I’ve gone into a lot of detail about the Annapurna Sanctuary trek because it’s important to know all this information if you’ve never trekked before or want to trek in this area. There are almost too many tour operators to list plus almost every guide runs their own operation on the side. Before booking with [...]
“Travel Tips & Advice on Nepal”
If You Want To Trek… Nepal or Anywhere
March 24th, 2008 
Sheila Simkin 
Posted in General, Nepal 
Tags: adventure, Annapurna Sanctuary, culture, destination, event, log, nepal, sightseeing, transportation, travel, trek, trekking 
3 Comments »
Time to Reflect on the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek In Pokhara, Nepal
March 23rd, 2008 Sheila Simkin Handshakes, hugs and goodbyes to the staff en route to Pokhara while we drove on to the Moonlight Resort, staying for one night only. The Moonlight Resort was luxurious after spending two weeks in teahouses. A Western toilet, bathtub BUT…the sink water just ran out the bottom of the sink on the floor…no pipes. It’s [...]
Posted in Nepal Tags: adventure, Annapurna Sanctuary, culture, destination, event, log, nepal, Pokhara, sightseeing, transportation, travel, trek, trekking No Comments »
Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Day 12: Dhampus to Phedi to Pokhara, Nepal
March 22nd, 2008 Sheila Simkin Last night, the group ate dinner with the staff and distributed tips to them. Sherpas get 4,500 Rupees and Porters, 3,250 Rupees each. This would be our last night with the staff since they would catch a public bus from Pokhara back to Kathmandu. Vimal explained the pecking order of tipping and pre-ordered dinner, Dal. [...]
Posted in Nepal Tags: adventure, Annapurna Sanctuary, culture, destination, Dhampus, event, log, Machapuchhre, nepal, Phedi, Pokhara, sightseeing, tea houses, transportation, travel, trek, trekking 1 Comment »
Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Day 11: Jhinu to Dhampus, Nepal
March 21st, 2008 Sheila Simkin A statistic – The average age of a Nepali women is 56…a man, 57. Nepal is one of the few countries in the world where women die before men. Probably because they do all the hard work. Today will be the last full day of trekking but again, a very long day of approximately 7 [...]
Posted in Nepal Tags: adventure, Annapurna Sanctuary, culture, destination, Dhampus, event, Jhinu, log, nepal, sightseeing, tea houses, transportation, travel, trek, trekking 1 Comment »
Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Day 10: Bamboo to Jhinu, Nepal
March 20th, 2008 Sheila Simkin Absolutely nothing dried last night and we dug dirty but dry socks out of the duffels to wear. The socks from yesterday were still dripping. If we survive this trip, we’ll be in fantastic shape. Bamboo, at 2,500m/8,200′ altitude, was as cold as the Sanctuary. The day could possibly be another 7-1/2 hours with some [...]
Posted in Nepal Tags: adventure, Annapurna Sanctuary, Bamboo, culture, destination, event, Jhinu, Jhinu Guesthouse, log, nepal, sightseeing, tea houses, transportation, travel, trek, trekking No Comments »
Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Day 9: Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo, Nepal
March 19th, 2008 Sheila Simkin Not only did it thunder, rain and lightening most of the night but also snowed up a major storm. Wake-up knocks on the door at 5:30 am. Not that anyone was asleep. Between the thin walls (you could hear every creak, snore and conversation on both sides) and the cold (I wore Gore-tex pants, fleece [...]
Posted in Nepal Tags: adventure, Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Sanctuary, Bamboo, culture, destination, event, log, nepal, sightseeing, tea houses, transportation, travel, trek, trekking No Comments »
Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Day 8 cont’d: Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal
March 18th, 2008 Sheila Simkin With everyone at the Camp and assigned rooms, we all gathered in the dining room for lunch, to rehash the trek up, bubbling over with enthusiasm. Hot soup hit the spot and Vimal was going to take those who wanted out for another hike after lunch. Not me…I’d had enough hiking for a lifetime. He [...]
Posted in Nepal Tags: adventure, Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Sanctuary, culture, destination, event, log, nepal, sightseeing, tea houses, transportation, travel, trek, trekking No Comments »
Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Day 8: Machapuchhre Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal
March 17th, 2008 Sheila Simkin Huddled around the dining room table last night, our Sherpas and Porters entertained us with a trekking song involving lots of hand motions. They are all so sweet and work so hard. I can barely keep my eyes open and they are busy serving us, smiling and singing after carrying 40# loads and our backpacks [...]
Posted in Nepal Tags: adventure, Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Sanctuary, culture, destination, event, log, Machapuchre Base Camp, nepal, sightseeing, tea houses, transportation, travel, trek, trekking No Comments »
Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Day 7: The Push To Cold Machapuchhre Base Camp, Nepal
March 16th, 2008 Sheila Simkin Notes to self. TRY and remember that a “B” hike in Peru…is not a “B” in Nepal…is not a “B” in Ladakh…is not a “B” in Europe. The rating refers ONLY to that specific country! Why do I keep forgetting this all-important piece of information? Why did I think that the Annapurna Sanctuary trek graded [...]
Posted in Nepal Tags: adventure, Annapurna Sanctuary, culture, destination, event, log, Machapuchhre Base Camp, nepal, sightseeing, tea houses, transportation, travel, trek, trekking 2 Comments »
Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Day 6: Chomrong to Doban, Nepal
March 15th, 2008 Sheila Simkin We broke one of the cardinal rules for traveling. If you wear glasses, take a spare pair. Didn’t and last night one of ex-Marine’s ear pieces broke off from metal fatigue. Fortunately, his sunglasses are prescription otherwise he’d be up the creek without a paddle. Even so, how do you use prescription sunglasses to see [...]
Posted in Nepal Tags: adventure, Annapurna Sanctuary, Chomrong, culture, destination, Doban, event, log, nepal, sightseeing, tea house, transportation, travel, trek, trekking No Comments »
