My Shang ri la,

You made me happy,

You made me sad,

You made me angry,

You made me smile!

 

You confused me,

You made me exited,

You broke and safed me,

At the same time.

 

You made me struggle,

You made me fail,

You gave me believe and hope.

 

That I thought I had lost forever.

 

You made me understand,

You brought me back!

 

You made me feel alive,

You gave me freedom,

You gave me peace.

 

You brought me to my

” Shang ri la”

You will be with me for my whole life.

In my heart and my soul!

 

Forever sincerely

Your

Maie Anna (Didi)

 

Dear my loved ones,

Dear my Nepali family….

You made me to the happiest person in the world,

You opened me new horizons,

You gave me a new life,

You showed me love and peace.

 

How to life a loved life,

You showed me love,

In so many different ways.

 

Opened me doors,

That I have never seen before.

 

You teached me what “family” means,

You made me a member of yours,

Without asking twice.

 

You touched my heart,

Deep into my soul,

And you will always have

A place in mine.

 

You gave me a new home,

Filled with love,

That I will carry with me,

For my whole life.

 

I can´t find words to thank you enough,

So I will just keep silent.

And from my side,

His means more than 1000 words.

 

I love you all forever.

Goodbye my loved ones,

See you next time!

 

In love, sincerely

You’re Maie Anna (Didi)

 

“Basu daiba Kutumba”

Chapter 14: Excurse:With Helga thru Vietnam

Rain, rain, rain, oh and rain again??? I had a different imagination in my head if I am honest, but what to do. ^^. The it will be a rainy Motorbike tour through Vietnam also special experience and definitely wet^^

After 10 days that felt like waterfall showers all over the way, I can see a yellow round ball sticking out half of the clouds, and I can’t feel any wed drop anymore. Off course at that moment Helga (our motorbike) had a complete breakdown she was on the end of her nerves, what is kind of ok for an old lady. Thru that it was Vietnamese New year, where good beware nobody is working or moving at all. So, we stopped or where stopped in the middle of nowhere somewhere on the road, we were so lucky to find the only one in the village that spoke at least a few words of English and he really managed us somebody to fix Helga, so we are back on the road again. That was a small miracle, and how we could figure out after woods our big luck.

Finally, we ended up at the place that we imagined in our heads the whole time, in Bobby’s home. Bobby is from Sweden and settled half down in Vietnam since close to 10 years by now. A beautiful house with pool and terrace directly at the beach, and all-inclusive service plus private 5 star cook, Bobby loves to cook for his life. It is even better than a luxury 5-star hotel and much cheaper as well^^^.

And I am finally back at the ocean again, good I missed it so much never though so before until I finally reached it again after 6 month, already to breath the air of it without seeing it is making me incredible happy. This time my travel and my travel vibes are completely different than ever before in my life, I am travelling with a group what I never did before on purpose and on a motorbike a quiet long way, and third point as I mentioned lightly at the beginning in flooding rain and to the forth point I am not really exited or curious about what I am doing.

In the meantime, Saugat and I separated us from the other too, and create the whole trip a little more relaxed, what means not spending everyday 8 hours per day with 60 Kmh thru the rain to see every viewpoint. Now we just drive to a place that seems to be nice and stop there, maybe stay or go  just as it comes J.

After the second day after our split up we landed at bobby’s place, as I already mentioned a small paradise on earth. And, booby his own special kind of human being, and we have the pleasure, or the not chose able option to picture the life of Swedish motorbike club, just out of lot of story’s but well with his own charm.

On the way thru the dessert in the direction to Mui Ne, a wonderful panorama, kilometres of sandy made up hills next to the ocean, Helga is losing her energy once again. Just with luck we are reaching the entrance sign of Mui Ne. In the same second the police are so friendly to stop us, and leads us thru the next police station. Off course we both don’t have an international driver licence and as Saugat tells the officer he is from Nepal and the officer thinks in mistake Nepal is in Amerika, they put old Helga in chains. After farther going discussions we could buy her free for 1 Mio. Dong and she is making it to the city centre.

The first impression from the high recommended holiday place is, we found small Russia Resort in Asia. The small fishing village is still a bit surrounded by its old charm but seems to be a bit lost in the world next to tithe Beach stripe after the village is more a garden of popped up resorts and from the beach and the ocean is not really a lot to see. Anyway, on the next day we make it to a tiny part of the beached that is not owned by a resort giant and finally after 7 month my bikini gets to see the sunlight and I can dive into the wonderful blue ocean. J

Maybe we picked out the wrong travel time, over Luna new year that is celebrated on the 27th of feb and all prices raise up to 30 % more and half Vietnam is making holidays at the ocean

After we left small Russia behind and fixed our metal luggage carrier of the bike, that broke down two minutes after we left the hotel, we are reaching a wonderful coast road to nowhere. Off course the also here the half of the road is spitted by resorts, but in-between there is a beautiful coastline to see. It’s too sad that we are afraid to stop, because Helga doesn’t sound good again, so stops are just allowed where a Motorbike hospital is located next door. After 3 hours with nearly no stop we reach our final destination for the day La gi, a small farm in the middle of nowhere. I am wonderful relaxed and chilled out here, no other tourist to see at all, if you don’t count the mass of the Vietnamese’s ones. ^^

After a four minutes’ drive from the farm to the beach, we are surrounded by a spectacle that I have never seen before. Hundreds of people, drinking, making a barbecue and scrawling around the beach with Ochs cars are crowding the coastline, with a loud techno beat in the background.: D Incredible never saw something like that before, Saugat and I get watched as we are from a different planet. It is fascinating to see this, it is still Vietnamese new year and the locals are celebrating since over 7 days already.

After Helga since a long time just had a mini break down in between we are on the way to Saigon. We discover that google maps is pretty useless here and making a round around the city that just takes us 1 hour longer but brings us on a fairy and thru tunnel^^. After the stories of a few relatives I had a different picture in my head, I got told the traffic is massive and crazy as also the people. I need to say I found the surrounding quite normal for a big city.

After two days Sightseeing I am on my way back to Nepal with middle stop in chia again, as I already realized at the incoming flight, a smile is nearly impossible to get over here. Already as I left Vietnam the trouble started: “Where do you fly to? Nepal!”, “Really is this country existing?” and the main joke was: “The Visa you have in your passport is a face that can’t be a real visa of any country. I would have loved to say: “Oh yeah sorry I am flying to fantasy land with my fantasy Visa in my passport!”. After a longer discussion and I discover that the guy in Nepal that issued my visa made a mistake and made 13 day out of 30, even if my visa expires in the 17.02, I could check in. But just with the comment: “Your passport is so mighty because you are German, so we can’t do anything else about it” ^^

As soon as I arrive in Nepal a huge smile is coming in to my face. As I show my passport and my visa to the control man, he tries not to lose his face, after 10 minutes staring at my visa and me back and forward again and the question why I am not staying longer Nepal is such a beautiful country, he is reaching my passport back to me and wishes me a pleasant stay. I just waited that he would take out his pen to change the number of days in my visa to cover up the mistake of his college. I just love this country, it really feels like coming back home again so wonderful.

 

Resume…

After close to 2000 kilometres on Helga thru Vietnam from Hanoi down to Saigon under every weather condition to think of and repair consequences either of me or Helga, I’m definitely much richer with a few experiences. Vietnam is not my dream country and none of them I really need to return to. Said in an easy simple way not my world. The country is beautiful, the food is super delicious just amazing. But there is rarely a country that ever catched me so less before, I can’t really pick a point why. The Journey was like an extreme roller coaster ride, I took a few extreme intense experiences out of it, that I don’t want to miss and off course a good new fantasy story to tell 😉

 

Kapitel 14: Exkurs:Mit Helga durch Vietnam

Regen, Regen, Regen ach ja und nochmal Regen???????? Das hatte ich mir irgendwie anders vorgestellt aber naja was soll man machen. Dann halt eine Regenmotorradtour durch Vietnam ist auch mal eine spezielle Erfahrung, vor allen Dingen Nass^^

Nach 10 Tagen gefühlten unter dem Wasserfall duschen ist sie endlich da die Runde Kugel da oben am Himmel und kein Tropfen Nass zu spüren. Nachdem Helga (unser Motorrad) einen kompletten Zusammenbruch hatte und das auch noch am Vietnamesischen Neujahr wo natürlich prinzipiell niemand arbeitet, finden wir trotz alledem gottseidank in the middle off nowhere den einzigen halbwegs sprechenden Vietnamesen. Dieser konnte wie eine wunder jemanden für uns überreden Helga für uns zu reparieren und somit sind wir back on the Road. Das wahr wie ein kleines Wunder, und wie es sich herausstellen sollte unser großes Glück. Endlich sind wir da gelandet an dem Platz den wir im Kopf in unserer Vorstellung hatten, bei Bobby zuhause. Bobby kommt aus Schweden und lebt nun seit ca. 10 Jahren hier in einem mini Fischerdorf am Strand. Wenn Helga nicht ihren Zusammenbruch gehabt hätte wären wir niemals hier gelandet. Direkt am Strand am Meer mit Pool, Terrasse, Meerblick, Ruhe und voll Versorgung von Bobby der für sein Leben gerne Kocht, es ist wie ein 5 Sterne Luxus Hotel nur besser mit Privatservice, Vollversorgung und nur für uns für 25$ die Nacht.

Und ich bin endlich wieder am  Meer, es ist unbeschreiblich und ich hätte niemals gedacht das es mir so sehr fehlen könnte, aber alleine schon die Luft zu atmen ohne es zu sehen macht mich zu dem glücklichsten Menschen der Welt. Dieses Mal gestaltet sich meine Reise oder eher gesagt mein reiseverhalten komplett anders als je zuvor, erstens ich bin in einer Gruppe unterwegs, zweitens auf einem Motorrad, drittens wie schon leicht dezent im Vorhinein erwähnt im strömenden Regen und viertens ich bin das erste Mal nicht unglaublich aufgeregt und gespannt auf etwas.

In der Zwischenzeit haben ich und Saugat uns von den anderen beiden getrennt und gestalten das ganze etwas relaxter was heißt nicht 8 Stunden am Stück mit 60 Km/h durch den Regen düsen um irgendwo irgendetwas zu sehen, sondern fahren bis man einen schönen Platz gefunden hat und einfach da bleiben J wesentlich entspannter.

Am zweiten Tag nach der Trennung landen wir bei Bobby, wie schon am Anfang erwähnt das Paradies auf Erden. Jedoch ist auch Bobby sein ganz eigener spezieller Mensch und wir haben das Glück oder eher gesagt die nicht infrage gestellte Option in das Leben eines Schwedischen ziemlich üblen Motorrad Clubs einzutauchen, zwar nur aus Erzählungen jedoch trotzdem mit einer ganz speziellen Note.

Auf dem Weg durch die Wüste Richtung Mui ne, e tut sich ein wunderschöner Anblick von Kilometer weiten Sand Hügeln vor uns auf, just in diesem Moment wird Helga wieder einmal schwach. Knapp erreichen wir das Ortsschild von Mui ne als sie droht wieder einen ihrer kompletten Zusammenbrüche zu bekommen. Im selben Moment hält die Polizei uns netter weise an. Wir werden mit einem Motorrad Geleit zur Polizeistation begleitet. Natürlich haben wir beide keinen Internationalen Führerschein dabei und als Saugat dann noch Preisgibt er sei von Nepal und der Beamter fälschlicher Weise denkt Nepal sei in Amerika wir Helga in Ketten gelegt. Nach weiteren Diskussionen können wir sie dann nach ca. 40 Minuten für 1 Millionen Dong freikaufen und sie schafft es tatsächlich bis ins Zentrum.

 

Der erste Eindruck von dem hoch umworbenen Ferien Domizil ist, wir sind in klein Russland in Resort Stadt gelandet. Das Fischerdorf hat noch seinen urigen Scharm erhalten wirkt jedoch leicht trostlos. Der Strandstreifen danach ist Kilometer weit gesäumt mit Resorts und von Strand und Meer ist nicht viel zu sehen. Jedoch schaffen wir es dennoch am nächsten Tag den Minimal erhaltenen Strandtreifen für nicht Luxusresort Urlauber zu finden und nach 7 Monaten kann ich endlich mal wieder in den Ozean eintauchen ein herrlicher Moment J

Wahrscheinlich haben wir uns einfach die falsche Reisezeit ausgesucht da über Luna Neujahr das am 27.02 war alle Preise um 30% angezogen werden und halb Vietnam Urlaub am Meer macht. Aber zumindest durfte mein Bikini einmal zwischendurch das Tageslicht erblicken das ist ja schon einmal etwas^^.

Nachdem wir klein Russland hinter uns gelassen haben und unseren Gepäckträger der fünf Minuten nach Abfahrt den Geist aufgegeben hat wieder repariert ist erreichen wir eine Küstenstraße ins nichts. Natürlich ist auch diese zur hälfe mit Resorts gesäumt jedoch sind zwischendurch wunderschöne Küstenbilder zu sehen. Zu schade das wir uns nicht trauen anzuhalten, da wir Angst haben Helga könnte während der Pausenzeit den Geist aufgeben. Daher sind Stopps nur dort erlaubt wo ein Motorrad Krankenhaus in Sicht ist. Nach drei Stunden erreichen wir dann unseren Zielort La gi, mitten im nichts eine kleine Farm. Es ist wunderbar entspannt und herzlich, keine Touristen weit und breit, wenn man von den Massen der Einheimischen Besucher einmal absieht.

Nach einer vier minütigen Fahrt zum Strand offenbart sich uns ein Spektakel ohne gleichen, hunderte Menschen die trinken ein Barbecue veranstalten mit Ochsenkarren am Strand hin und her brausen und das zu ohrenbetäubender Technomusik: D. Einfach unglaublich so etwas habe ich vorher noch nie erlebt und zudem werden wir angestarrt als wären wir von einem anderen Planeten. Es ist faszinierend dies zu sehen und mit erleben zu dürfen, denn es wird immer noch das vietnamesische Neujahrsfest gefeiert und dies seit einer Woche.

Nachdem Helga das erste Mal seit langem nur einmal kurz ausgefallen ist und wir uns nur leicht so ca. 1 ½ Stunden rund um Saigon verfahren haben, dank Google maps das hier wie es scheint so gut wie gar keine Orientierung hat; erreichen wir trocken unser Endziel. Nach den Erzählungen mehrerer bekannter habe ich Massen an wahnsinnigem, verrückten Verkehr und Menschen erwartet, jedoch finde ich es relativ normal und geordnet um mich rundherum für so eine große Stadt. Vielleicht ein Effekt der daher rührt das ich mich schon so an das Nepalesische Caos gewöhnt habe.

Nach 2 Tagen Stadt Besichtigung bin ich jetzt wieder auf dem Rückweg mit Zwischenstopp in China, für die ich bezahlt habe 13Tage eingetragen hat, ausversehen natürlich^^, lassen sie mich dann doch wie schon beim Hinflug festgestellt ein lächeln ist hier nirgends aufzutreiben^^ Schon beim verlasen von Vietnam gab es Probleme: Wo ich denn hinfliegen würde? Nepal, Ob das Land überhaupt existieren würde? Und der Knaller hoch drei:“ So ein Visum wie in meinem Passport gibt es nicht, das hätte ich mir ja wohl selbst ausgedacht.“: D Ja natürlich ich bin auf dem Weg in mein Fantasieland mit meinem Fantasie Visa, dazu muss man allerdings wissen das das Visa für Nepal nur ein Stück Papier, Handschriftlich ausgestellt mit einem Filzstift ist. Nach längerer Diskussion und meiner erschreckenden Feststellung das mein Visum für Nepal zwar bis zum 17.02.2017 gilt der schnarchnasiege Visa Beamter in Nepal jedoch anstatt 30 Tage Richtung Flieger gehen. Jedoch nur unter der Anmerkung das mein Pass so mächtig wäre da ich aus Deutschland komme und sie mir schwer etwas verweigern könnten^^.

Die Ankunft in Nepal zaubert mir dann unverweigerlich ein Lächeln auf Gesicht. Als ich meinen Pass mit meinem Visum vorzeige, versucht der Beamte nicht die Fassung zu verlieren, nach 10 Minuten hin und her geschaue und warum ich denn nicht noch länger hier bleiben würde Nepal sei doch so schön, händigt er mir meinen Pass aus und wünscht mir einen schönen Aufenthalt. Ich habe nur darauf gewartet, dass er den Filz Stift herausholt um den peinlichen Fehler des Kollegen komplett zu vertuschen! Ich liebe dieses Land und es fühlt sich an wie nach Hause kommen einfach schön.

Resümee….

Nach knapp 2000 Kilometern auf Helga durch Vietnam von Hanoi bis Saigon unter jegliche erdenklichen Wetterbedingungen und Reparatur Maßnahmen, bin ich definitiv um einige Erfahrungen weiter. Vietnam ist definitiv nicht mein Traumland und keines in das ich wirklich das Bedürfnis habe zurückzukehren. Einfach gesagt nicht meine Welt. Das Land ist schön, das Essen ist unbeschreiblich Fantastisch lecker und gut. Jedoch hat selten ein Land so gefesselt, ich kann gar nicht genau sagen warum. Die Reise war wie eine Extrem Achterbahnfahrt, auf jeden Fall habe ich intensive Erinnerungen und Erfahrungen daraus mitgenommen die ich nicht missen möchte und definitiv ein paar fantasievolle Geschichten zu erzählen 😉

 

 

Chapter 13: Christmas in Nepali way

So, my Christmas celebration, how can I say, Christmas is not existing in Nepal like we know it from home. But in the year 2016 I had it 3 times right behind each other. The first celebration was already one weekend before the 24th, because a few of my friends wouldn’t be there on the actually date. So, we had hot wine and traditional Nepalis schnapps one week before. I even got a Traditional Nepalis plastic Christmas tree, I was so touched by this that I started do decorated with small wool animals^^ lovely special Nepali Christmas tree on my balcony J

The second Christmas date was then my real one on the 24th and I managed it to make my first Nepali duck in my lovely small electric oven. I need to say I was really surprises, she got close to perfect, I was not so sure about it at the beginning. For the Kings ending of the meal we had Kays (my volunteer college from keep) highly recommended apple crumble. Both off us where extremely delighted that with was working in my in-between down shutting mini oven. However, my biggest Christmas wonder /present was my shower that started to work on Christmas morning. After I got expert in showering under the kitchen water cooker for two weeks, the shower was not only working, she was warm not only warm the water was boiling hot. That was a Christmas miracle awesome.

The third Christmas celebration was placed on the 25th. As Kay celebrated my main day with me off course I was celebrating her main day traditionally with her as well. So, on this day a friend of mine arrange a big Christmas get together at her house. I didn’t know that champagne was the main drink being served on the 25th in the UK. I found out this is a wonderful tradition, that I will definitely stick on to. So, at the end we had a wonderful tipsy Christmas celebration. Even with a Santa dancing in a bar later^^. If I am honest I think I never celebrated Christmas so intense before than I did in Nepal even if this is not existing in their traditions. A lovely experience.

Finally, back to the ocean 

After my intensive month as teacher Ms. Maie, I am trying to catch up with all the work that I left in-between, what is slightly said a lot. But I have a goal to picture, that is named three weeks Vietnam on a motorbike a small dream is coming true. Friends of mine are already over there and I am following soon.

Kathmandu is freezing cold, off course not as cold as Germany and we have daily sunshine, but something that we call heater I just simple not existing over here. So yesterday night I had the pleasure to wake up by -1 degree in my bed, now it is colder inside the house than outside. Maybe I should drag my bed on the balcony but I guess my house birds would wake me up really kind and friendly every morning.

However today I already have the luck to hitchhike with the helicopter once again. So, I will spend the next 3 days before I fly to Vietnam in beautiful Pokhara, with my lap top on my knees and my office at the lake side in the sun. I’m excited about Vietnam, finally get back to the ocean again, I am missing it more than I can speak out….

 

Chapter 12 :Flying with the dragons of the Himalaya

Flying with the dragons of the Himalaya

After this amazing adventure and impressions and a free helicopter lift over the clouds, back again to civilisation. Loud, dirty and the smock is coming like a blanket over the helicopter while getting closer to the city, but I am back home again. The 1000 steps up to my apartment, are like an impossible mission for me, my legs just don’t want to move anymore like I want them to.

After the Family meeting on Nepali, German went harmonic and I got over my horror adventure with the cable car (even the view was wonderful, and we could see mount Everest in a mini version), we are making our way up to the edge of heaven into the clouds, flying over the Himalaya range, indescribable impressions are opening up. With the yellow and red racing dragon we start in Pokhara to see Shang ri la from above. I never thought I will ever have the possibility to do this but the best dad in the world makes it possible J

The Flight tourism in Nepal is nearly not existing, but who is searching will always find. After a few wonderful and relaxed days, including meeting with a Russian helicopter builder and his let’s say young and energic companion^^ how likes to show that he has slightly a culture shock problem, our way is taking us back home to Kathmandu with a short stop in Bandipur. Bandipur is a wonderful small Mountain village and before Nepal had a main road it was the main meeting point for salesmen from all the world. The Newar architecture and the biggest cave of Asia are making it to an attractive stop. The silent up here is lovely and Jerry that has his small coffee up there and as he says is serving the best cake in whole Nepal is a nice when also intensive conversation partner and host.

Sadly, our stay gets overwhelmed from sad news, one off the pilots from the Ultralight company Avia, where we had amazing moments with and a good time went down on a plane and didn’t survive this accident. Now the company needs more support than before, I really hope we can help them with the article for the German flight magazine and support them in good way.

After the small vacation into silence and peace its going back into the big brown cloud, by now the winter also arrived in Kathmandu and it is getting colder day by day. I am learning to hold the German heating system in high regard, a shower that is working, so as warm water. It is warmer outside than inside, and to wake up in your bedroom that has the temperature of 7 degrees is not funny anymore. Also, the showering under the water cooker is getting more adventures from day to day, but by now I am quite good in it….

Teacher over backways

After my short break and wonderful holiday with my dad, this is finding an end and I get the information, that I will be a teacher for porters and guides for one month.

It was at least really friendly to tell me this 2 to 3 days before my course starts, so I can get used to this information 😉

My course is set together out of 17 students, including two volunteers that are there to help me out as I discovered on my first day as a teacher. I never really had the intention to become a teacher, at least not in the direction of language. Even if I didn’t want to become it true in my head I was nervous before the course was starting. I think I was much more excited and nervous than my previous students. Even more intense because before I got announced to an English teacher I got told the course needs to be held from a native English speaking person. As far as I know I am not a native speaker at all^^. By know I can just say my expectations that I head got far exceed and I am surprised by myself. After four weeks 24/7 hours of working a wonderful experience came out of it. I never thought I could have so much fun while teaching and my English will be enough for that. I put a lot of effort and work into the course and at the end a great outcome. At the end of my course I got blessed with eight respect scarfs, if I can believe my two volunteers this is the highest as you can get. If I am honest I would do this course definitely again, the guys, my students in-between 21 and 65 where wonderful in there Nepali being and way.

 

Chapter 11. Tsum Valley or Hitchhiking per Helicopter

Thru my three-month learning process, how to deal with the nepali mentality the best way, I had the incredible luck to go on a trekking tour with my underworking company Magical Nepal. The thoughts behind this trek was a documentary as a teambuilding structure over the company and beautiful Nepal. My let’s say boss^^ that is my best friend in Nepal at the same time, gives me the possibility to be free and flexible in my working style and time what is great. The set-up tour was going over 21 days thru Tsum Valley which trekking rout is just existing since three years and thru that it is still a quiet unknown area as also closed to untouched, the rest of the trek will lead us thru the more famous Manaslu trek, that is already a lot more developed. My own journey was just the part of the Tsum Valley area and I loved it. No Mass tourism or waiting in a line to climb the Mountain still so quiet and original. The Group that was doing the trek was set together by 8 clients around the Age of 60 from France and the UK, they after we noticed after a while more raced thru the mountains then having a nice walking tour thru the Himalaya. While I was miles away from running, and walked slowly with the boy in the back, Sanjay and Aphantar our camera team was highly motivated thru this was also the first real trek for them like it was for me. So, we stopped on every little corner for smoking a cigarette and catching the beauty of our surrounding on film. For me this was an awesome experience, not only because this was one of my first bigger treks, also because I had the luck to see everything out of another perspective and document it out of a non-tourist way. Thru Saugat and Prakash our Tour guide I had the possibility to discover the real Nepali Mountain life, to dive in to the local perspective and see the Tourist one from the top.

But you should know that the Nepalese have a completely different understanding and view from the word trekking than we do. They walk as long as they can and until it is getting dark, and they get lost. And when you are lucky you will find a place to sleep. Plan, rout or Map who needs that? At one point, somehow you will reach anywhere anyway^^

The “Streets” in the mountains are if you see it like that “Autobahnen” (Highways) for donkeys, they always are racing you from the side without setting a light for blinking. So, you need to watch out like a fox not to roll down the mountain on the wrong side when they pump into you. The most used term of greeting you here is “Namaste Choclate?” or if you get higher “Namaste, Ballon?”

This is he road to hell…

Day 1. Why I am doing this again?

On the way thru the mountains, on the first, so I thought street to death, in a still quiet luxuries Jeep in the back on the bags. Already now everything of my body is hurting^^

 

Day 2. Why do I do this again?

Two more hours’ drive thru the mountains on the real road to death. Also, called the Bus drive thru Nirvana. Realisation of the day: I will never carry my own Back pack again with the wait of 12 kg thru the mountains. But anyway, already after the second day I had the full respect of our 9 headed Porter crew, that was carrying the luggage of our clients all the way. Everybody would like to try my back pack in-between to give me the comment it is really heavy. Oh, yeah thanks I didn’t notice that by now^^

Day 3: Why I am doing this again? Arrived in the Manaslu Resort area…

Five hours walking without a real break, today we need to watch out that we stick to our retired Marathon group, it is an eight-hour walking day, what means for us 10 hours^^ It would make a lot of sense to reach our destination still thru daylight. I have the feeling I need to die, and my back pack is getting heavier and heavier every minute, I think somebody is putting stones in it just when I am not watching. On this day, I’m happy about my stubborn habit and at the end I am getting all my last energy reserves out of my pocket (I am really struggling and fighting with myself). The boys got lost somewhere in the dark (as I said Nepali way of trekking). But to our luck we have our live saving porters that are coming back to find and help.

Realization of the day: I won’t walk back this way by myself doesn’t matter what will happen.

Day 4: This is he road to hell- Chichopani (cold water)

The first short day, only 3 hours of walking, so for us just 5 hours ^^I think my feeds and my hips died in the last few days. Wonderful camera and film shootings with me in the main role, I get told not to look so tired all the time and to tell my hair it shouldn’t always stand up like a sun flower. By now I think I’m walking my realization path as a pilgrim for beginners, because I am getting told this is one of the easy route in the Himalayas all the time. Okay maybe for sporty and healthy, non-drinking and smoking, there live enjoying people this might be true. Anyway, it is also a lot of fun, especially with the team, the feelings are similar, so we hold each other up together, and work intensive on our deep dark sarcastic humour.

Day 5: On the donkey railway to Chimbling

It still feels half like the road of hell, even if I think this won’t be as beautiful as the surrounding I am walking through. We are climbing from 1000meters up to 26000, even if it goes down. The up-climbing part is let’s say it like this the topping of the last few days, my personal Limit, maybe I just should role down the mountain again together with my back pack, would be something as well^^But the lesson for today teaches me, if nothing is going on anymore, just smoke another joint this puts everything in a different light. As already the days before you need to be aware of the busy traffic of the Mountain roads, since two days it is not possible to get up here by a normal vehicle anymore, so the only possible transportation are donkeys so it is full with donkey traffic everywhere, if you hear a bell ringing from far away watch out and search for a safe place to let them pas, never pick one on the wrong side of the road. Lesson of the day: Even in the mountains there is an offroad road from the offroad road existing. Because we don’t have enough adventure so far, we are trying our luck with a short cut way, to not to lose the other half of the group completely, climbing adventure over a raising river. Also, I am overtaking my fears everyday new, today the way leaded me over a one kilometre long suspension bridge, as I arrived in the middle of it the half of the bridge was gone. They told me at the moment it is in repair work, so I just should step on the tiny steal sticks that where still left over and weren’t looking save at all, but even the donkeys are making it so why shouldn’t I? For the topping I needed to pay bridge toll for the repair work on the bridge, but at least after that a local was so friendly to help me over the dangerous part of the bridge, because I left the boys far behind and the other half of the group in front of me.

Never in my life before I have seen such an amazing as beautiful sky full of stars, I was aware that star twinkling is existing but I never saw it like this before, it was just breath taking. The Milkiway was stretched around our heads and the Galaxy was shining like an ocean of lights twinkling down to us on earth. As reward for my adventures day, I was allowed to sit in the private kitchen together with the guys and porters, around the hot fire oven and a glass of hot mountain Rum in my hands.

Day 6: Walking thru weedland and the meeting with my first stoned cow

Nepal is one of the biggest exporter’s for Weed I thought I was dreaming as I walked to fields full of weed, that where three times as big as I am. The half of it dried at the side way, or eaten by smacking happy mountain cows. The reality is the people here see it more as disturbing weed, so it’s free for everyone who wants to take it, this let me stand-up again after my half breakdown under my backpack. By know we made it up to 3000 meters, what makes you feel like you are carrying five times the weight on your back that you in reality do. But right know you start to see the beautiful small and nonsense things in life in a different light. Know I have the opinion that a shower and the washing of cloth has a to high priority in life. Especially under the aspect if the shower is a bucket filled with cold water and the toilet just a small hole in the ground. It is much easier just to keep the sweaty close on and to use them as a combination out of night dress and day outfit.

Day 7: My Shangri la in the clouds/Mu Gompa 3700 Meter

On this day, we get to see the real beauty of the Valley, the Landscape around us is indescribable and breath taking beautiful. The steps get slower every minute, even if you try to go quicker it is impossible, I never thought you can feel the high so extreme in your bones. We are climbing up to the Monastry Mu Gompa where the monks live a solitary life, really high on the top of a mountain. Already from far away the cold wind is blowing the sound of bells down to us and you get the feeling to dive in to a new magical world. In the night as I am sitting on the roof of the Monastry surrounded by white Mountain peaks and watch the stars I am speechless. I already saw a lot in my life and off course it will still get more, but I never thought I will find myself one time in such a place, On the roof top of the world, the Himalaya surrounded by so amazing and beautiful people.

We were lucky to get a small “room” with to small beds where we could sleep in with 7 people and could try to forget about the cold thru the beauty that surrounded us.

Day 8: The whole thing backwards and up again

On the way, back we are taking a different route than before, on that we pass a second Monastry or let’s say nunnery. The Monastry is held alive with 60 nuns, they are all dresses the same way than their male colleges When I heard the word nun so far, I always needed to think about the women that are dressed in black and white. Up here everything is so different colourful and happy, the Tibetan Buddhism has its home and heart here. Today we stay a little bit back from the main group again, we have time so I have the possibility to see and feel the life on Nepal’s Mountain streets intense. If I write it down by know it sounds more like a beginning of a joke. A nun, a Sherpa, a boy from the city and a completely hammered farmer with his cow meet on a street in the middle of nowhere J  Not to forget the huge Mountain Yaks that are passing by the whole time. I got told if they are mad with you at one point, they will let you know for the rest of their life. They walk up to the peaks of the mountains, where the farmer needs to get them down, if you are able to find them and get them dragged down under pressure.

Day 9: Back to rum and fire

If you see it like this my last day with the group, after that we will split the ways, I will try to run down the mountain as quick as possible, and the other half of the group will continue the way to the Manaslu trek in the next morning. One of our eight funny and lovely oldies (5 times as fit as we are^^) is not feeling well. He is already a little moody since the beginning, I think he is homesick after his wife as really having an urgent sickness. I am tacking my first garden hose shower under cold mountain water under the sun after seven days and it is feeling incredible great. In the evening, Richard, our Homesick client decides to stop the tour for him, because he isn’t sure if he can make it up the next part of the trek with his cold. In this moment, a great option is popping up for me, I could either walk or run down three days the mountain by myself or I could catch this moment to get my thumb out and tramp with Richard on the Helicopter that will come to pick him up. After intense thinking of my possibility’s I made my decision after 2 seconds

Day 10: Hitch hiking by Helicopter

In the early morning, the Helicopter is coming to pick us up, you need to see it like this, the helicopter is the bus in the mountains when nothing else is going on anymore. There is no other possibility, if you don’t want to get carried down on the back of a donkey or walk down the Mountain. So, I had the luck to experience this special adventure to get a 40-min free flight over the Himalaya. As we arrive in Kathmandu the Ambulance is already waiting at the airport, they are so friendly also to give me a lift, so I don’t have any stress with the security control at the airport and get a free drive close to the city.