Erin's Scooty Mishap

Another pain med?? Sure.

That is shock, not happiness.

Recently Erin took quite a nasty tumble on her scooter ride in Pokhara. Luckily her brother, Tony, was there to help her out. Erin still had to make the hour drive, in shock, to the nearest medical facility to get stitches.

Back in Kathmandu Erin tried to see her doctor to tend to the wound. Unfortunately, there was a riot that day and a burning bus in front of the hospital so she could not make the appointment. Two days later she went in and they discovered that her wound had become infected in the bone and that she would require surgery. She had it done immediately with several friends there to help her through it. We are hopeful that even though Nepal is not renowned for their medical services that the recovery will go smoothly.

This Thanksgiving, Erin will be laid up in her bed recovering, so please keep her in your thoughts.

Breathe.

I just returned from the most beautiful trek in the Langtang Himalayan Region. I decided to pick up the walking sticks and head away from the city and rejuvenate. On the seven-day excursion I was able to see four of the highest peaks in Nepal and well into the Tibetan Himalayan Region. The panoramic views from near the famous Goisakund Lakes, was stunning. You could see the peaks, Ginesh Himal, Langtang, Annapurna, Machupuchare and a slew of other smaller peaks. This area is mostly made up of Tibetan communities or Nepali Tamang ethnicities. The language is different from Nepali as well as the food and the customs. It was at times a very difficult trek, but worth every sweaty step. The great thing about trekking is that it really is just...walking. That is the secret. You just walk around and then stop to eat and walk again, look at stuff. Of course, when you get up to 4500 meters (14,800 ft) then it becomes very slooooow walking!

I met heaps of fantastic people along the trail and made friends with a few of the children at home in the villages on holiday. In one of the tea houses I stayed at, the woman who looked after the place knitted me some arm warmers. I want to sell them at Global Daughter, but the logistics of getting them back to KTM from 4,000 meters would be a nightmare. They are very cute, though and I look forward to wearing them this winter.

Life in the mountain regions is quite different than anywhere else in the country. Kids are used to walking up and down mountains, literally, to attend school or retrieve cooking gas, eggs, blankets... everything really. They will blaze past any fit trekker on the trail and they can handle the high altitudes like champs. They were born into it. On the trail I saw young women porters who weighed about 50Kgs (110lbs), carrying 40-50Kgs of baggage and equipment on their backs. Heaving up steep steps and dangerous foot paths. I was in awe. Some porters don't wear shoes and most don't have what we would consider "proper" trekking gear.

It was nice to get out into nature again after six months stuck in the polluted and noisy KTM valley. Out there it seems like time has stopped and it doesn't take you long to adjust to the pace. I sometimes forget that I live amongst the highest and most breathtaking mountains in the world. The trek made me realize even more how lucky I am to be here, in this place, doing what I love to do. The Nepalis I met in the mountain villages are so far removed from the politics and greed of the city, it reminds you that they are the most welcoming and peaceful people in the world. The simplicity of life is inspiring and the intense sense of family relationships is beautiful.

It is true.

When you sloooooow things down, you can see what you are supposed to... a whole lot clearer.

Langtang Peak. Dusk.

Breathe.

Flying kites is the coolest.


up, up, up...


Ginesh Himal, Annapurna Peaks from Laurabina.



Tamang village- Thulo Saphryu

This chunk was just sitting by herself, all alone in the middle of nowhere...mom was collecting fodder

Sunset


Knitting arm warmers by the fire.


4,500 meters- thin air and light head!

Harry and LLoyd's Aspen (Himalayan) Adventure

The start of the Annapurna Base Camp Trail


A treasure along the way


Rowing on Phewa Lake with the Dutch boys


Erin takes the helm


View from our scooty adventure


Riding along side the Himalayas


"Get 70 miles to the gallon on this hog"

After over two months in the dusty city of Kathmandu it was time to get some fresh air. Hanging out on Phewa Lake with our friends and hiking around in the Himalayas was like a dream. At the end of our hike to Dhampus, we ended up at a family's home in the village. The women, the only ones around, invited us to hang out in their backyard and enjoy their stunning view of the Himalayas. We drank tea, played with their children, and basked in the sun. They spoke no English and just laughed and stared at us with amusement. It was just a random schack on the trail- an old man showed us the way after we asked him where to get tea. The hospitality of this family is the true spirit of Nepal and renewed my faith in the general goodness of people. Erin and I also rented a scooter from 1970 and took it off road, discovering sights that represent the real Nepal. Now I know what all the fuss is about and my batteries are definitely recharged and ready to tackle the challenges of starting this business!

Flying in the Himalayas

Erika goes flying video


View from the sky


Erika flying high with a Himalayan Vulture on her 6


Erin heading to do acrobatics over the lake


"Fish Tail" Peak from the air


Phewa Lake and Pokhara

In lighter news...
It feels great to be a bird. This past weekend, we got to fly with the Himalayan vultures over the mountains. We went paragliding in Pokhara, 7 hours from Kathmandu, and it was absolutely breathtaking. Thirty minutes soaring in the sky with the Himalayan Mountain Range in full aerial view was such a freeing experience. About 3o seconds into the flight I decided I never wanted to come down. Erika got some shots of me (red chute) and I took some of her (white, red, blue chute). We were swarmed by birds playing with us and trying to land on our chutes, unfortunately my camera died and I couldn't get the shot. The silence up there was great and worries floated away in the wind. We give it a big recommendation to anyone who wants to feel alive.