The Twelve Days of Trekking

Ok, here goes! 

I returned from my trek almost two weeks ago, but it's been such a crazy busy few weeks that it's only now that I've finally been able to sit down and write this post. :P 

Trekking was AMAZING!!!! The mountains were beautiful, the air was clear, the people were welcoming, fellow trekkers were plentiful and the hiking wasn't too strenuous. :)  As I was hiking (and thinking about how it's the Christmas season back home and I was trekking for twelve days), I thought I'd make my own 'Twelve Days of Trekking.'  Enjoy :) 

'For the First Day of Trekking, a nine hour bus to Sehpru

And I'm going to the Langtang Himalayas'

That's our bus.  I was riding on the roof and we had to get off and walk though this town because there was an army checkpoint.  Riding on the roof is technically illegal, but everyone does it anyway.  You just have to get off when the bus passes through one of the many army checkpoints.

'On the Second Day of Trekking, we hiked to Didi's village

Oh how quaint!'

My guide is from the Langtang area.  On the second day we hiked to her village and I spent the night at her families homestay.  It was wonderful :) 

Millet drying in the sun.  There was a festival coming up and the village was getting ready by making huge quantities of the local alcohol, raksi :)

Helping Didi and her family prepare the evening dal baht

Didi's home 

'On the Third Day of Trekking, we met a wild yak!

Some monkeys and a wild pig'

The picture doesn't do justice to the size of the yak.  He was HUGE!!!! And very beautiful.  We followed him for 40 mins or so before he finally wandered off up the hill and left the trail. :P

One of the many suspension bridges we crossed. 

'On the Fourth Day of Trekking, we reached Langtang Village,

Apple pie and yak cheese'

Langtang Valley.  The further up the valley we went, the more beautiful the views became

3,475 meters! Woot Woot! 

A very funny looking yak!

APPLE PIE!!! It was DELICIOUS! 

These old houses where not made for Jewel-sized people!

'On the Fifth Day of Trekking, the clouds came rolling in!

OH LET IT SNOW!'

Looking down the valley

My guide and I taking a walk around Kyanjin Gumba

'On the Sixth Day of Trekking we descended 2,000 meters

Knees are a'aching'  

Sunrise over the Himalayas

We hiked to a 'small' viewpoint above the village, only 4,773 meters! From there we walked down to 2,410 meters.  It was a long day. 

I love the prayer flags everywhere, they add so much colour to the scene

'On the Seventh Day of Trekking, we celebrated Tihar

Everyone eats kopsi'

One of the Didi's in my guest house, making kopsi, a type of fried bread

Our lunch spot was a Swiss doppelgänger. So pretty!  

'On the Eighth Day of Trekking, I washed my dusty clothes

Water is a'chilly'

(I don't have a photo for this day) 

'On the Ninth Day of Trekking, there's a panorama view

The mountains are a'mazing'  

The sky was the most amazing colour of blue!

Gosainkund Lakes - 4100 meters

Penguin had to take a rest, it's been a long trek :)

I sat here for more than an hour, just enjoying the view and contemplating life the universe and everything

Me and my guide! Mero sano didi (My small sister) :) 

My guide and her father (who was my porter)

Sunset

'On the Tenth Day of Trekking, 'twas just a two hour trek

Legs are a'resting'

Sing Gumba

The Gumba (monastery) in Sing Gumba 

'On the Eleventh Day of Trekking, we left the mountains behind

Back to the city'

'On the Twelfth Day of Trekking......'

We were meant to be gone for twelve days, hence my brilliant idea to do the 'Twelve Days of Trekking,' but we ended up coming out of the mountains and back to Kathamandu on the same day, instead of spending one night in Dunche. So only eleven days. :(