Maitri Medical Trek

01/12/2023

Day 10: On our tenth day, we awoke leisurely, relishing the final moments of our trek. Our morning began with a delightful breakfast in Bandipur, fueling us for the journey ahead. As we finished our meal, we meticulously packed our bags, preparing to bid adieu to this charming town.
Strolling through Bandipur, we embraced the scenic beauty one last time, capturing precious moments in photographs alongside our guides. It was a bittersweet moment as we bid farewell to one of our guides at Dumre, expressing our gratitude for their invaluable assistance throughout our expedition.
Reserving a vehicle, we embarked on a lengthy journey towards Kathmandu, a drive that spanned around eight hours. Despite the fatigue, the landscape outside our windows never ceased to amaze us, offering glimpses of Nepal's breathtaking vistas.
Upon reaching our destination, we once again bid a heartfelt farewell to our guide, acknowledging the immense contribution of the entire crew to the success of our trek. Reflecting on the incredible experiences we shared, we couldn't help but acknowledge that our journey wouldn't have been as remarkable without the dedication and support of every member involved.
As we concluded this adventure, we expressed our gratitude to all who made it possible, eagerly anticipating the prospect of future expeditions, fueled by the memories and camaraderie forged during this unforgettable trek.

.med.trek .kumal .ramchandra

26/11/2023

Today marks our second-to-last day of the trek. We rose at 6:00 am, swiftly had breakfast by 7:00 am, and packed up our belongings.
As we woke up early in the morning, we were greeted by the majestic backdrop of Mount Manaslu, Annapurna, the Sundar Himalayas, and Lamjung.

Upon departing our final camp, the women from the Daduwa community bid us farewell, adorning us with flower necklaces. Ready by 9:00 am, we opted for an earlier departure to catch the available transport, as vehicles arrived every 3 hours.

Our team comprised 16 members, including volunteers, translators, guides, a nurse, pharmacist, doctor, and porters. To reach Bandipur, we had to switch buses thrice. Bandipur itself is a serene place with breathtaking panoramic views. Arriving there, we finally indulged in proper showers and comfortable beds after eight days of trekking.

Later, we strolled into Bandipur city for a delightful dinner, relieved that our responsibilities were fulfilled. A few drinks later, we retired to bed.

23/11/2023

On Day 8, our team reached our final campsite. We experienced a mix of emotions—joy for the journey and sadness as it was our last day. We woke up leisurely at 7:00 am and had breakfast by 8:30 am. Our regular duties for the medical camp involved setting up chairs and tables for patients, registering their names and issues, and conducting vital check-ups. Starting our duties at 10:00 am, it became easier as most of us had learned Nepali words to communicate with patients and locals, including children. On this last day, we successfully checked up on 85 patients, leaving everyone pleased with our work in Nepal.
We've covered lower back pain and joint pain in all our camps, but unfortunately, we lacked photos demonstrating how to stretch for back pain. Fortunately, one of our crew members captured some amazing pictures illustrating these stretches.

After completing our duties, we strolled through the village, enjoyed some beer, and returned to the camp. During dinner, we discussed our entire trip—highlighting the best parts of the trek, areas for improvement in the coming days, and the challenges of the trail. To conclude, we celebrated by cutting a cake. It was a fantastic day, and overall, the trek was an incredible experience.


kumal
.ramchandra .med.trek

21/11/2023

Day 7: We woke up easily and followed our regular routine, having breakfast at 8:30 am. Prepared for the final and longest hike of our last camp, unfortunately, one of our porters fell ill, and another strained their back. Consequently, we arranged for a Jeep to carry our supplies and the porters. The remaining group, including guides, a pharmacist, doctors, and nurses, embarked on the hike.

The journey comprised mostly uphill walks and some downhill stretches, lasting about 5 hours. We took intermittent breaks, having a packed lunch along the way since there were few houses on our trail. By 3:00 pm, fatigued but exhilarated, we reached our final camp and rested. The cook welcomed us with soup, tea, and biscuits—a heartwarming gesture.

After setting up our tents, we explored the village named Daduwa, taking a half-hour hike. Upon returning to camp, we witnessed a heartwarming welcome program organized by the women of the community. They greeted us with flower necklaces, Roksi (Nepali alcohol), and engaging local dances and we dances together —an unforgettable experience.

Later, we enjoyed dinner before calling it a night.

ramchandra .med.trek .kumal

18/11/2023

Day 6: We awoke early, as our medical camp was close to our overnight location. Breakfast was served promptly at 8:30, and after our delicious meal, we set up chairs, tables, registration, vital check-up stations, and prepared for patients. Despite a big football tournament nearby, we initially had fewer patients, presuming many villagers would attend the game. However, after an hour, patient numbers increased significantly, bringing us joy in being able to assist. Notably, many villagers suffered from high blood pressure, prompting our commitment to investigate the underlying reasons during our next visit. We attended to around 120 patients that day, concluding our duties by 5:00 pm. To unwind, we visited a local shop for some beer before returning to our campsite to spend the night.

kumal

14/11/2023

10/11/2023

Day 4: We woke up easily at around 7:00 am and had our breakfast at 8:30 am. We were then ready for a briefing about who would stay in vital check-up points, act as translators, and handle registration. After the briefing, we set up tables and chairs for patients to register their names and describe their medical issues. We began the check-ups at 10:00 am. We were expecting around 60 people, but to our surprise, around 95 patients arrived. The good thing was that the villagers were so cooperative, and everyone patiently waited for their turn. Most of the patients were quite elderly, and we were all happy to help them. We finished our duties at 5:00 pm, went to a small restaurant for some beer and conversation, and then returned to our camp.
kumal .med.trek .ramchandra

03/11/2023

Day 3: We woke up at 7:00 am, feeling well-rested, as our next campsite was relatively close. After leisurely waking up, we enjoyed breakfast at 8:30 am and proceeded to pack all our equipment, including tents, sleeping bags, cookware, and medical supplies. At 10:00 am, we began our hike towards Purankot, our second campsite. The hike took approximately 3 hours, and we arrived at our destination around 1:00 pm.
Upon reaching the second camp, we promptly set up our tents and savored a satisfying lunch. Following our delicious meal, we took some time to relax and then visited a nearby restaurant for some refreshing beverages with our fellow team members. We enjoyed a lively chat, shared laughter, and eventually returned to our campsite for dinner. We spent the night at the second campsite

.kumal .med.trek .ramchandra

11/07/2023

Maitrī (मैत्री ) is described as a both a concept and a practice, something to be cultivated. Its “far enemy” is a mind state in obvious opposition and its “near enemy” is greed. It is thought to be the building block for the other 3 Brahmaviharas: karuna (compassion), mudita (empathetic joy when others are happy even if one did not contribute to that happiness) and upeksa (serenity that stems from treating everyone impartially).

06/07/2023

Waiting to see a provider at one of our village clinics in Lamjung. Plan to have treks centered purely around women’s health education and concerns in the future. ❤️