Back in 1991, Sue and Corinne took a trip to Nepal and Thailand. For both it was the beginning of a lifelong passion for Nepal involving reading, vicarious travelling, prayer and financial support of a wide range of projects and organisations.
The initial visit took in a few days in Kathmandu followed by a bus ride to Pokhara and a trek through the amazing scenery of the Annapurna region, finishing up with a few days in Chitwan.
Memories of walking along the Bagmati River into the city, observing funerals taking place at the temples, peaceful mornings in quiet city gardens contrasted with the craziness of bicycles, dogs, rickshaws, buses and trucks. Memories too of wonderful friendly people, a genuine welcome and a curiosity - particularly when encountering our trekking party of over 30, plus guides, porters & Sherpas! Memories of interesting (!) meals - including a few that challenged us to overcome reminders of days spent in surgical wards. Memories of a country that hits you in the face and affronts every sense - vivid in colour (flags, rhododendrons, shawls, festivals), noise (dogs, bicycles, truck horns), smell (think amazing herbs & spices, as well as some not so pleasant aromas).
That first visit was all too short - and so began the journey to return.
The initial visit took in a few days in Kathmandu followed by a bus ride to Pokhara and a trek through the amazing scenery of the Annapurna region, finishing up with a few days in Chitwan.
Memories of walking along the Bagmati River into the city, observing funerals taking place at the temples, peaceful mornings in quiet city gardens contrasted with the craziness of bicycles, dogs, rickshaws, buses and trucks. Memories too of wonderful friendly people, a genuine welcome and a curiosity - particularly when encountering our trekking party of over 30, plus guides, porters & Sherpas! Memories of interesting (!) meals - including a few that challenged us to overcome reminders of days spent in surgical wards. Memories of a country that hits you in the face and affronts every sense - vivid in colour (flags, rhododendrons, shawls, festivals), noise (dogs, bicycles, truck horns), smell (think amazing herbs & spices, as well as some not so pleasant aromas).
That first visit was all too short - and so began the journey to return.