An unexpected journey to ABC

I just started my trekking journey since 2014 from one of the famous pilgrimage trek to sacred holy lake, Gosaikunda. I did trek during the peak pilgrimage season of Janai Purnima (too much crowded) which happens to be my most memorable experience and life lessons, "Never, ever trek the most crowded places as you will never fully be connected with nature" But it might varies according to the travelers preferences. 

ABC was never in my bucket list as I was already tired of hearing people sharing their mixed experiences and one of the busiest trek with around 50,000 trekkers made their trekking destinations in ABC each year. As every trekking routes have their own essence and uniqueness to indulge into the nature. Mountains are always fascinating to every travelers, trekkers and mountain lovers. The mountains neither discriminates nor distinguished others in terms of caste, gender, identity, ethnicity or religions but it embraces everyone with full openness.

                                            View from the Annapurna Base Camp (4130m)
 

Recently, I got the opportunity to enjoy the Solace Adventure Trekking even in the supposedly peak tourist season because of the effect of Covid-19 pandemic. The peak seasons for tourism in Nepal are autumn (September-November) and spring (March-May) and the rest of the season is considered as off season. There are fewer footfall at this time because of the weather condition but it does not mean that there aren’t things to see and enjoy, as nature always changes its forms and  colors in different seasons. In fact, you might be surprised by all the unexpected benefits of travel at these times of year with proper planning for trekking adventure.

I am sharing you some of my unexpected and memorable experiences from ABC and what i learned from my experience-please do not trek in the monsoon season if you are not a monsoon lover this gonna ruin your trekking. There is a high chances that you will experience gloomy day with grey sky most of the time. The roads will be slippery and washed out in some places and the leeches hover around your shoes and red spots all over the socks as it sucks the blood out of your body which is the most irritating part of monsoon trek. I was kinda rain lover but then I realized that I could not resist the cold and fatigue from the rain but try this experience if you are mentally prepared.

From my personal experience, here I discovered some other cool reasons to visit  Annapurna and which is already famous among the trekkers. Spoiler alert, if you are just thinking to start your first adventurous trekking journey, then this trekking route probably won't be a good start. My experience suggest not to start from ABC for your trek journey. You might agree or disagree to some extent and it is totally cool and subjective. Let's begin, shall we?

 Varieties of Choices

This trekking routes gives you various options of  trekking destinations if you want to try other  routes such as Khopra trek, Mardi trek or even do a short trek to  Ghorepani, Poon hill. The trekking journey starts from  a beautiful Gurung village of Ghandruk. Annapurna Base Camp is a spectacular short trek (can be done within a week) and offers the close-up  and 360 degree panoramic mountain range views. The long steep climbs and ascents specially on stones stairs can be a challenge for many trekkers  but it is doable if you know your body and maintain balance. What do you expect once you set up for the trek? The whole bodyache "aaiyaa and uuayaa" gives you the taste of trekking so be ready for this most amazing stone steps it will give good exercise for your knees in the first couple of days. 

Posing from Bamboo!

 Closer view of Himalayas

It's a question to all the readers. Leave the comment below if you ever seen or discovered the beautiful
360 degree panoramic view of the spectacular mountain peak views from the base camp. The Annapurna Sanctuary includes the Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Annapurna III, Gangapurna, Machhapuchre, Singuchuli, Tharpu Chuli from the single place from Annapurna Base Camp. The moment when you see these giant mountains after those tiring walks, you will completely feel re-energized and a deep connection to the nature. Our so-called power melts away in front of the freezing cold mountains. No one can conquer or defeat the mountains as they are living spirits, sometimes it embrace us while sometimes it destroys us. 

Avalanche looks like dead black Ice

 

Have you ever walked through the avalanche? Walking to Avalanche in a steep way was so scary and heart breaking when you ripped off your outer sole of your trekking shoes in the middle of the way. It sounds so hilarious that I trusted again to cheap Chinese products while buying my trekking shoes. And the most scariest part was when I had to walk through the pile of black ice. I was almost about to fall down the roaring river, a big lesson was to never ever buy the cheaper gears if you are traveling. Investment on proper gears is the wisest thing for travelers. Meanwhile, I felt to return back from halfway but luckily or it seemed so, I found the dendrite in one of the hotels to fix my shoes but it just stays for couple of hours. But i managed to walk whole way without outer sole in one of my shoes without being hurt and the most embarrassing was it was my honeymoon trek. We were five in team  as it was planned by lovely and lift time friends with five people and it was really fun trek with my life time friends. I have been trekking with one of my Russian friends  that I met Lena Zubareva in 2018, one of my best travel buddy. We did so many treks together in Nepal and she was the one to organize my honeymoon trek during the lock down. I can never thank my friends who supported for our honeymoon trek. If you are looking for the wedding photo shoot, Annapurna Base Camp will be the best spot to do it. Doing a wedding photo-shoot was my dream and finally it came true and I feel so grateful for that moment in my life. Plan for your wedding photo shoot in the mountains,  I bet it is a cool idea you will not regret.

Wedding photo shoot in the Himalayas

 

 

 

 

 

In Nepal there is no trend of wedding photo shoot in the Himalayas but I believe it will be a life time experience. For me I feel the magic of the moments with cold breeze passing through you as you are facing next to the magnificent mountains in your wedding dresses and you dream spending the whole life together. Blessings from Mountains are always fascinating. Try this and I promise you won't regret.

 

                                                      Four spoons and my reactions

I took this photo on 9th of May, 2021 in Jhinu. After a long days walk everyday for five days we descended down from all the way Bamboo to Jhinu 8 hrs walk and it was such a tiring day that the whole body was terribly aching and hurting. We went to hot spring to relax and energise our body. The hot spring Hot spring, also called thermal spring,

If you suffer from chronic muscle pain, arthritis or even fibromyalgia, soaking in a pool of hot-spring water can effectively improve pain eventually. Additionally, when your body is submerged in hot-spring water, the buoyancy encourages freer movement by naturally supporting your joints. I felt like my all bones were cracked due to the pain but staying in the hot water but i felt so relief. If you are planning or excited to be in the spring water always take enough water and electrolytes as staying in hot water will make you dehydrate for sure. That night, our team decided to have a "Honey party" our friend Zenya brought for $50 for 500ml. It was quite expensive but we were damn excited to try as it was first time to all of us. Bikram, our leader tried four spoon spontaneously in an empty stomach. You can imagine the result, he started feeling a numb and dizzy. I have heard the reaction varies on body. And next was me. waiting my turn patiently. After a light dinner, i went for three spoons no reactions and fourth spoon started hitting in my mind, felt body floating no controls at all. That feelings was so unusual and so different then being high from joints and alcohols. Oh my god, i started to puke as that sensations to my body was unbearable so i may be threw up everything whatever i ate for my dinner. I tried my best to lay on bed gently but it was uncontrollable. Whole body was floating and i cried for few seconds as it was so "not normal" It was my weird experience of having wild honey during my trek. I will definitely try next time as it was so sugary and taste was strong. 

In sum up, my trek was beautiful as expected. My whole body and mind was rejuvenated after the trek. It was full of lessons. Mountains always give me something so this time I came back with promises that I will keep up to follow.

"Promise to be a responsible traveler"

"Promise to preserve and love nature"

"Promise to take nothing as granted"

"Promise to be my self"

Our Trekking Team; Life time Friends