom-Kagbeni
Day 9: Kagbeni - Muktinath
Day 10: Muktinath - Jomsom
Day 11: Jomsom - Pokhara
Day 12: Pokhara - Kali Gandaki Rafting
Day 13: Kali Gandaki Rafting
Day 14: Kali Gandaki Rafting - Pokhara
Day 15: Pokhara - Chitwan National Park
Day 16: Chitwan National Park
Day 17: Chitwan National Park - Kathmandu
Day 18: Kathmandu
Day 19: Kathmandu - Departure

Click here to view their trek photos.
Click here to view other Jomsom or lower Mustang itineraries.

Post Everest Catch Up

Front Row (L-R)
Priscilla, Yuki, Cherry, Kim Boon, Wenting, Xin Fang,

Back Row (L-R)
Mui King, Yvonne, Mrs Ang, Yihui, Peh Gee, Jane, Esther, Lihui, Alice, Joanne

Last Saturday (4 Jul), I had the pleasure to be invited to the "Post Everest Gathering" with the SWET and the Christ Church Sec Team at Mui Kiang's house. It was informal yet nice as we are able to catch up with one another more intimately on one of their most adventurous gig in Nepal.

The ladies of SWET looked good after weeks since their return and the Christ Church girls seemed to have recovered from their withdrawal syndrome (Well, I suffered that for a month when I returned from my first Nepal trip).

As much as I have read about climbing Everest, I could not resist chatting with Jane and Lihui about the reality of overcoming the Hillary Step. What was it really like trying to cross the final hurdle to reach the Summit? Were their oxygen tanks at the Balcony when they descend?

Hearing from the horse's mouth, it was indeed a challenge at the Hillary Step, mainly you need to use all your might to pull yourself up the rocks and the slipperyness did not help. By the time you were done, you would have been extremely exhausted. And thank God, the replacement oxygen tanks WERE at the Balcony waiting for them. We had all read horror stories about the tanks being stolen upon descend. If so, one can hardly last till Camp 4 from Summit.

*Shudder*

I finally got to chat with the CCSS girls on their sentiments of the journey to EBC. Though 2 of them did not make it there, I sensed they understood a lot more about their own fitness, teamwork, overcoming difficult times and what really matter in their own journey.

And of course, everyone was asking for their handsome Uncle Deepak who was still in Nepal. Well, it will not be the last time we are all going to see one another - for our friendship will still go a long way.