ABC Journey_Part 3

Descending the mountains from ABC back to Kathmandu ... overnight at:

(a) Dovan ... that we saw the glow of Fishtail peak during sunset

(b) Jhinu Danda (after Chhomrong, we took another trek to return to trail head, different from Poon Hill trek)

(c) Pokhara ... token of appreciation to support crew; visit the Pokhara lake

(d) Art Hotel, Kathmandu; farewell dinner and receiving certificates of completing ABC.

This is the final album for the ABC trek.

Do CLICK HERE for photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.

 Descending the mountains from Annapurna Base Camp

As I understand from the mountain guide, there are three types of packages when trekking in Annapurna Base Camp trek:

(a) Bed only (breakfast, lunch and dinner are paid as one eats);

(b) Bed and breakfast (lunch and dinner are paid as one eats);

(c) Full board (includes all meals, hot water drink and bath). 

All the above packages include mountain guide and porters services. Choice (a) and (b) would be the cheapest in term of package fees, but one has to calculate and pay every time when ordering food and hot water drink, which is inconvenience especially at high altitude that may affect the mental activity and thinking.

 Glow of Fishtail peak during the sunset at Dovan

On behalf of the team members, I would like to thank the following persons for providing the excellent services:
(a) trekking agent, Mr Cheban Devkota of Manaslu Adventure Treks (Pvt.) Ltd; 
(b) mountain guide, Mr Ram; 
(c) assistant guide, Mr Sunil; and
(d) the team of strong and handsome porters.

To contact Mr Cheban, just Google the company name above.

 The lodge in Dovan is equipped with TV (that can received BBC broadcasting), electric heater, and a refrigerator (not in the photo); electricity is generated by a mini hydro-power turbines nearby

 The longest suspension bridge of ABC trek near to Jhinu Danda

 Yeah, this is where the trekking ends

 Farewell dinner and celebration 

Presenting certificate of completing ABC by Mr Cheban

Do CLICK HERE for Part 2.

Do CLICK HERE for the highlights or summary of ABC journey.

Posted by KC Leong.

Annapurna Base Camp Journey_Part 2

The journey continued from Poon Hill to Annapurna Base Camp ... overnight at:

(a) Chhomrong

(b) Bamboo

(c) Deurali (that we experienced rain and hail bounced on the zinc roof)

(d) Annapurna Base Camp (having lunch in a lodge at Machhapuchhre Base Camp) 

Do CLICK HERE to view photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.

Shopping along the trek

Having fun with the special swing in front of a primary school  

 Rain and hail at Deurali 

 Arriving at ABC 

 Group photo at ABC by mountain guide, Mr Ram

Enjoying the scenic landscape

Descending ABC

Do CLICK HERE for Part 1.

Do CLICK HERE for Part 3.

Posted by KC Leong

Annapurna Base Camp Journey_Part 1

This album contains photos from Kathmandu to Poon Hill: 

(a) arrive in Kathmandu, shopping and welcoming dinner; 

(b) fly to Pokhara; 

(c) bus transfer to Nayapul, trek to Tikhedhunga; 

(d) trek to Ghorepani, and hike to Poon Hill.

Do CLICK HERE to view photos courtesy of yours truly KC Leong.

Ten days of trekking at Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) from 14 to 26 October 2018 with trekking service provided by trekking agent, Mr Cheban Devkota of Manaslu Adventure Treks (Pvt.) Ltd.

 Shopping at Thamel, Kathmandu

Lodges and Facilities – Most of the lodges are either new or renovated. In accordance with the changing time, most of the lodges provide service to charge handphones at a nominal fee of about 200 Nepalese Rupee (about RM 7). As to the WIFI service, the data line-speed at many of the lodges was slow. The toilet walls are plastered with tiles that give a pleasant looking; they do have the squatting and sitting type.

 Welcoming dinner by trekking agent, Mr Cheban (far right)

Hot-water Bath – Most of the lodges use solar-powered heating elements to heat up the tank of water, and charged 200 Nepalese Rupee per hot-water bath. A few of the team members complained that the water was not hot at all for a comfortable bath at the end of a trekking day.

 Boarding the plane to Pokhara

Meals – There is a good system of standardizing the menu, consistently applicable to almost all the lodges. That would make ordering easier. Since we were not eating meat when trekking, ordering of food was mostly confined to noodle, rice, fried-rice, momo, vegetable, potato, pizza, vegetable curry or soup. The Korean instant noodle, which was very popular among the lodges, was really hot and spicy.

 ABC trek check-point at Nayapul, the starting point of ABC trekking

Lighting – all lodges use energy-saving light bulbs that lighted up the entire lodge and rooms. A few of the team members were puzzled asking me why there was headlamp in my checklist. Ten years ago when I went trekking in Nepal, we need headlamps to move around at night.

 First overnight in lodge at Tikhedhunga

Overnight at Ghorepani and hike to Poon Hill at 5:00 a.m. the following morning

 At Poon Hill

Sunrise at Poon Hill at 6:10 a.m.

Do CLICK HERE to view the highlights of ABC.

Do CLICK HERE for Part 2 of the journey.

Posted by KC Leong

Annapurna Base Camp Highlights

Ten days of trekking at Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) from 14 to 26 October 2018 with trekking service provided by trekking agent, Mr Cheban Devkota of Manaslu Adventure Treks (Pvt.) Ltd. While two ladies were wary of the mountain sickness, eventually, they made it to ABC safely and back – so are the entire team. 

Do CLICK HERE to view photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.

 Arrived in Kathmandu with a warm welcome from trekking agent, Mr Cheban (3rd from right), and mountain guide, Mr Ram (far right). 

 Flying off to Pokhara

 Sunrise at Poon Hill

(left, back) George Siew, Lim Hoe Yin, Jeffrey Low, Lim Teck Him, Lee Wai Yin, Lim Soek Yan, Ivy Wong, Ann Chua, Ram (mountain guide); (front) KC Leong, Karen Yeoh, Elsie Liew, Lana, Jayden Low, Moon, Mae Chan.

Sunrise at Poon Hill

 Passing by Machhapuchhre Base Camp en route to Annapurna Base Camp 

 Arriving at Annapurna Base Camp

 The lodge at the base camp is surrounded by snow/ice. Temperature reading at 7:30 a.m. the following morning while the sun is shinning is minus 3.3°C; in the wee hours, that could be much colder.

 Good weather the following morning at Annapurna Base Camp

Descending ABC

 Presenting token of appreciation by KC Leong, Team Leader, to support crew (main guide, assistant guide, porters) ... assisted by LimTH and Elsie Liew

 With the themed T-shirt from trekking agent 

 Farewell dinner hosted by Mr Cheban 

Presenting certificate of achievement by trekking agent, Mr Cheban

Do CLICK HERE for Part 1 of the ABC journey; 

CLICK HERE for Part 2; 

CLICK HERE for Part 3.

Posted by KC Leong

Apek Hill Hiking

Hiking at Apek Hill on Saturday, 6 Oct 2018 ... Other than meeting at Saga hilltop station for tea, the other purpose is to have a briefing on the coming Annapurna Base Camp trekking trip from 14 Oct 2018. 

Do CLICK HERE to view photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.

 At the start of the hiking 

 Annapurna Base Camp briefing in progress at Saga hilltop station

Another group photo before we leave Saga hilltop station

Posted by KC Leong