CHAPTER 2 – Why Annapurna Circuit??

Annapurna Circuit is one of the most beautiful treks you could do in Central Nepal. The geography is slightly different to that of any trek in Himalayan Range. This is a trek that mostly everyone does anti clock wise due to quick altitude gains you would experience if you are doing otherwise which is not safer and recommended.

During this trek, you sight the beauties of Annapurna I to IV, Manaslu, Tilicho Peak, Dhaulagiri, Machchapuchchre and Pisang Peak – all in the range of 6000m – 8000m. The view everyday are beyond breathtaking in every possible sense.

The absolute breathtaking views during the trek

Given that the full trek is anywhere between 160km – 230km depending on where you begin and end, you also come across multitude of cultures and villages throughout your journey making it one of the best long treks you could take up. The Tibetan culture that you could experience in the Manang Valley as well as in parts of lower Mustang is beyond admirable.

There is never a day with a bad scenery. Each day has something new to offer

Trek starts in Besisahar and throughout mostly goes in parallel to Marsyangdi river for the most part of the trek.  Most trekkers do take the high trail from Upper Pisang via Gyaru and Ngawal to Manang as the view are extremely breathtaking and it helps with the altitude through better acclimatization as well. Also, some of the best-preserved Tibetan villages in their original state is something you could experience as well.

City of Besisahar

Preserved Tibetan Villages

And finally, this was a solo trek! It was going to be just me for 15 days! I was extremely anxious and knew I will have no one to share anything with except myself. There were many days, I tried not to think too much of the detail or what could go wrong. I remember during the Everest Base Camp trek, around 8^th day, we all cried. No one knew why we were crying – it was different reasons for different individuals. But we all did. It was more of a distraction from the fatigue – if I am to look at it from a different perspective now.

So it is all ready now. All that is left is a bag to be packed and a flight to board.

Next up - CHAPTER 3: Landed in Kathmandu - Prep days are fun!

Note: Some of the pictures are extracted from google as I did not have a good camera to capture all of it to preserve the natural beauty

Stronger than yesterday

Tears fall down her cheeks;

caz you hit a sensitive place in her heart;

she is fragile in many ways; she never says no if you may ask:

she loves big and she hurt herself big; It's her in many ways you see;

She cares for you so much and she dreams of you big;

She appreciates you and she is fascinated by you;

She feels right when she is with you..

Weak is not the word to call those tears that run through her cheeks;

She has lived and survived those tears since she was a kid;

That is how she let go of her pain;

That is how she stands tall and strong today;

They soak her cheeks, they mess her make up;

They swell her eyes and makes her look weak (in your eyes);

I wish you knew the strong woman in her;

and how she lets go of everything that hurts her;

she will cry rivers of tears when you hurt her;

she will cry herself to sleep when she is hurt;

that is all she knows of letting go; caz no one has stood by her to wipe them away;

So may be you should stop; stop judging her - for the tears that fall down her cheeks;

She ain't weak- that is all she knows;

May be its you who can show her- that the world can be without tears any more:

May be its you who gives her that confidence - being strong no longer requires tears;

May be its you she is looking up to - to draw that strength she sees in you:

May be she is stronger in herself when you hold her tight and show her the world..

May be you are her "stronger than yesterday" flame!