And so once again I am off. This time for Nepal. My driving motivation is the Annapurna Circuit - winner of the "25 things to do before I die" list on one of my favorite travel blogs Uncornered Market complete with 4,576 meters elevation gain in 9 days; 112 miles walked in about 15 - 20 days; and about 50 Himalayan villages crossed along the entire way. More or less. You can read more about my source of inspiration on: http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/06/himalayan-
Yes, this is what started it all whilst one innocent high-powered, career frenzied, and (relatively) well dressed New York City day I was surfing the Web. Next thing I know this is the direction towards which I am heading. Work is but work, and life is but short, blah blah blah. Noone can argue the impact of an adventure of a lifetime. Truly. All the rest of it will always just be there waiting to be dealt with.
And so it shall ... but in the meantime I am heading to Nepal alone with nary a notion of what to expect. I may do this trek with a group, or I may do it alone, perhaps with random people I have yet to meet and pick up along the way in Kathmandu and/or Pokahara. At the moment, the biggest hurdle I forsee is my 8 hour layover in Delhi, arriving 10:30 pm Saturday 3/26, departing for Kathmandu 6 am or so the following morning Sunday 3/27. Ugh. Thank god for my new prematurely birthday gifted Kindle (thanks Family!). I will either be sleeping on the Indian airport terminal floor or simultaneously plowing through Anna Karenina, Shantaram, Jane Eyre, and the collected works of Theroux and John Keats during this time. We shall see.
Either way I am excited. To be sure. I know it will be challenging and cold and tough at times too, and also - needless to say, ehem - that I will be a sight for sore eyes. But all of this potential pain and unshowered misery will occur against a backdrop of splendor that is the Nepalese Himalayas and the culture I will encounter. If I get through it in one piece I will remember the month ahead that awaits forever. I will also be eating a lot of dal bhaat. Look it up. Cuz apparently this will sustain me. Or kill me. Stay tuned!!!!
You can read more on where I am headed via these links, should you desire:
Will send more dispatches (as possible) from along the way.
Much love,
Always,
(Travelin') me
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