Annapurna Sanctuary

..This is Jum, our porter, standing in the grounds of the Australian Camp. Immediately behind is Machhapuchhre with Annapurna IV and II to the right.

 In the valley of the Modi Khola approaching Landruk. Annapurna South in background.

 Enroute from Landruk to Chomrong, almost down to the Modi Khola.

 Views across to the other side, Jhinudanda partway up and Chomrong at the top of hill to the right of picture.

Crossing the Modi Khola on the longest swing bridge - 127 steps.

Some of the rice paddies across the valley.

Looking down from the path up to Chomrong. Blue roofs of Jhinudanda below and the Modi Khola along the valley floor.

Machhapuchhre at sunset on Christmas Eve from Chomrong.

 There were lots of these little resting places at the top of steep runs. Just the right height to put the pack on.

 Looking up the valley from Sinuwa.

 This arrangement of poles,stones, mud and grass was to provide a pathway round a rocky bluff.

 And another of the bridges! Who knew what was beneath.

 The path from Bamboo to Dovan, climbing but only slightly.

 Above Dovan we really started to climb.

 Icy waterfalls on the valley wall opposite above Dovan

 And more track, near Himalayan Hotel

 This is known as Hinku Cave and is not far below Deurali.

The path down to the river below Hinko Cave

 Preparing to cross the river....

Upward and onward on the final scramble to Deurali. We got lots of comments about our age and this Japanese man decided he needed a picture with me.

 The lodge at Deurali-

....... and the view from the terrace.

 Views of the river above Deurali.

 Looking back down the valley from above Deurali.

 Avalanche debris below Machhapuchhre Base Camp.

 Checking with others who had been with us but travelled on ahead and were now returning. Just below MBC.

 MBC- the same height as Mt Cook.

 Looking back down the path from MBC

 These are all views ahead as we trekked on towards Annapurna Base Camp.

 Some of the delightful scenery on the way.

 ABC at last 4100m!!!

 Views from behind base camp..

 ......at sunset.

 Sun rising behind Machhapuchhre the next morning.

 Daphne- which scented our way in the lower regions.

Kathmandu and Lakeside

 These are all shots from or of Godavari. They were making red clay bricks in this kiln. There were several we could see from the hotel and many more that we passed in the Kathmandu Valley. The bricks go in the bottom of the kiln (that red wide base around the chimney) and the fire is also in there. The view of the resort shows one of several buildings all fairly similar. The site was on quite a slope so there were steps up or down wherever we went.  You can see the room we had was not unlike a similar hotel in NZ.

 These are two pictures of the hill before Kathmandu. The first one shows the density of the traffic, so you can see why if there is a breakdown it is liable to hold traffic up. In the lower picture they grey are right at the bottom of the picture marks the end of the road with the steep drop immediately below. It was taken from the bus looking hard down. Not much room for error.

 Well, do you think the one on the left looks a little like a Christmas tree. You might be able to see the decorations near the top.

 Rice paddies now planted the cauli etc. See the standing rice on the ones in the foreground.

 Two river scenes from the bus. The lower one seems to be where two rivers join and head off to the left together.

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 We hope you can see the cargo atop the bus- 3 goats. We followed them for ages. We also saw school children on top of a bus and more school children crammed into a ute, including riding on the tail board that was open.

 These are pictures of Fewa Tal. The top one was taken on a previous trip but shows the Peace Pagoda across the lake. We came from a different direction but were dropped off near the orange building on the shore and walked up to the pagoda. (Nice to be the one with the camera for a change!)

 This is a view from part way up the track looking back towards Lakeside. We had come from the arm to the right of the picture. The island in the foreground has a hindu temple on it. When we took the children out we paddled the boat right around the temple and then back to shore to the left out of the picture.

 Onwards and upwards.

The view from the top looking to the south of Pokhara, pretty much on the outskirts of town.

Sarangkot and Garambesi

 These are two shots of our walk up Sarangkot. The paths here is quite mild compared to the first part which is in and out of the trees. As you can see though it is a fairly steep drop down to Lakeside.  We reach/leave flat land on the left hand end of the right hand group of trees near the shore.

 Looking to the top from about 2/3 way up. The red and white building at the top is where we spent the night with John and Jan some weeks ago. We can see it from our house too. The shot below is looking more directly towards Pokhara than Lakeside, and is another ridge on the mountain. When we walked down with Jan and John we walked somewhere among those rice paddies there.

 We did enjoy watching the gliders. As we walked up and down we frequently noticed their shadows passing over us. There were more in the sky that day, but that was all we could fit into the shot.

 The palagi and the Laughing Brothers.

 Chanman, firstly pointing out the route to his family land and then standing on the border of the land.

Note the rice stack near this house on the route.

Garambesi - the trip to the top.

 This was our first photo for the day. Time to take the headlamps off and have a breather. Probably about 6 a.m. We had been walking for more than an hour.

 This was the view back towards Pokhara, but it was quite hazy and misty even at that hour of the morning.

 A cup of tea! All organised and nearly ready by the time the slow bunch got to the house. This was the lady who was 59 and had 15 children.

 Onwards up the path. In general it was a good path, just one or two really steep bits that did not have steps cut into them. Locals were going up and down in jandals with loads of varying sizes on their backs.

 View from the top. Again looking back towards Pokhara. We could just make out the Fishtail in the distance, but I don't think it shows in the picture. The house in the foreground was where Ves arranged another cup of tea for us. The summit is achieved. We are standing where the photo of John Mc Clean was taken.

 The onward route up to the final peak.

 We met a group of ten or 15 women coming down all similarly laden or with a bundle of firewood tied to their backs. One girl broke her jandal and fell as we met them. They were laughing and enjoying themselves and once they passed us several of them ran with their loads.

 This part of the track could have been NZ with all the ferns growing.

 Pausing on the way up. I waited here while the others went on.

 The final ascent. Barbara counted the steps for us. This site was a kings stronghold in times pat.

 The view from the top was panoramic, but unfortunately not clear with the haze. However it was the highest point for some distance and possible to see all the surrounding country for the full 360.

 These two picture were taken while we were waiting for our lunch to be served. We watched the red bus climb up the hill at quite an alarming angle. It had people on the top too. The 'hotel' was being extended and built from the shack where we had lunch. Chanman took his hand at the saw.

 This is a view near the top of the hill as we made our way back up to the summit before descending to Garambesi.

 Inside the home of the pastor.

 "Show me your magic teeth!" Shrison's boy who came with us on the trip.