Trekking to Poon Hill volume #1

4 days 3 nights trek from Nayapul to Poon Hill by Budget Adventure Treks

Day 1 from Nayapul to Thikenhunga (1500m)

The trip started with our breakfast in Pokhara where we order our food through our guide, after which we took a private taxi with our guide Kapil and porter Siva. View along the 1.5 hour ride out of Pokhara to the mountain are getting better and better, the air quality also follows.

view near to Pokhara town - still a little dusty

Nearing Nayapul, the Annapurna range with river view - not dusty anymore!

The few kids that ran away happily after we gave them some mentos sweets

Nayapul 1070m! where we started our 4 days trek up Poon Hill

A bridge along the foot hill of the trek

Siva our porter - he's a real good dancer (traditional)

Kapil registering our permit at the checkpoint - there are 2, this was the 1st checkoint.
Our moutain permit was being held by Kapil throughout the whole trek, he only handed it back to us upon completion of the trek. These permit are arranged by Raj from Khangsar which I don't think solo trekking is allowed here, one must be accompanied by at least either a guide or a porter, so to arrange your lodging and direction.

Beautiful mountains with river view

some little houses at the foot hill, check out how they secure their roof to their house

many trekkers along the way

It was a very hot day, when we passes this stream of water, our guide Kapil dunk his hand towel into the water to cool down, both Julie and I saw then we follow so... the water is so cold!

perfect view

Spotted a pony while walking by

Mountain goats - I was jokingly ask the goat to look to my camera :)

First herd of mountain goats we saw while resting for our lunch break

Egg noodle soup - pretty much a bowl of instant noodle soup

A villager trying to manage her buffalo.

The steep U-turn uphill

Laxmi Lodge, Thikenhunga - our first pit stop

A big dog at the lodge

We trekked from Nayapul at 11am and reaches Thikenhunga at about 2:30pm, it seems too easy, both Julie and I therefore asked Kapil if we could walk for a bit more. So he recommended that we all go to the river side! So we did, but I made a big mistake by going after my shower! I was soaked with sweat after the river walk, we trek for about half hour down hill to reach the river... thereafter hike back to the lodge! But it was good fun, we gone a little crazy at the river...

I took a few shot for Julie, here's 1 of the few :)

Kapil doing his best to outdo my 14 pieces - what huge stone he started with! And yes, he succeeded, he got more than 25 pieces

Porter Siva and Raju - thereafter Julie and I found out all 3 of them are relative, the Amgain family!

I got bitten up by a tiny leech

After doing some silly stuff at the river side for about an hour, we then head back to the lodge as it was getting dark, I was rushing up since I learn that there are alot of leeches everywhere, true enough another tiny leech was about to stunk on my leg, thank God Kapil saw it and remove it for me. It was a huge relief when I know we reaches the top! and we then saw one of the villager came deliver the news about a new born baby buffalo to Kapil, asking us to go and have a look :)

Mummy buffalo and her calf

After all the evening activities, it was already about 5.30pm, Julie and I reckon we better get back to the lodge for our shower (yes, for me is an again!). Unfortunately hot water is no longer available since sun already down, we both have no choice but to clean up using icy cold water.

Laxi Lodge where we stayed for a night is hidden at the back

After shower, we sat down by the lodge and watch the time passes, I can't recall what we ate for dinner the first night but do recall that I let the crowd see photos in my tab. There was really not much to do than have a drink catching up with one another in the Lodge restaurant, I think we went back to our room to sleep pretty early.

Kathmandu to Pokhara

Julie and I had plan for this trip ages ago which this was call off once due to work commitment, we finally made it for real. To start, we need a visa! after reading a few blog that posted some negative comment about applying tourist visa upon arrival, both Julie and I decided to get it before departure day, application can be done quite easily at the Nepali Embassy at RM98/visa, however do expect some drama before you get the visa endorsed.Thanks to Julie for taking the trouble to sort it out in the embassy for us. After the trouble of getting the visa ahead of our departure day, we arrive at the airport only to find out queue to the visa wasn't that long after all, so we then concluded it is not necessarily always the case, it pretty much depends on luck. The next time we return to Nepal, we'll try getting the visa on arrival.

After claiming our baggage, we came to the entrance of the airport to meet the hostel staff from our pre booked guest house in Kathmandu Khangsar, the hostel is decent and clean if you are looking for a budget hostel, hot showers available till late, however not working early in the morning. Khangsar impresses both Julie and I as the guest house owner Raj himself calls me on my mobile within a day after I placed my booking online! How many hostel actually does that? 

Coffee and tea was offerred in Raj office desk upon checking in and things were moving pretty quickly between us, Raj ask about our plan and he probably love visitor that has no plan. So we are one of those without plan, he efficiently drafted a rough itinerary for us on the spot. After some consideration for a little while Julie and I was happy with the deal so we agree!

Here you go, Raj's proposal for us:

Bus from Kathmandu to Pokhora
2 nights hostel stay in Pokhora
4 days 3 nights trekking including hostel & meals with an Englsh speaking guide plus a porter
Bus from Pokhora to Chitwan
3 days 2 nights full package in Chitwan
Bus from Chitwan to Kathmandu
* deal does not include drinks & tips for guide/porter

Khangsar - located across the busy Thamel lanes, slightly quieter and rooms are basic, don't expect additional specs when you pay a budget deal

Our flight reaches Kathmandu slightly after lunch where by the time we finish the many discussions it was already late afternoon nearing past lunch time. After agreeing to Raj that we'll sign up the package with him, we then settling our luggage in the room, change to a more comfortable clothing then out we went down for a walk. we've followed Raj recommendations to go to the Nepali kitchen restaurant under the tree across Khangsar. Our first meal of dhal bhat wasn't pleasant, the night itself I was experiencing some stomach discomfort but I suspect it wasn't the meal but the water that the hostel staff filled into my water bottle. While in Nepal, you should not drink the same water that the local drink as our stomach can't tolerate some of the bacteria, mineral water around Nepal is very cheap, about Nepali Rupee 20 per bottle, but it'll be expensive while in the mountain at about 200 a bottle.

View from Khangsar roof top - Nepali Kitchen under the tree is the area where a big tree is sticking out

Our first meal of Dhal Bhat

After this meal, Julie needed to shop for her gear for the trekking trip and also to take passport photo for her entry permit to mountains. We actually needed 2 but I only brought 1 which Raj said is ok as he'll settle the other permit.

Julie taking her passport photo at a local photo shop along Thamel lane

Shopping in Thamel, Kathmandu

After shopping, we went back to K Khangsar as Julie needed to pass her passport photograph to Raj, there we have some spare time therefore went up to the hostel roof top garden, and indeed it was a very pleasant place to hang out, is a pity we were both wearing shorts at that time, so hard to stay long in the cold.

Roof top garden at Khangsar - on clear skies day, you can also get a quick glimpse of the snow cap moutain from a far

Sunset from our first evening in Kathmandu!

The next day, we got up at 6:30am for breakfast as we are leaving the hostel to the bus station to catch the bus to Pokhara at 7:30am. During breakfast, Raj introduce us our guide Kapil and porter Siva, then he also pass us a piece of handwritten itinerary where he refer to as our agreement :)
With the help of our guide, the journey was very much being sorted by Kapil, all we need to do is to sit back relax and do nothing. Our journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara was rough to me, traffic was bad, as along the way on moutain roads when big vehicle meet each other, at times the bus would just stop in the middle of the journey, leaving us no clue about what is going on. But after while we figure, the bus will eventually move, so sit back and relax, we are not in KL!

Pit stop for lunch on our way Pokhara

We bought banana from this stall

Reached Pokhora safely after approximately 6.5 hours on the road, walked to the Fewa lake for a breather before dinner, the weather was not good that evening, very quickly the dark cloud came and it started to drizzle so we left the lake. Which this end our day 2 in Nepal, a slow walk around Pokhara town, dinner at a tibetan stall, nothing too great, this was also the first and last time we look at the lake.

Beijing Zoo

It was the 4th morning in Beijing.. it was also the last day of my leisure time in Beijing, gotto get to work the following day.

morning at Meishijie across Leo Hostel

met up with this very handsome husky on our way to the train station

It was an in prompt to decision that we made to visit Beijing Zoo that day, with the mision to meet the black and while giant panda! Initially Beijing Olympic Stadium was also in the plan, we changes our mind after going through the long train ride from Guomao to Zoo. Btw, train ticket in Beijing is dirt cheap, RMB1 for any destination!



doodling on bricks believe to have been drawn by school kids as part of their co-curricular

Julie and I stand looking at this giant panda for at least half hour, he's so huggable

Zoom in to read about the giant's facts

Giant brown bear - equally huggable!
visitors was feeding the bear with whatever they have, kids were throwing twisty like junk food to him, poor fella :(

Handsome Cheetah!

mind the English

In this easy afternoon, we also discover this very delicioius local snack at the zoo exit.

Julie waiting for the pancake

the look can't tell how delicious it is



Simple ingredient made fantastic bites

Our second serving of the pan cake :)

Mutianyu Greatwall!

Let me now share with you my only highlight in Beijing, well this was sadly the only touristy thing that I enjoy during this trip.

After some simple enquiring the hostel reception on how to get to Mutianyu great wall, I was told to take an express bus from 东直门 station.

My breakfast - vegetarian dumpling, this meal make me gave up on local food here, basically survived with McD for the rest of my days in Beijing

Didn't realize my bus ride from Beijing city to Huairou will take me more than 2 hours. Which by the time I arrived at Huairou, it was already mid day so I have no time to waste hence hired a private van to take me to and from Mutianyu park.

the van that I hired

As much as I wanted to hike up the great wall by foot, unfortunately since time does not permit, I in the end took the cable car up. Bought 2-way ticket, however only use it for up cos I walked down later on.

the 2.5km stretch of wall at Mutianyu

Ready for the peak!

view from the peak - only if the skies is blue!

the french boy made it too

The lady who snap this picture for me hike up to this peak everyday, with some sovenir items, hoping to make some sales everytime a tourist made it to the top.

descending the wall at the opposite side of the peak

way down by foot

beside cable car, one can also opt to take this slides down if they do not want to walk

he came welcome me at the exit of the Mutianyu great wall :)

souvenirs stall at the exit/entrance

sight in the van back out of Mutianyu park

Although a brief visit, still it was an interesting and have enjoy much of the great wall climb however don't think I would do a come back.