The Annapurna Circuit so far...

Hello everyone.
We are now in Jomson after 12 days of trekking. We have experienced the most exhausting, the most physical, the most emotional and challenging days we have ever had, particularly the few days it took to acclimatise and reach the Thorung La Pass. But... WE MADE IT!!! and it was BRILLIANT.

So much so that when we finally reached the top, all I could do (apart from try to breathe), was cry. We had walked up 1800 meters in two days (don't know how many kms, but it was lots!). It was freezing freezing cold, blowing a gale but totally exhilerating and completely overwhelming! After we registered that we'd actually made it (some of the people we met didn't), we hugged and laughed and quickly took a few happy snaps of us at the top. Then began our decent to Muktinath. Oh my God! Going down was bloody hard! It was well over 5km of down down down, and more down. We were close to the bottom at one point when we heard running behind us and here was this guy (we later had dinner with from Isreal) who was running full speed down the mountain ... unbelieveable to see. Bloody idiot!

We've been living on carbohydrates 'til they're coming out our ears ... I'm sure there's a potato patch in my ear'ole somewhere just waiting to sprout! The Dhal Bhat is different everytime we eat it, sometimes lovely, other times not so great. And we've even managed to score a good pizza here and there. But mainly it's been fried noodles and vegies or fried rice and vegies. Oh, yesterday I had a delicious Apple Pie and Custard while the boys slept ... it was bloody great!

So as I said, we're in Jomson now ... nothing flash to mention here. We were hoping to get some money here as it's the only town with an ATM this far north, but you wouldn't credit it, the locals in their wisdom have deemed today a holiday and the bank is closed! We're down to our last 2,000 rupees which will not get us through our next 14 days (in fact it will only last a few days at the most) and we're in a bit of a pickle because tomorrow is Saturday and everything is closed (it's like our old fashioned Sunday). We're not quite sure what to do now, but I'm sure we'll figure something out.

Hello and much love to Jade, Lucy, Adam and Nan. Sorry it's been so long between contact, but you've got to see this place ... it is very very third world and there is simply no communication for many many kilometers. In fact, in 12 days we have only had 4 hot showers. I've got a plan to bottle my sweat and stinky clothes and sell a new perfume ...Chanel Nepali style - what do ya reckon?? Pretty stinky I can tell you. Actually I never believed I could wear the same stuff day in day out and not wash anything (except the odd undies here'n there). I'm quite impressed with myself! And my hair ... don't even go there!!

We've seen some amazing places, met some really nice people from just about every walk of life, trekked along paths that we never dared possible, visited a Lama in an 860 year old Gompu (Buddhist Monastry), tasted Yak and the local wine, Raki - not bad, searched for fossils in the holiest river in Nepal, the Kali Ghandaki Kola, and worn my poor body to a frazzle. We've loved every minute!

So, with luck we'll score some more cash some how soon, and hope to send another blog to you all in Ghoreparni (or somewhere!) in the next few days, or so.

We're both well and having a great time ... I think I've dropped a dress size!!
All our love to everyone,
Christine & Mike