Heaven on Earth and Travel Rush

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I accumulated more vacation time than I thought, realizing that I only took 3 days off this year for Fest, so I decided to take it all at once. With just over two weeks to travel, I read every page of my Lonely Planet South America on a Shoestring and had decided to go Argentina. I wanted to fly on an Aerolineas Argentina Mercosur Airpass, which allows multi-stops in Brazil and Argentina. I found out however that those seats usually need to be booked 6-8 months in advance. Bummer.

Then my dearest friend Natascha invited me to her wedding in London, which I wouldn't miss for the world! So I though, where is the furthest that I can travel to while transiting in London? India? Nepal! Yes, Nepal!

After browsing 63 airline websites, I found a ticket at cheapoair.com that flies New York - Brussels - Delhi - Kathmandu - Delhi - London - New York. It includes unlimited stopovers at each point! Perfect!

Good things come in threes

Nepal - So I promised my friend SY, whom I met while working at Action Against Hunger (ACF), that wherever her field assignment is, I'd go visit her. While waiting, she's living in Korea, and it had crossed my mind to visit her there. Instead, I invited her to join me in Nepal! While we both worked at ACF, we had our Monday night specials: skating + dinner. She also showed me interesting parts of NYC. And I'm sure she makes an awesome travel buddy.

India - I now work with Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) (as a Web Developer). I was privileged enough to work at the Refugee Camp Exhibit in Santa Monica and San Diego, California (btw, I helped build this mini-site). There, I met wonderful people and MSF field staff, in particular, two who had been to Nepal and gave me great advice and one who lives in India. Shoba lives in Delhi and she invited me to stay with her. She even went out of her way to arrange a day trip for me to visit the Taj Mahal!

London - While I worked in Rwanda, I had the privelege of sharing a house with Natascha and we have kept in touch since. She kept me sane, was someone to talk with in "regular" English and we had a fun family of 4 ladies in the house: her, Pouba, Heidi and I - two of which are canine. I'll have the honor of celebrating her marriage to Martin, whom I met when he visited Rwanda. This will be my first non-family wedding. A friend of mine getting married... so it begins!

Heaven on Earth

on Amazon.com

Flying from Delhi to Kathmandu, I asked for a left-side window seat, as my trusty Lonely Planet Nepal guide suggested. Then from Kathmandu to Pokhara, I faught for a right-side window seat. Flying along the Himalaya, I felt like died and went to heaven.

Why I love to travel

1. Intense jubilation and freedom, resulting in girly screams at inaudible frequencies
2. Adventure and moments of "shit, what have I gotten myself into"
3. Sweet relief of overcoming previously mentioned shit

Let me illustrate with my tandem paragliding experience in Sarangkot (Pokhara, Nepal). I saw the graceful waltz of paraglides in the air above the hilltop at Sarangot. I immediately signed up for a tandem flight. Adreline was pumping as I was getting strapped in, and as the final clipped snapped in place, I thought for a moment, shit, what have I done? In moments, the glide lifted, our feet took very few Fred Flinstone steps and off we soared at around 1500m. Before I knew it, I was sitting comfortably in a chair sling, hovering above Phewa Tal (lake) and with a breathtaking view of the Annapurna Range. I was flying! It was as real as flying gets!

Nepal 2008 Gallery

Paragliding was very much UNlike sky diving, where the take-off and anticipation build up over time. In paragliding, a 10min jeep ride takes you up to the hill top. Within moments, you're strapped in and within seconds you're told to lean forward and run! Go ahead, hurl yourself off a mountain :P No time to chicken out!

In short, travelling is like a drug, I just can't get enough of it. Runners love to run. Travellers love to travel. And I am no exception.

To trek or not to trek

How can one go to Nepal, be inches away from the Himalaya, and not go trekking? In the planning stages, I was determined to go trekking in the mountains. However, after an 8hr flight, another 8hr flight, 10hrs in the Delhi airport, another 1.5hrs flight and one last 30min flight, I was wipped. When I woke up the next morning, by the eerily peaceful Phewa Tal (lake) with mountain views all around, sipping my mango lassi, wrapped in a mild 23 degree weather. I started to question the trek...

The cons were plenty: I'd have to buy winter apparel, sleeping bag, etc.It'd be really cold. There was plenty to do around Pokhara: mini-trek to the Wold Peace Pagoda, boating on the lake, horse riding around the lake, getting a massage (even though I didn't earn it).

The pros: waking up surrounded by breathtaking snow peaks with crisp fresh air.

Easy choice :)