Monday, April 5, 2010

Trek Day 1 – Bhulbule to Syange (480 m ascent)

 

After last night’s rain, we woke up to crystal clear skies and set off early for Syange.  Immediately apparent was the friendly nature of the rural Nepalese (not that people were unfriendly in Kathmandu…).  As we passed farmers and other locals, we were greeted with an emphatic “Namaste!” (pronounced nah-mah-STAY).  We later learned that this common greeting, directly translated, means “I salute the God within you”.

The entire day, we saw just one other trekker… Yana, from Germany.

 

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Mule caravan carrying supplies up the mountain

 

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Our first look at the Annapurna range that we would be circumnavigating over the next 20 or so days (Manaslu and Ngadi Chuli peaks in background).

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Hiking through rice terraces

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One of  many stream/ river crossings

 

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The village of Syange

 

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It took 6 people to get this stubborn bull across the suspension bridge. 

 

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In the dining room at our lodge, a baby with a cell phone…?

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We were the only people staying at our lodge… we asked the owners if they would pose for a picture.  The little boy must have been taught to pose while clasping his hands and saying, “Namaste”.

1 comment:

  1. Namaste is also what they say at the end of most yoga classes. =)

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