This is how it all started-
I was fighting enemies, exploring Kathmandu, trying to find Shambala on remote peaks of Nepal (Playing Unchartered 2 on my PS3 :P). Buzzzz..I got a mail from Karthik, he’d shared this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz4qIzkwr1A. I watched this video over and over again. And in the end, I was like- Okay, there’s no way I’m missing this trip. I called up Karthik and thus the trip plans took off.
Within a week’s time Shaz and me booked tickets to Kathmandu.
Just a few days before our trip, I shared the same video with Kumar, I assume ditto happened, the video was so very tempting, Kumar couldn’t resist, he too booked his tickets to Kathmandu.
So the final gang – Karthik Ramesh, Ramya GN, Shreyas, Raghu, Karthik Nischal and me. Kumar would join us half way in the trip.
A week before we took off, we used to plan and talk lots during our late night conf calls. Alll of us discussed and chalked out plans and all, well almost all of us except me :D, coz I kept missing these overnight conferences calls.
A week before we took off, we used to plan and talk lots during our late night conf calls. Alll of us discussed and chalked out plans and all, well almost all of us except me :D, coz I kept missing these overnight conferences calls.
April 6th: (Bangalore-Thamel, Kathmandu)
The trip takes off- I was picked up at 7 am in an Innova right from my door steps, How convenient 🙂 !!,,.. I slept almost all the way till airport, nice early morning nap it was.
Pic- At BIAL, as we get set to take off..
Just before we landed in Kathmandu, the views outside the airplane were breathtaking, beautiful Kathmandu valleys, lush greenery with tiny houses on mountain tops. We walked out of our planes into soothing weathers outside. Airport looked like a vintage college hostel with brick walls and so little crowd. It was as if like we time traveled back to the good old 1980s.
Our hotel pickup cab was waiting for us outside the airport, with a banner wishing birthday to Ramya. (April 6th happened to be Ramya’s birthday 🙂 Later in the evening we had a small birthday cake cut/ celebrations back in our Hotel (Hotel Backyard, a nice hotel in the heart of Thamel). After all the birhtday celebrations, we strolled around in one of the most happening place of Kathmandu, ‘Thamel’.
April 7th: (Thamel-Chisapani trek)
We started our trek from Sundari Jal, it was a little crowded during the first 2 hours of trail, but eventually deserted out. Trails were a bit steep. It was a bit too tiring for the few of us, so we later detoured towards flatter roads.
I was lucky enough to see a Black Panther in the forests near Chisapani.
By the time we reached Chisapani, it was dark, maybe around 8PM. The temperatures were around 7/8 deg C, we had a hearty dinner at Chisapani and the accommodation there was decent too.
I was lucky enough to see a Black Panther in the forests near Chisapani.
By the time we reached Chisapani, it was dark, maybe around 8PM. The temperatures were around 7/8 deg C, we had a hearty dinner at Chisapani and the accommodation there was decent too.
April 8th: (Chisapani-Nagarkot trek)
Trekked from Chisapani till Nagarkot. We even had to trek a bit in rains for a while. Another nice little fun moment was the ride atop a mud laden truck. After a 10 hour tiring trek, we reached Hotel Mountain View, easily the best hotel in Nagarkot in the evening. If you’re honeymooning, this hotel’s just perfect :P.
April 9th: (Kathmandu)
We were woken up by hotel staff in the early morning, they even asked us to get ready soon and reach roof by 6 AM.
Views of the sunrise along Langtang range from Nagarkot was breath taking.
Kathmandu saw a partial strike today, but we were able to hire a bus at Nagarkot, and reached Kathmandu sometime in the afternoon. We booked The Last Resort Tickets, and walked around in Durbar Square in the evening. In the night there was a huge thunder storm, but we safely slept in our hotels.
Apr10th: (The LastResort Day)
It was a 3.5 hour drive along the curvy valleys to the Last Resort. I couldn’t stop thinking about the jump and all the way. My mind was acting as if like a virus infected Celeron powered PC..Pheww!!
The first sight of the suspended bridge (from where we jump off), made my heart pound louder, crossing the bridge and reaching the other side was scary enough..
After all the briefing, registrations and all, in an hours time, the 5 of us were on the bridge waiting for our turns..
Ramya, Karthik Nischal and Crazy Shaz jumped b4 me, Shaz even filmed his jump with his camera along!!!
My turn – The real kick is when you stand on the edge, with 1/4th of our feet facing below. And then wooshhh… ADRENALINE, FREE FALL INTO THE HIMALAYAN 160 METER DEEP GORGE!!!
This ones not just another swing, its the biggest Canyon swing in the world, phew… what an experience, this is gonna be my shortest few seconds of my life about which Im gonna be talking for the rest of my life’.
Later int the resort we saw our videos, had nice lunch and then adieu to Karthik, Karthik Nischal, Raghu n Ramya.
Shaz and me stayed back and strolled around at the last resort. We had a conversation with BungeeMaster while we had food, a night walk on the bridge..
Shaz and me stayed back and strolled around at the last resort. We had a conversation with BungeeMaster while we had food, a night walk on the bridge..
Eod-slept in our tents at TheLastResort
Ps – it was raining and i was in the tents as i wrote this blog
Lingsy's Avenue 