15/04/2023
Recently, Our team had the pleasure of guiding wonderful guests from Thailand on the Annapurna Base Camp trek. She wrote a beautiful account of her journey, and we are honored to have been a part of it. Her story truly captures the essence of the trek, from the stunning views of the Himalayas to the warmth and hospitality of the Nepalese people.
We are sharing her story with all of you. It is always so rewarding to see the impact that the trek can have on people, and we hope that her words inspire others to embark on this incredible journey. We look forward to guiding more of you on this adventure in the future. Read May's account of her journey below.
Journey to Annapurna Base Camp:
The journey began with a conversation with Co, my partner about going on a trek, but I expressed my dislike for insects and was hesitant about trekking in Thailand's forests, where many insects fly around. Ko then suggested going abroad for a walk, and the word "Himalaya" came to my mind. I searched on YouTube and found the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) route, where I saw many people trekking and read numerous reviews. From there, I started to gather information and search for people to join the trip. The planning process began seven months before the actual date.
We researched and found a tour company called Friendly Trekkers Adventure, which provided us with great advice and support throughout the planning process. Despite my excitement, I was also worried about whether I could complete the trek.
Once we arrived in Kathmandu, a guide picked us up, took us to our hotel, and showed us around the Thamel market. The following day, we drove to Pokhara to prepare for the ABC trek. And our guide Kabi Kc picked us up and invited us to his apartment for dinner with his wife to try local Nepalese food called Dalbat, which consisted of rice, curry, bean curry, and other ingredients. After dinner, we went to buy some supplies for the trek.
Day 1: It’s time to go up the mountain
On the first day of the trek, we took a car from the city to our guide's house to participate in a local forehead anointing ceremony and get our clothes tied. Then, we traveled to the starting point, but our guide informed us that we had to walk for an additional two hours because the road ahead was broken. Our destination for the first day was Chhomrong, which was at an altitude of 2200m. We began walking at 9 am and reached our destination at 5-6 pm. Despite the long walk, the view along the way was already breathtaking. We even crossed a very long bridge that made us very excited. However, the weather was quite unpredictable. It was hot and sunny in the morning, and it rained heavily in the afternoon, sometimes even hailing. The temperature dropped significantly at night, and this weather pattern continued throughout the trek.
Day 2: Upper Dovan at 2600 meter
Today was another day of walking, just like the previous day. We started around 8 am and finished in the evening, with the weather changing just like before. It rained every afternoon, and we walked on muddy trails. My heart was racing, but what was different today was that our guide gave us garlic soup to help us adjust to the altitude. It was good for adapting to the high altitude, but not so good for my stomach, which had been upset for two days already. Eating anything was difficult, and then I had more soup. When I went to bed, my stomach was so full and uncomfortable, and the wind was blowing hard, making it difficult to sleep. I had to get up in the middle of the night because I was feeling claustrophobic in my sleeping bag. It was cold outside, and I didn't want to leave my warm bed, but I had no choice. It was really tough. Fortunately, after a while, I felt better and was able to sleep again. I forgot to mention that our very experienced guide Kabi gave us Diamox to help our bodies adjust to the high altitude.
Day 3: Deurali 3200m
Today I woke up with a still upset stomach, wanting to throw up all the time. Walking was tough, but the view started to change. The lush green forests turned into rocky terrain with dry trees, and the mountain peaks became closer. We finally arrived at Deurali, where our guide said we would go for another hour to acclimatize and then return to rest. However, since it was snowing heavily when we arrived, it was a relief to just stay put and relax. We played cards in the dining room and had a peaceful time. Actually, today was the most relaxing day since we started trekking three days ago.
Day 4: ABC 4130 m
Today is the day we reached ABC, but the journey was tough. The morning was sunny and the weather was good, but we walked on snow and ice, sometimes slipping and sliding. It took us a long time to reach our lunch break at MBC, where we had a meal that we had never tasted before because we were too tired to enjoy it. This happened every day. After we finished our meal, we were about to walk to ABC, but suddenly a snowstorm hit us. We couldn't stop walking because we had a long way to go, but we couldn't see anything. We just looked at our feet and the long path in front of us, while the words "tum plaa raa, laap plaa dook, ping yang gao lii, sai grok ee saan" kept swirling in our heads. We walked until we were exhausted, and we still couldn't see anything. There was no view to enjoy. We had to keep moving slowly. Slowly but surely, I walked for 2-3 hours and finally arrived. I was so happy that I cried when I entered the room and hugged my friend. I told myself I wouldn't cry on this trip, but it was so exhausting today, and the air was thin. I had to stop and take deep breaths every few steps. Everything was tough. In my mind, I thought, "Am I going to die here?" Anyway, I made it to ABC when I saw the sign. As for sleeping, I don't even want to talk about it. Just shifting my body slightly in the sleeping bag made me tired. Plus, the two heavy blankets were suffocating me. It was so hard to breathe. I had to do everything slowly and carefully. In my mind, I wondered, "Am I going to suffocate and die?" In conclusion, I didn't sleep at all that night. It was freezing cold, even though I wore all my winter clothes. I couldn't stay in my sleeping bag at -10°C because it was too cold.
Day 5: Bamboo 2400m
On the morning of the new day, the guide knocked on our door to wake us up to see the sunrise at 5:30 am. The view was breathtaking, beyond words. It was more beautiful than any review could describe. Since day 1, we have been saying that the views were beautiful, but this view was just OMG! It was truly amazing.
And then it was time to descend. It was tough, we had to go down from 4,130 to 2,400 meters and it was a long way. It was again raining in the afternoon. We arrived at Bamboo around 6:30 pm and it was already dark. We started at 8 am, which was later than expected, but it was alright. My partner Co had a birthday. Our guide Kabi surprised us with a cake for him. It was so cute and we were all surprised. It was a great surprise, and no one knew about it beforehand. We were all very impressed. Thank you for the cake Kabi.
Day 6: JhinuDanda 1780m
Today we descended even lower than the first night we ascended. Honestly, today was the most comfortable day. We walked less and even sang songs along the way. We were happy even though the rain kept pouring like before. We arrived at the accommodation around 4-5 pm, the earliest we've arrived so far. And there was even a bathroom inside with hot water for showering. We haven't showered since Day 1, so it was a relief.
At first, the guide planned to take us to the hot springs, but when we heard it was a 20-minute walk there and a 30-minute walk back, everyone said goodbye to that idea. It was better to stay in the room and enjoy the hot water shower.
For dinner, we had a great time. We ate and treated ourselves to some beer. The guide even brought some whiskey, 45.8% alcohol. At first, he didn't want to mix it with anything, but since there was no ice, we had to drink it straight. After a while, he started to mix some warm water and honey, and it tasted better. That night, our bodies felt warm and we slept comfortably.
Day 7: Pokhara
It's the last day, whoa! We walked a bit late today because it's almost over. We walked and met a Korean and Japanese couple. They were very cute and friendly. I spoke a little Korean and Japanese with them, haha. We walked to the pickup point and waited for the bus. Now we're sitting here and looking back. I thought the first day and the last day would have the same view, but it's different because we went through and explored that view. I didn't think we could walk through that view. I asked the guide how many hills we walked through. He said it's uncountable. When the bus arrived, we walked for another 25 minutes and then got on the bus to the city. Wow!
The trek has ended and there are two more days in the city, so let's eat some Korean BBQ and do some shopping before heading back home. Thank you everyone for traveling together, and thanks to Co for walking with us without rushing. Thanks, Toon, Deep, Mo, and everyone else. This trip wouldn't have been this good without you. Thank you for not letting anyone down, being on time, and completing everything together. Thanks to our amazing Porters and trekking guide, Kabi, who took care of us so well. He lent us his pants, carried our bags, waited for us, served us food, fetched us water, reminded us to eat, and even picked up things we forgot. He was so caring and helpful. I don't know what to say. If anyone wants to go to Himayalan trekking, no matter which trail, I highly recommend it.
Friendly Trekkers Adventure is the best indeed!
