My good friend Ricardo Hernandez has been volunteering in Malawi, Africa for the last month. He's been keeping a blog about his experience teaching children, many of whom have HIV. His blog is an amazing insight into a country that I've never learned much about, and it really gives me respect to see my friend back on the volunteering circuit again.
Ricardo and I met in our volunteer program in Ecuador, and the kid instantly became a great friend. I hope he continues to have success in Africa, so give him a little support by reading along with his adventure.
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Trekking in Nepal…Family Adventure style
The towering Himalayas are, to many travellers’ minds, the chief reason for visiting
Nepal. The country tumbles steeply down from the 800km stretch of the Himalayan
battlements that forms its northern border, and can claim no fewer than eight of the
world’s ten highest peaks – including, of course, Everest, the highest of them all. The
mountains are more than just physically astonishing, however. The cultures of highland-
dwelling Nepalese peoples are rich and fascinating, and the relaxed, companionable spirit
of trekking life is an attraction in itself. The Himalayas have long exerted a powerful
spiritual pull, too. In Hindu mythology, the mountains are where gods go to contemplate,
while the Sherpas and other mountain peoples hold certain peaks to be the very embodiment
of deities.
Most visitors to mountain areas stick to a few well-established trekking routes. They have
good reasons for doing so: the classic trails of the Everest region with its famous trails
like Everest Base
camp trek and the 3 high passes are both mind blowing ventures and highly popular in
the world. And Annapurna regions are so popular because they offer close-up views of the
very highest peaks; this includes Annapurna 1 & 2, fishtail peak and Ganesh Himal trek.
Famous treks like the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, Annapurna Base
camp trek & the Annapurna Circuit trek are some of the most famous on earth. Dramatic
scenery and fascinating local cultures are most known in this area. Lodges on the main
trails – some as sophisticated as ski chalets, these days – make it possible to go without
carrying a lot of gear or learning Nepali, and without spending too much money, either.
While trekking, you’ll likely eat and sleep for $20–30 a day. For those who put a high
priority on getting away from it all, there are plenty of less-developed routes, of
course, and simply going out of season or taking a side-route off the main trail makes a
huge difference.
The Helambu and Langtang regions are less striking but conveniently close to Kathmandu,
attracting a little fewer than ten percent of trekkers. The Langtang valley
trek & the Ganja-La pass are known trails in this area. This leaves vast areas of
eastern and far western Nepal relatively untrodden by visitors. To hike in these areas
you’ll need either to get set for camping and carry your own supplies, and live like a
local, or pay to join an organized trek with tents and accept the compromises that go
along with that.
With a good operator, you can anywhere in the wild. A Great Himalayan Trail now runs the
length of highland Nepal – though it will be for some time, if ever, before such a route
will be serviced by lodges.
Treks in remote far eastern and far western Nepal are mostly restricted to two kinds of
globe trotters, both adventurous in their own way. The majority come on organized camping
treks with agencies – in fact, this is obligatory for those areas that require a permit.
The minority are independent trekkers prepared either to carry tents and food or negotiate
with porters, or to seek food and lodging in local homes and basic lodges. Some great
camping outdoors include the Manaslu circuit Trek, Upper Mustang trek
the Dhaulagiri circuit, Rara lake trek and the great Kangchenjunga trek, both north and
south.
Short Trekking Route
Ghorepani Poon Hill trek,
Langtang Valley Trek and
Helambu Circuit Trek in Nepal.
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