Devilboy: Thanks for the wishes Devil Boy and glad to keep you interested in the logs

i-uze: Thanks man will check and reply.

Thanks Joel. ZMA is keeping fine so far. Just managing on oil changes.

Day 76 - May 23 - Cherikot 2 Jiri 2 Kathmandu

May23 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

262 KMs Trip Meter 12733 KMs

Thought of spending the day at jiri. Got going by 7 in the morning. Just 55 kms for the day i thought. The morning ride was beautiful. Entertained myself by singing a few songs along the way. Stopped many places gazing at the huge hills. Lazing through the many villages. But not for long as the skies cover up and its rain time. Now nothing to see of the mountains and just riding in the narrow wet road. The euforic mood of the morning was gone. Cherikot had rised my expectations a lot. But on taking a turn saw Jiri from above and was instantly disappointed. The whole ambiance was depressing. Dint feel like the place i would stay and also it was only 11 in the morning. Reaching jiri, i knew i will be out of there soon. It was a straight street with lots of people. Was thinking of going to Bhandar but knew it was mur road. Came to know that its like 65 kms from here. Now with the rain and mud road slush cant be ruled out. Had a lazy chowmin and left half of it as it felt yukky! Rode to the other side of town and there ends the black top and it was slippery offroad from then on. Just turned back. Was not at all in the mood to go ahead in that environment. Was raining, nothing to see around and path not so good and my back complaining. Well on the way back i was not so happy about not continuing till bhandar. It would have been possible but was not really in the mood to put myself on the path just to make a trail. Took me some time to convince myself that it was ok to let path go. Now with no where to go Kathmandu it is. Looks like i can make it by 5 pm.

Riding in the rain, mist and horrendous road after cherikot. Reach the kodari highway at Kachiduar and i see lot of vehicles. on the road just standing. Navigate ahead and see even the bikes stopped. Man there is a strike of some turmoil and they have blocked the road. Manage to ride till the point of blocked and luckily things were just settling and the road opened. Looked like a big one as there were many people still arguiying and there was police with sticks and shields and all. Mine was the second vehicle to cross the blockade after it was opened. Was kinda nervous but the police opened a passage and guestured us to go. phew! road blocking is done at the drop of the hat on just about any reason!!

The skies clear and its the awesome two laned road. I get out of rain gear and do some spirited ride. Reach Kathmandu by 5pm. Immediately checkin back at hotel Yanki. Rest for some time. The dreaded back pain is back and now thats gets me worried about continuing the trip. Suddenly decide to give the trekking a go at least till Namche Bazar where one can see Mt Everest on clear days. Flight is available for the next and i book the return after 6 days. Its pretty reasonable at 5k INR for the return trip. Stuff the bare minimum things to the back pack and leave rest of the stuff and the bike at Hotel Yanki with trust. Things happening in a jiffy and before i realize i have a flight to catch the next morning!!



Fantastic early morning views from the Hotel room...





The subheccha hotel at charikot...


On the way to Jiri...



Some village multistoried houses on the way...



I was trying to click the farmer ploughing the field and she wouldnt move... For a moment i thought i was in trouble taking the picture of his daughter right in front of him


Beautiful mountains...


Good roads as well...


Brand new house...


A Nepali villager...


Clouds finding craveses in the mountain...


The town Jiri from above...


At Jiri...


It would be like this for 64 kms ahead i guess so i turned back...


A water mill...




One daring chemelion... Stayed put till i got really close to get a macro... This is also a macro just zoomed from a bit far...


The torcherous section after Cherikot...


the bad section..


Man O man, how can they leave it like this!!


Road improves but mist continues...


Bike hiding in the mist...


One of the switch back...


Vehicles halted due to the road blockade


on the other side of blockade...


The nice Kodari highway...


straight road at the red Jagapati town...

Have been trekking since yesterday from Lukla. Man the Lukla airport runway was scary. Today managed to Trek upto Namche Bazar. One Tuf Huf Puf climb atleast for me in rains. Resting tomorrow.

Better late than never. I really don't have the kind of words in my vocabulary required to praise your passion and endurance. ATB for the rest of the ride praveen.

Wow~!
I feel you should really update (edit) your first page post with the latest update about yout whereabouts etc!

~respect!

whose the GOD===="PraveenKM"

This guy is GOD....Well done sir...you hav just shown me the north east in a just three hour show....i appreciate efforts...Till today i was searching for the real defination of biker, but today i have a proper defination all because of you...n also i appreciate the heart of your bike, your ride has diverted my thinking abouts the bike....thats its not abt the manufactorer, its about the engine and pumping piston inside it....thnx a lot sir...i will pray for you to god for your safe ride...no more bumping into pics n sumo's on your further journey...ride safe, ride hard...good luck for futher journey...

PS: how much this ride banked you till now?????

76 days of riding, how is your back taking all this, especially after the little crash you had? Nice pictures there at Nepal.

Haha. I know what you mean.

To the rest here, I will just describe it in your behalf.

Taking off and landing in Lukla airport is like in an aircraft carrier. Just that the pilots do it in propeller powered airplanes that fighter jets. Also, if you don't get take off by the time you reach 3/4 of the runaway then you won't drop into the sea, it is a long drop below from a cliff. There is a 12.xx degree inclination to help you slow down (after landing) or accelerate (while taking off)!

Some pics from Wikipedia and vmeverest09:

Thanks for the wishes krishnadavenur.

SatyenPojari: Yeah that would be nice but that will add more chore to the updated process

silver_falcon: The back has been complaining after sikkim. But the completely got away with the crash. it was low speed collision.

Yeah pranay: scary. more so if you are taken off guard. Prolly it was bettor with the ignorance.

Sorry guys could not pen down any updates spent time sitting on top of Namche soaking in the fantastic panorama.

@praveenkm: Its been adventerous ride for all the readers too, you have expressed yourself very well and upadting daily with commitment is highly appreciatable.

I would be very much interested in knowing more about your preprations.
I see some good set of latest gizmos on your side enabling you to take the next step decisions. Kindly share details about your phone, gps, laptop, how do you connect to internet and your camera and other additional stuffs that you are carrying. How do you protect them and do you also have travel insurance done? I see you taging you geo locations with gps data etc. It would be nice to know all tech and gizmos that you have put into to ensure a perfect travelogue.

Look forward to keep reading more and more of you escapades...keep going....

It would be intersting if you could also take some snaps to show more of local culture, people and some distinct habbits, this will help us to know more about the place and people. Otherwise its like touch, click and go....

I have seen some photos of kids, ladies etc from northeast that you have posted, those were really awesome..gives a sense of being there, helps in better visualisation of sorrounding and culture of the place

good going praveen.Really awesome. Few on my friends who are non tourers and they are just glued to this thread.

Just remember what i had told you come in one piece want to hear tales from you personally regarding the ride.When is your return back to bangy ?

Take care man.

Thanks Viny. I would really like to note down the details you asked for but running short of net time using it to update. Will surely type it out in my laptop and post it next time online.

Yeah Navnish: coming back is in the pipeline though. but kinda not sure when. WIll surely meet up

OT post Trekking no riding

Day 77 - May 24 - Kathmandu to Phakding

May24 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

For the first time in the trip i was all packed the previous night and all i had to do in the morning was freshen up and get going. Taxied to the Airport. They dont have ATM at the domestic terminal and i have to walk to the international terminal to get some cash. That was walk i could have avoided cos i want to save every ounce of my energy to the trek ahead.

Trek? still cant believe i am actually going to do some hard trekking! My be i just planned for 2 days 1 way. But still thats 5 days of trekking. Never done that before and here i am trying it enroute Mt Everest. If at all i make it to Namche i just hoped to get a glimpse of Mt Everest.

Got into the domestic terminal and it was very very different! I mean it was like local bus stand or railway station! The reason i would understand later. Not really comfy enough to log in the laptop. After security check got into the waiting lounge and saw this small propeller planes going up and down. Well well it will not be like a regular flight. When our turn came we were made to sit in a bus which just stood there for 15 mins. Then it drove and let us out near a small plane. We were made to just stand there for 20 more mins!! The plane was small the tail fin was supported by a string attached to the fuselage roof! Was hoping for the jet planes i see near by. Again why small plane? the reason i would understand later. Lot of helicopters in the same arena. Was skeptical about taking pix which i should have cos it seemed ok. There were hardly any tourists in the group. Looked like people in thier everyday life. One guy was even had a few dozen eggs!! Man every thing is so strange. Got into the plane and it was more like a small bus inside. Minimalistic seats etc. After some more waiting we are on the move. It was nice, as i was flying after a long time like 4 years. But this flight not really smooth with the propellers really making its presence felt. Almost forced my head out of the window looking at the world go by below. In no time we crossed Bhaktapur. 10 mins into the flight some passengers seem to be worried. And they the plane takes a U turn, also landed back in Kathmandu!! The same passengers who were regular fliers here were giving out gestures of relief to each other!! There was an technical snag in one of the engines it seems and so we had to turn back. Later came to know that they observed the plane kinda tilted to one side and they thought of engine trouble!! Everything felt ok to the ignorant me though. Any way we were sent back to the lounge saying a diff plane would be arranged. Had no breakfast and there was nothing in the lounge. Chocolates and small cakes were like 200 rupees. I rather be hungry!

We get a call back and what do you know we are getting on to the same plane!! Well ok. The flight goes well and gaze at the world below. Like i said it was a flying bus with bare minimum facilities. Yes no food on the flight. After the stipulated flight time we were going to land but looking through the pilot's windshield i see big icy mountains and no sky at all. Are we going to hit the mountains? the pilots seemed to be cool. And in no time we are approaching the airstrip. We land and boy do we slow down real quick and i see we are heading for a wall ahead! Slow down really quick and the plane turns right just before the wall! Still disoriented about all this get out of the plane and then only i realize the fact. That the run way is show perched on a cliff and is at incline. Which helped the plane slow down rapidly. That sent shivers down my spine. One scary airport. Some times ignorance is a bliss. A wall at the top end and cliff drop off at the other end. The pilots have very lil scope of error. Was like landing on a aircraft carrier.

Any way, the weather looked great. Sunny and cozy. But the airport was very small and small building around it. Its so claustrophobic unlike i imagined. Was kinda frozen on my feet thinking now what? One of the co-passenger the eggs carrier said i could join them if i want to. But no way i can keep up with the locals there. Took a few photos of the runway and get to the street of Lukla. A fone call like 80 rs a minute. As it was from a satellite fone. A sign of expensiveness ahead. Got into a nice hotel for breakfast. Talk the hotel guy and get some much needed info on the trek ahead. The food costed a bomb! 500 Rs gone! Thought may be i ate at a 5* hotel??! Any way i am going to trek now. I immediately feel the weight of the back pack. In just a few mins the back starts complaining badly and i feared the whole idea was a bad one. But i got lot of time any way its a short trek for 3 hours for the day. So i started taking plenty of rests between walks. The weather was very pleasant and the i felt a whole new sense of freedom. Felt great actually. I see these porters moving things on their backs with a big basket and huge load in them. The had this thick stick which they would place under the basket and take rest. Boy do these peole carry some load. I talked to one guy an he said like he weighed 60 and is carrying 70 kilos of stuff! Who says only ants can carry more than their body weight!! See many people coming back. Thats cos of the delayed flight i started pretty late. Most of the tourists were Europeans or Americans. i was finding ways to rest the back pack and was taking it pretty easy. Never straining myself that i get to gasping. Things were just great the trek was on pretty level ground kinda going down a bit. Clicking my way slowly. Prety lil buildings all the way. very neat every where.

By 2 pm i reach a town and i was really hungry. I had burnt off the greecy chowmin i had just in three hours!! The was a nice restaurant with a great view. Was presented the menu and shocked at the prices. no item below 200. Man foods real expensive here even in small restaurants. Then i realize. every thing here comes by flight from Kathmandu and every thing here has to be transported by the porters i saw on the way. There was this guy from the UK, forgot his name who was on his way back and he showed me some great photos he had taken of Mt Everest from Kala Patthar. Wow must be something going all the way there. But i am unsure if i can even make it to Namche. Have the chowmin and a coffee for 250 bux and miniral water bottle at 100 bux!! I continue thinking should i go ahead till Manjo to reduce the tough load tomm. But thought bettor not push on the first day and let the body warmup. In an hour's time i was at Phakding. Pretty lil town and found this pretty Namaste lodge. and settled for the day. Was pretty early at 4pm. Got to updated the logs. Was seeing people pass by through the window. No wheels around here. People are at basics of walking. Made it phakding alright. By now the back was complaining a bit less. Had a cozy dinner and encouraged myself a bit for the next day and dozed off.


The small plane to lukla


Inside...


In the air...


Tire visible from the window


The kodari highway which i was riding the other day...


Back at the airport after the tech snag








Back in the air and over Bhaktapur


Cloud play





Damn! are we going to crash into the mountains


Cos he is landing on the scray runway, is the pilot wishing us luck?


Check out the incline of the run way...


Just out of the airport


The lukla airport


The lukla town...


The yak!


Pretty hotel...


The trek path...


The carrier yaks!!


Now was talking to this porter. He weighs 60 and is carrying 70 Kilos!!


Pretty houses


Me really trekking!!


A town cheplung


All stuff is carried by the people


Views


The path...


One of the many bridges...


Flowers vivid...








One of the towns...


Nice hotel with a view...


Prayer wheels on the way...


Rare domestic chicken family spotted!!


At Phakding staying for the night...


Simple automatic door closer!!


Watching the people go by on the trekking highway from the window...

OT Post

Day 78 - May 25 - Phakding to Namche Bazar

May25 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Got up by 5 am and it was already bright. Pretty slow in activities cos of the cold. Met an American guy on the way to the base camp with a guide. Thought of teaming up with the guy but did not propose as he had made the previous day's trek in 2 hours while i took 4 hours. Bettor keep to my speed and take it really slow.

This was my crazy bill at the hotel:
Dinner Rice and vegetables 300 Rs
Breakfast chow Min 200 Rs
Coffee 70 Rs
Internet 45 mins at 10rs per min 450 Rs

And hold
Room rent for the day 100 Rs only !! no its not a typo its just 100, a third of my dinner expense!!

Looked like its going to rain today. Man its been happening in this trip then when every i prepare myself for some thing tough, it only gets tougher. Its supposed to be a 800 meter climb today and its looks bad above and going to get colder as well. Started from 2575 meters height. See many groups going ahead. In just a few mins i man made to use the rain gear. And man was i ill prepared. I could not wear the textile riding jacket as i would sweat in it and could not let is get well as well. The non-water proof back was supposed to go inside the jacket as well! Ohh man it turned out to be bad. The jacket on my waist, with the rain pant covering it and the rain jacket covering the back pack. Man i looked so funny. Few mins and it not working my waist getting sqweezed and its only raining. The Rain set the only thing i have keep other things dry. It was looking bad. Went to a hotel and requested for a big plastic cover. Luckily she had one. Put all the stuff in the backpack in the cover and now i could wear the back pack outside and boy what a relief. On cover made all the difference and now i could concentrate on the trek ahead.

The rain never looked like letting up and it never will for the day. See many people coming and going. Literally all the people are faster than me. I take every opportunity to find a place to sit and rest. The path gets to climbing. see these trekkers well prepared with proper trekking gear and i am stuck with riding gear. But still carry on with enthusiasm hoping for good weather ahead. See many yaks comfortable carrying things on their backs. Make it to Manjo in 3.5 hours by 11. Yes by now i am hungry. Had one more expensive chowmin and they even chareged me 50 bux for the charging my fone!! Its tough climb to namche from here. Its climbs and climbs and climbs. One by one many trekker pass me. I was shocked to see a group with few old ladies of 60-70 years on this climb! Ohh man trust me they passed me too. Well i have to deal with my mild disability of physical exhersion and take it real slow. Its many a steep switch backs ahead. If i just put my head down and climb lazily some time i end up going into a narrow path only to realize the path has switched back! Cross the river couple of times on a narrow metal foot bridges. Though strong it bounces a lot with other peoples foot steps. At one point just walk beside the river. Then i got to see the imposing long long long climb ahead. Going up from this side of the river way above cross a metal bridge and again go up up up. I just laughed. Now found a stone and sat there for a while. Let a few groups pass by and each of them had the same laughing reaction looking at the huge climb. Was feeling ok and took the the climb. Taking plenty of rest. Making it a point that i will never walk up to gasping. Just sit down till i breath normal. And move ahead. I just keep asking passers by how much more hours ahead and i just double it for me. Was a pain to take out the cam of feel bad at missing out few shots. All the while getting confident and thought what if i could carry on ahead? and get tired and say Namche would be enough! yeah with walking you get to think lot more compared to when riding. Man this is so much harder than riding. I eat stomach full and i seem to burn it off in 3 hours and hungry again.

Well yeah its raining still alright. Made the climb crossed the very high bridge. Was an amazing view of to river conluance below the bridge. Then its just switch backs switch backs and more. Now no more people passing me guessed i may be the last guy in the path now but for the occasional local peole who were walking their enviable swiftness. But i see one of the group ahead. Well looks like i am in a ok speed. Lot more climbing and reach Namche Bazar by 3.30 with 4 hours from Manjo. But looking at the valley Manjo was pretty near. just that we were moving vertically. Reached namche. Made it to namche in 8hours for the day. Felt ok without any pain but only tired. Could not believe i trekked so much and even made the 800 meter climb reaching 3440 meters. It was a pretty big town in horse show shape and lots and lots of hotels. Almost every hotel will have rooms. But its the problem of choice now. Wanted a good hotel with great view now that i have managed to come to this great place. Spend some half hour looking which hotel would have bettor view of the mountains etc. But just got into one Yak hotel which looked at couple of snow caped mountains.

Just got into the bed and soaking the achievement of reaching till Namche. Just did not get out of the cozy blanket till like 7.30 pm. Finally when i cajoled myself to take look of the town, everything was closed for the day. This is a town of some serious trekking pit stop. No parties here. people sleep early cos they get up pretty early to start the trek. Do some net surfing and get back to the hotel for dinner. Sleep hoping for some clear weather tomm so that i can steal a view of Mt Everest.


My small room at Phakding...


Way to namche...





The trucks around here...


The path up


The yaks climbing up steep.. And couldn't believe these were 60-70 year old ladies from australia ! they were faster than me!





The steep climb...





The greecy chow min and its gets burnt off in three hours!


Sagarmata Matha national park permit office...


in the park...





Climbing down from permit office...


Where is the path??


A resting horse!!


Man this is where e'one saw the climb and laughed instead of getting worried
one mother of climb up...


like this...


I am out of shape alright!!


The confluence...


Nearing Namche...


I made it...


The town....








Hehe trying to protect my riding jacket from getting wet. Cant wear it as i will get cooked. Riding gear not good for trekking... Has been raining all day.

This is the true - LIVING on the HIGHWAY!!!