Crossroads

We came back Kathmandu for the last night. Said our goodbyes to Dharma and family, the beautiful Nepal mountains and colourful Kathmandu city. The Nepal skyline, lined by the jagged mountain ranges were eventually replaced by the geometrical skyline of the metropolitan Singapore.

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29/03/06 2220hrs
Mt Annapurna Guest House:
Dinner at Dharma's, how to say no to more rice? We stuffed ourselves with so much rice, beans and rice and starch and carbs....
Dharma's sister-in-law is very cute.
Dharma mom's had corns on her hands, which would take a bottle of corn remover that costs SGD5 and 2 weeks of self treatment to heal completely. But instead in Kathmandu due to the lack of public information or education, she needs 5000 rupees for seeing doctor and had been plague with the corn for half a year.

30/03/06 1752hrs
Mt Annapurna Guest House:
Nicholas fell sick, due to overeating of dal bhaat & beer.

Been thinking, should we, in consideration of others' feelings, make decisions that make ourselves unhappy?

No. Just look at Royce; so honest & direct, yet lovable. But it also helps to be nice. So we should always be brutally honest to ourselves and politely honest to the ones we care about.

I've understood what I desire in this world... Freedom.
I'm a selfish person, yet, I have one deep love to give. I won't be giving it so readily again. It was hard for me to give it the first time, will be much harder.

Till then, its all about me. The dreams I pursue in life used to be finding my boundaries; mental & physical. Its evolved to obtaining freedom, physical freedom, intellectual freedom, freedom to break limits. Freedom to achieve whatever I want in life.

In a sense it hasn't changed. Boundaries defines me. I've found, or at least glimpsed, at my limits during the last 26 years of my life. They are puny & breakable. Hence, freedom, is just a step further; breaking these boundaries.

Will conquer Everest & the deepest ocean one day... I've stared at my mental limits right in the face during the SOF selection & came out the stronger of the two. The amazing thing is my mental limit got harder to break as I conquered it. It is waiting for me in the future, & we'll meet again I'm sure. At least for now, I've achieved mental freedom; the mental state of knowing I have the determination component of achieving whatever I want in life. Next in line, my intellectual limits.

30/03/06 2343hrs
Tribhuvan International Airport:
On Royal Nepal Airlines plane now, waiting to takeoff. I don't miss Kathmandu, but the mountains will always have a special place in my heart.
Nicholas still very sick, did his shopping for him.
I also ate too much dal bhat.
Stepped on cow dung, had to clean it off with my hands.
Dharma, super naggy as usual... Will miss him. He married a smart wife.
I like my beads, supposedly worn by Shardu.
Numerous security checks, shows lack of confidence in their system?
Many Nepali men seeking their future in Malaysia & Singapore; something I'll be doing in Argentina in 4 months time... How would we fare?
Got bumped up into business class due to computer error. Yay!

4 hours to Singapore... What's next? Work? Savings? Dance? Spanish? Continue to improve my physical prowess in relation to dancing & start preparing for pursuit of intellectual freedom.

Body check, forgot that women suppose to check women; lined up in the women line.

Biggest take away, the grit of the mountain nepali youth & the freedom to build our own future our society has given us relative to Nepal... DO NOT WASTE IT!!!

31/03/06 0726hrs
KL International Airport:
Waiting for transit. Don't feel too well.
Bumped back to economy class... Good times don't last haha!! But it was as good as it got.
Singapore baby! Here I come!!

We took a one day break in Kathmandu and then, when hearing the news that the fighting between the government and the maoist had momentarily came to a truce, we took the next day's bus to the beautiful Pokhara.

*Once again, pictures courteousy of the excellent Nick.
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26/03/06 1940hrs
Mt Annapurna Guest House:
Finished a lousy massage that costed about $30 for 40 mins of work... hag kept offering hand job... Felt slightly cheated.
Dharma slightly naggy over money, but he truly helped us save a lot.
I've overspent my budget... Shit, need to survive 10 days in debt... Damn... Why does it have to come to this everytime?

26/03/06 2307hrs
Mt Annapurna Guest House:
Finished watching Man Utd match, 3-0 vs Birmingham. Saw prostitutes & drug peddlers along the streets late at night... Every city has her destitutes.

27/03/06 0921hrs
Small coffee house en route to Pokara (Baikunthapuri):
Started journey at 0700hrs sharp. Outstanding bus ride in a tourist bus compared to yesterday. But miss the local flavor.
Outside Kathmandu, one can see the maoist signature & rule clearly; art, slogan, vehicles etc... very strong communistic China, the art emphasizing on the power of the workers, community etc..

28/03/06 0822hrs
Fishtail Villa, Pokara:
Super nice 3 star chalet type hotel.
Chatted up one cute north indian looking store lady last night; could have picked her up.
Went for a run this morning.
Tourist area in Pokara very developed, ala Phuket. Not messy like Thamel; even Pokara feels more properly planned than Kathmandu. Definitely more idyllic. Superb lake & mountain view.

28/03/06 1145hrs
Fishtail Villa, Pokara:
Just finished visiting Tibetan refugee camp, cave & Devi's waterfalls..
It felt slightly like a little homecoming for Nick, with his baldhead and very tan skin. The fellow monks were staring at him, probably thinking if he was a runaway rogue monk.
What's the real history between China & Tibet? Must investigate.
Slightly disappointed with these boring places.
Got some gifts for mom and sis. Maybe scammed by old nanny who was selling the pendant. She said she needed a good Singapore pen for her son. I pitied her & didn't really haggle with her for the price.
Going cycling in the afternoon. Feel tired.

28/03/06 2004hrs
Fishtail Villa:
Nice view around authentic Pokara by cycling.
Bicycle broke down, met a nice lady who helped me with bike; Invited me in for a drink.
Lost our way a bit. Generally locals quite helpful.
Didn't join in for boat ride. Did exercise in room instead.
Nepalese are animated gamblers. Hotel owner very animated too, like Jimbal.
They say I look jap/ korean; Nick look nepalese/ Tibetan.
One Jap guy got lucky & picked up a single jap gal.
General decline of tourism.

29/03/06 0706hrs
Pokara Tourist Bus Park:
Missed Eve suddenly last night. I think she might be the a very good girlfriend. An amazing lady who grew up in the jungles of Indonesia and travelled far and wide. Will ask her out...
Waiting for the bus to go back to Kathmandu. Will definitely be back again.

From the third day 3 onwards we took a climb up the mountains. It would be a week later till we see Kathmandu again.

*Pictures courteousy of the brilliant Nick
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19/03/06 1057hrs
Kathmandu View Restaurant:
Poka didn't happen despite high hopes. Took a 40minutes taxi ride to the Langtang mountain ranges instead.

We started the climb at Sundari-jal(river). Steep steps climb for about 1 plus hours. Quite shag... Almost like the Temburong jungles I had climbed countless times during army training.

Superb view at respite, where we met the mountain locals for the first time.

Played 'Black Eye Peas' to the locals, wonders of technology, an ipod and a portable speaker. They were the closest I can find to the groove of nepali music.

19/03/06 1721hrs
Dhorge Lakpa, a guesthouse in Chisopani (2194m):
Did magic for an old man; some 'ramri ketis' (cute gals) along the way.
Nic shag out twice along the walk. Walked for at least 3 hours. Thin air got into us; we started discussing jap porn with guide.
Chisopani is a nice little ridgeline village with about 5 guest houses.
Single white female backpacker swamped by 4 nepali guys... Fresh meat up in the mountains.
The one thing that no where else can offer me whilst sitting on the tall mountain sipping mango juice, looking down into the deep valleys; untouchable sense of peace.

20/03/06 1143hrs
Chipling Gosaikund View Lodge:
Super shag climb from Chisopani. Lunch break at peaceful village lodge along ridgeline.
Discussed different nationality gals with Dharma.

20/03/06 2012hrs
Gosaikund lodge in Gul Bhanjang:
Takes 4 days to travel to Kathmandu to buy food and amenities. Compare to Singapore situation, where the nearest 7-11 is right across the street??
Played soccer with village kids; they like taking pictures and magic.

Stars are great tonight.

Nice family with husky voiced daughter.

Simple life and existence; why do I ask for so much?

Names: Dawalama, Norki, Pasang, Diki, Sange, Ramanandshah (English Teacher)

21/03/06 1043hrs
Kutumsang Lodge:
2 plus hour trek from Gul Bhanjang. Dilemma: do we press on to Magingoat?
Talked to Dharma about local gals, relationships and sex, apparently they don't go down on each other in Nepal, what a waste!
Looking at Pasang, smart young lad, wants to be good in science. "Why do you want to study science?" I asked Pasang. "Because I want to help improve the life of the village." Damn.

Will he be happy in the village? Who's happier? Them or us?
Everyday children walk 2 hours up and down slope to school and back.

Dharma taught me a nepali song....

Sunna Sunna hey! maichiao x 2 (listen! young man)
Maichiao le ajar chyabancha... (young man what are you saying?)

21/03/06 1808hrs
Magin-goth Lodge:
Shag climb up from kutumsang. Nic shag out, mental left.
Encountered snow, super cold. Met jap guy who was traveling in Nepal for 3 months
Nice cosy little lodge, but toilet far. Will try to pee in bottle tonight..
Froze my ass trying to shit.

22/03/06 0804hrs
Magin-goth Lodge 3200m:
Shivalingham.
Turtleneck helped with breathing at night.
Next up Tharlepati!

22/03/06 1005hrs
Snowball Yay!
Thank God for sis's jacket.
Standing on the top of the world, walking amongst clouds.

22/03/06 1235hrs
Somcho Lodge:
Reach Thalepati. resting for the night. Highest point we'll ever go for this trip (3800m). Photo point. Got more than I wanted, trekking in the snow, steep climbs and all.
I still love and miss Gene.
Don't like to be baby-ed by guide.
From able to see everything under our feet, great contoured line hills. To walking in the mist of clouds, snowy peaks looming ahead barely visible.
Would I walk this path again?

22/03/06 1951
Somcho Lodge:
Snow is coming through the ceiling of our dining hall as we eat.

23/03/06 1426
Melamchigan near top monastery:
Quarreled with Nick.
Nice warm place.
Kids took me to monastery.
Love the view & serenity.
Am I really proud?
First place with electricity.
Played soccer with kids.
Descended 1000m within the afternoon.
Cable car good for nepal?
Going up to Tharkeyagan tomorrow.
Helped small kid dress his wound.

24/03/06 0626hrs
Wild View Lodge,.Melamcnigoan:
Had a dream about SOF training last night, I did not join in and was taunted from tne trainees. Felt so bad.
Had chicken curry for dinner yesterday. Small gal was crying when we killed the chicken haha. Was alright after we gave her sweets.
90% Charge for my O2 PDA.
Time slows to a standstill in this village. The question of having an aim in life resurfaces. Yes one doesn't need to do something forever, but how about the people here in the village? Don't they do the same thing till they die? Do they have an aim then? However short our dream/ aim, there should be one; and we must pursue it with all our vitality.

24/03/06 1334hrs
Small lodge on the way to Timbu:
Decided to skip Tharkegyan (2600m), due to tiredness and similarities between Tharke & Melamchie; onwards to Timbu (1600m) instead.
Unexpected tough winding road filled with rocks & meandering.
Super shag, thighs sore... Used some mental strength for the first time.
Guide not providing accurate timings.
Nepal offered a different view this time. Numerous waterfalls streaming down the green mountain face.
Nick & I ok now. That's what friends are for.
Supposedly 1 hr away from Timbu.
Still love Gene very much... Why?
Carried small gal (7-8 yrs old?) load (dry leaves) nepalese style... Amazing strength...
Walked a total of 5hrs..
Nepali like to make a loud growl when eating.

24/03/06 1617hrs
Small lodge in Timbu:
Finally reach Timbu!! Super wasted. So tired... Maybe I should give 'B' a shot?
Miss tango...don't mind going back Singapore early to dance.
Nepali teenagers say I look 18. Haha. Having said that, Nepali kids have very weathered hands, like 50 year olds.

25/03/06 0710
Small lodge in Timbu:
Bro's birthday, miss him. Slept late but well yesterday.
Stomach didn't feel well didn't eat a lot.
Thought of getting back together with Gene; why didn't I hold her more when we slept together?
Things you thought of doing with your future galfriend; singing her a love song, dancing with her in the summer rain... Never happens...

25/03/06 1128hrs
Somewhere along Kewl & Chanhawtae:
Talked to Nepali Phd, Civil engineer consultant. Understood more of Nepal's political woes. King is the problem.
Conspiracy theory for prince's massacre.
Gave old man panadol for fever.
Gave small girl panadol for fractured arm.
Lots of maoist signature; banners & signboards, ala communist China.

25/03/06 1818hrs
Chanhautae Sherpa Lodge:
Played with super cute puppy.
Swam in the river.
Saw Maoist but no contact.
Dharma's obsession witn the card game 'goal'.

26/03/06 0636hrs
Chanhautae Sherpa Lodge:
Fully charged all my devices; eletricity & other resources precious here; rationing common, not available 24hrs.

26/03/06 1030hrs
Bus back to Kathmandu:
Chanced on a bus back to Kathmandu while walking to Thalamarang. Changed our minds & decided to head straight to Kathmandu with a hope to go Pokara.
Super crammed bus. Worse than the military C130 to Brunei.
Very desolate families relative to Melamchie-gan, despite closer to the city...why?

On our very colourful and crammed local bus; Nick and I called it 'Mother of bus rides', there were nipple slips, puking old grannies, & pissing cows.
I realised the best thing I got out of the journey, was the company of Nicholas.
Nepalese clothes are very colourful.

26/03/06 1535hrs
Mt Annapurna Guest House:
Back at room, terror bus ride...do not sit in front of a nepali bus again... the nepalis love to cramp infront of the bus. Its like a mini free for all at the front, next to the driver seat. At a point of time our 2 seater front seat had 4 person squeezing, Nick had his backpack on him, and a sleeping baby on top of his backpack. There were many army checkpoints...and my ears are still ringing from the repetitive nepalese music.Well at least I had the... Cute bucked toothed gal
to stare at... Could be much worse.