The Nepalese

Nepalese...Nepali?  Not sure.  Wikipedia tells me Nepali is the correct term for the people of Nepal.  Sherpa describes a Nepali ethnic group from the mountainous regions of Nepal.  Fascinating people.

They've been hiking these vigorous trails as part of their "daily commute" for millennia.  They are built for the altitude and the mountains.  They are short in stature.  I wonder if the lower center of gravity gives them an advantage when hiking at altitude?  It definitely makes it easier to carry large loads of cargo supported by woven baskets and bands around their heads.  They must have incredible neck muscles.  A common "job" for boys and men is as a porter.  Porters get paid by the pound of the load they carry.  It is not unusual for porters to carry twice their body weight up and down these steep Himalayan slopes.  And often time they are just wearing flip-flops.  The young porters carry their mp3 players on their load and hike to music. 

My mom next to a Sherpa porter.  That entire load is supported on his forehead.  Amazing!

All the "rigs idling at the truck stop".

While altitude sickness is not a big issue for the local Sherpas, the government posts plenty of literature to educate the silly tourists.  Recent reports from 2012 Everest Expeditions indicate that there may be a record number of illness or deaths from altitude sickness.

Enjoying a cup of hot tea at 15,100'.  The highest point of my trek.  Amu Dablam Base Camp.

Durbar Square, Kathmandu

Waiting for my laundry to finish in the wash...perfect time for a quick blog post.

Below are a collection of photos from Nepal.  These ones were when we were sight-seeing around the capital, Kathmandu.

Miss Me?

I'll be the first to admit that I've been slacking.

I can assign blame to my busy work schedule, my fabulous vacation (to Nepal), catching up once I got back, playing for a regional semi-pro volleyball team, and sitting in my hammock (which encourages me to nap rather than blog).

My sister is talking about starting up a blog (url coming soon), so I figured I was in need of a fresh blog post.

Let's talk Nepal.

Amazing trip.  Rafting, trekking, sight seeing.  Mountains, small planes, lots of tea, Buddha, sherpas, Everest, altitude, warm down jackets, wood stoves, etc...

I have lots of pictures in a Facebook album.   Below are some of my favorites:

Mani Stones

Boudhanath - Largest Stupa in the World - In Kathmandu

Thangka Art

Blossoms

And now...I need you assistance.  Which of the next two photos do you like better...#1 or #2?  Leave your vote in the comments section.  Thanks for your help!

#1

#2

I'll post some more Nepal photos and videos soon.  There is definitely enough Nepal material to support at least a dozen blog posts.

Sister's blog coming soon....

The Futa

Got back from South America about a week ago. Spent 6 days on the Futaleufu River in Chile. Traveled from San Fran to Dallas to Buenos Aires, Argentina to Esquel, Argentina to Trevelin, Argentina and, finally, to Futaleufu, Chile. Almost two days sucked up by traveling. Not my favorite part of the trip, but necessary to get to a place that is so isolated. Necessary and definitely worth it!

Dramatic landscapes threaded with beautiful, blue rivers. Simple, self-sustaining farmers. Powerful, demanding river rafting. Charismatic, friendly guides and staff.

The one unfortunate factor was the rain. It was suppose to be summer in South America, but for the 6 days that I was in the mountains it was raining. Everyone mentioned how unusual this was, and how it was sunny and hot only a week before. I tried not to let it bother me too much. I was getting wet in the river most days any way. The rain also meant that the water level in the river was very high. In some spots, the water level was too high to safely raft, so I wasn't able to raft the entire river.

I got to try some sea kayaking and river kayaking in an inflatable kayak. It was enough to make me interested in trying some more river kayaking. Maybe in a couple years, I may have enough experience to return to The Futa in a kayak.

As always, I wish I could have stayed longer. It felt like I was packing up to leave just as I was finding a good routine and establishing relationships with the guides and other guests.

Vacation-ing the "Alicia" Way

I'm in need of a vacation.

But being me, I won't settle for a couple days on a Hawaiian beach or a couple days on a cruise ship. No no. I prefer an ecotourist approach.

Ecotourism (according to Dictionary.com): tourism to places having unspoiled natural resources, with minimal impact on the environment being a primary concern.

I'm not a "pure" ecotourist by any means. I still find trips to historical cities and ancient ruins very interesting. But I am truly satisfied and rested after an adventure to some wilderness in an isolated part of the world. I like being an active participant in my vacation. I like turning in at the end of the day and feeling exhausted yet happy.

I was first immersed in this kind of vacation the summer of 2002. My family joined a group of people on a river rafting trip on the Rogue River in Oregon. I loved the heat, I loved the cool water, I loved getting dirty, I loved paddling through the rapids. I thought the river guides were so rugged and attractive; I went through a phase of wanting to be one.

Throughout college, I had a couple opportunities to get out of town. In the summer of 2003, I went to Alaska and rafted the Alsek River; breathtaking and exhilarating.

In December of 2004, my mom and I headed to Patagonia in Chile. We hiked around the Torres del Paine National Park.

In the spring of 2006, I spent a semester in Australia. I got the opportunity to raft the Tully River in Queensland, and for semester break, a classmate and I drove around the island of Tasmania.

In the summer of 2006, I backpacked for 16 days along the John Muir Trail. This was my first long distance hiking adventure, and it really challenged me physically and mentally but I loved it.

In the summer of 2007, I traveled to research/teaching facility in Costa Rica. I spent most of the time learning, reading, and writing. But just before I came home, I rafted the Pacuare River; a short trip, but action packed.

In the late spring/early summer of 2008, I participated in a 4 month internship in Seward, Alaska. I didn't have to travel far to enjoy the famous Alaskan scenery or the wildlife; it was right outside my front door.

And...now...we are caught up to the present. I've been working steadily since Seward. Living with my parents has made it easy to save some money for my next "vacation".

The time has finally come.

January 2011 - Rafting "The Greatest Whitewater on Earth" - the Futaleufu River in Chile.

Read all about the river and region here.

Wish me luck! I'm so excited! I can't wait for January to come!