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Tiger Balm Tales E-book – Annapurna Circuit with my Father
Blog: Ottsworld - 24 June 2010
Father’s Day was last Sunday; what better time to reflect upon my recent travels with my father. Last October I traveled to Nepal to hike the Annapurna Circuit with my 73 year old father. We hiked for 21 days with many ups and downs…quite literally. I blogged about each step of that journey here on my [...]
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A Little Reflection…Monday Travel Memories: Peaceful Vipassana Days
Blog: A Little Adrift - A RTW Travelogue - 21 June 2010
Monday Travel Memories: Peaceful Vipassana Days Begnas Lake outside of Pokhara, Nepal will forever in my memory be associated with my 10 Day Vipassana meditation class. This peaceful lake was my one source of company over the 10 days of complete silence and I stared at this lake for a full 9 days as the moody and shifty weather passed over the reflective surface of the lake – the clouds only occasionally allowing light to peak through- before I discovered that the Himalayan mountains are directly behind this cloud ...
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How Much Does a Bungy Jump Cost?
Blog: Trail of Ants - 25 May 2010
Bungy jumping is a rite of passage for today’s travellers. The height of the bungy jump, is effectively your travel penis: Mine’s bigger than yours. Mine was more beautiful. Mine went wrong. Mine splashed me. However, such mighty adventure sports can come at extremely high prices, and bruise even the tightest budget. Take your phallus [...]
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Do Travel Writers Have 9 Lives? I've Used Mine
Blog: The Indie Traveler - 14 May 2010
On the Coconut Radio blog from Tahiti, I was reading another Lonely Planet author's stories about bad, bad border crossings and
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Travel Before the Internet: An Ode to Post Restante
Blog: Coconut Radio - 6 May 2010
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Paparazzi, Pampering and Pedicures in Kathmandu
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 28 April 2010
We spent longer than we expected hanging out in Kathmandu. It was tough finding a reasonable flight out of Nepal that didn't go through India. We had already managed to make our way back to India after our trip to Sri Lanka, but with the new Visa rules, we didn't want to take the chance of not getting back in after spending the money on a flight. What else could we do? We continued with relaxing.
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Himalaya Retreat Spa, the Perfect Post Trek Pamper
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 27 April 2010
So you've roughed it for the past two weeks trekking through the Himalayas. You went for days without a shower, you braved the cold and carried your heavy pack. Your legs burned as you climbed steep mountains and you suffered greatly at high altitudes.
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Everest Flight, One Adventurous Ride to Lukla
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 26 April 2010
What is more scary than taking a flight on a small twin engine plane through the Himalayas of Nepal from Kathmandu to Lukla? Having to take a flight back in rough weather. After two weeks of trekking the the most famous mountain range on earth it was time to return to civilization. At 2800 meters, Lukla is the town where most people start and finish their trek to Everest Base Camp.The Tenzing/Hillary airport is a crazy airstrip dangling off the side of a mountain.
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A Thought From Kathmandu, The Mystique of Travel
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 24 April 2010
Kathmandu. As a child the name held the same mystery to me as Shangri-La and Timbuktu. Kathmandu was a faraway exotic land that people only visited in the movies. In today’s world, Kathmandu seems not so far away. As we sit in a trendy coffee shop checking our email, I can’t help but wonder if travel holds the same mystique that it held when we first started traveling.
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Photo of the Week – Barbot, Nepal
Blog: Ottsworld - 23 April 2010
Who’s Back There? – Barbot, Nepal Going to villages that are off the tourist trail in Nepal are the most rewarding to me. So when the principle of the school I was volunteer teaching at invited me on a 4 hour hike (actually it took 7 hrs) to his village of Barbot for the weekend – [...]
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Mountain Biking Adventure in Pokhara Nepal
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 22 April 2010
The sky was hazy when we made our way to Pokhara in Central Nepal. We were considering a short trek on the Annapurna circuit after completing our Everest Base Camp Trek, but once we arrived in Pokhara, we decided that we would wait for our next trip to Nepal to do either the entire Annapurna circuit or to climb to Annapurna Base Camp.
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A Home in Thamel – Ambassador Garden Home Hotel
Blog: Ottsworld - 22 April 2010
In the middle of the craziness of Thamel (the tourist district) I found this gem boutique hotel; a diamond in the ruff! What makes staying at the Ambassador Garden Home Hotel a unique experience is the staff. It feels as you are a member of their family. When my father and I arrived they served [...]
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Best and Worst of the Annapurna Circuit
Blog: Ottsworld - 20 April 2010
Tiger Balm Tales Vol. 22 Best and the Worst of the Annapurna Circuit Near the end of hiking the circuit, my father and I reminisced on some of our best and worst experiences over the past 21 days. We compiled a list of the best / worst of our Annapurna Circuit experience. Remember…this [...]
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Everest Base Camp Adventure, In the End it Falls Apart
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 19 April 2010
It always amazes me how strong the mind can be. We stayed focused and made it to Base Camp with big smiles and lots of energy. It was a little while after coming back down to Kala Pathar to rest that things fell apart.I made a big mistake trekking before my respiratory infection cleared up. Suddenly my head started pounding as I sat by the Yak Dung Stove. After I sat up and blew my nose, large clots of blood kept coming out.Dave couldn't help me too much because he was dealing with constant trips to the toilet and waves of nausea.
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Kathmandu Photography – Pigeons
Blog: Ottsworld - 18 April 2010
Venice thinks that it has the corner on the market when it comes to pigeons, but don’t discount Kathmandu’s pigeon population! They were everywhere, intermingled with each other, people, and of course the holy cows! Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Tweet This! Share this on Facebook Email this to a friend? Add this to Google Reader Share this [...]
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Kathmandu Photography – Boudhanath
Blog: Ottsworld - 17 April 2010
The Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath is one of the largest in the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is one of the most popular tourist sites in the Kathmandu area. Everytime I’m in Kathmandu it’s worth a stop not only for the stupa itself, but for thetemples, buildings, and people surrounding it. Monks, [...]
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Tips for Trekking to Everest Base Camp
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 17 April 2010
Trekking to Everest Base Camp has been on our top adventure list for many years. We learned quite a bit hike up to 5364 meters and have some valuable tips that we want to share with any future trekkers to make your life easier.
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Our Favourite Treks of the World; A Photo Story
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 16 April 2010
Through our many travels around the globe we have had the privilege of participating in some amazing treks. From the Highest Peak in South East Asia, Mt. Kinabalu, to the grueling high altitude trek up to Mt. Everest Base camp.
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Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 7
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 15 April 2010
This is the big day. Today we are going to Base Camp after lunch, but we have one final push to Gorepshep. How Are We Feeling at 5000 meters? I have been suffering from a cold since India and it seems to be intensifying with the increase in altitude. Every morning my cough is worse and my nose is stuffed up to the point of being unbearable.
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Kathmandu Photography – People
Blog: Ottsworld - 15 April 2010
Kathmandu is a great place to photograph people. Most locals are excited to have their photo taken if you ask their permission. However I prefer catching them in their daily activities as opposed to posed shots. Nepalese! Old, young, sleeping, working, spiritual, and happy – a broad spectrum of the people of Nepal. Stumble upon something good? [...]
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Kathmandu Photography – Markets
Blog: Ottsworld - 14 April 2010
The city of Kathmandu is filled with markets everywhere you go. The morning is especially active as kids make their way to school by foot and adults get their fresh produce and meat for the day. Everywhere you look it feels as if someone is selling something; produce, flowers, jewelry, peanuts, and guiding services! The [...]
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Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 6
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 13 April 2010
People were starting to feel a bit ill this morning and if we would have brought our Lonely Planet trekking book (which we forgot in Kathmandu and kicked ourselves about it everyday) we would have realized that we should have taken an extra day to acclimate inDingboche . Lucky for us, we felt strong. But other groups were complaining of headaches and dizziness that morning. Everyone pushed through though and we didn't think anything of it.
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Kathmandu Photography – Dubar Square
Blog: Ottsworld - 13 April 2010
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubar Square in the heart of Kathmandu is a must see. Yes, it’s full of tourists, however locals do go here too and that mixture of tourists, historical buildings, statues, and locals is what makes the site so amazing. You’ll see many Kasthamandaps or “Wooden houses” which gives the city [...]
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Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 5
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 12 April 2010
It is Freezing! Morning came too quickly today at Tengboche. We had our first fitful nights sleep on our Mount Everest Base Camp Adventure. The temperature easily dipped down to -10 and our plywood walls didn’t offer a lot of comfort. For some reason neither of us can make it through the night without a trip or two to the toilet when we are at altitude. We realized that we should have paid the 250 Rupees for a hot shower at Namche Bazaar on day 3 because now the weather is so cold there is no way we can face a bucket bath in a freezing shed.
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Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 4
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 10 April 2010
Today was another difficult day making our way to Everest, but we felt stronger as our bodies have adjusted well to the altitude. While the climb was steep, we didn't feel nearly as tired as the climb into Namche Bazar two days ago. It has started to snow and the temperature has dropped dramatically. We warm our feet with our new down booties that we bought at Namche and change into some dryer clothes before heading off to see the monks chant at Tengboche Monastery.
