Annapurna trekking
From Ghandruk to Pokhara — Gravity, Monks & the Illusion of Choice
The day began, as all spiritually overcompensating travel days should, at an hour usually reserved for insomnia or existential dread: 5:30 AM. But instead of regret, we were met by the Himalayan gods themselves, casually unveiling the Annapurna South and the iconic Fish Tail like a magician’s final trick. For a moment, all was right with [...]
Ghorepani to Ghandruk – A Dance with Gravity
Sometimes, skipping an early-morning hike is not a failure of spirit but a victory of foresight. I had already greeted the Himalayan pantheon from Poon Hill the evening before—alongside my ever-faithful roommate and the indomitable Silvia—so I let the others climb at 4:30 AM with their headlamps flickering like fireflies chasing [...]
Into the Mist: Ghorepani Blues and the Great Poon Hill Tease
It begins, as these days tend to, with the slow violence of an early alarm — 5:30 a.m. A time that belongs to monks, insomniacs, and the tragically ambitious. I am none of the above, and this morning, I politely refuse the call to greatness. Let others chase the sunrise. I’ve already seen the sunset — and it was glorious. The day before, [...]
Rhododendrons, Sweat & 3,200 Steps
Day 5 marked the beginning of our much-anticipated trekking adventure — not the Everest-y, oxygen-deprived kind, but where you still feel your thighs burning and your soul glowing. We left Pokhara with lighter packs and heavier anticipation. Our larger bags were handed off to the porters — superhumans in flip-flops who carry 40 kilos as [...]