Hiking the Himalayas is like almost nothing else you have done before. Before my trip, my only frame of reference was hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu four years earlier. Considering that was just a four day trip and only reached at altitude of 4400 meters, it really was no comparison. I did buy …
A First Timer’s Guide to Trekking in the Everest Region Read More »
It has been more than a month since I returned from Nepal, yet as I celebrate Thanksgiving this year, that time in Nepal is what comes to mind. As we were trekking in the Himalayas for two weeks, our group leader, Peter, occasionally had us share three things for which we were thankful. It was …
It was 3:15 a.m. when my alarm clock buzzed in my ear. I was already awake, though, stirring with worry over whether I would be able to make it. I snuggled under my two thick blankets around 8:00 p.m. the night before, trying to get good night’s rest, but that was all for naught. I …
As my departure date for Nepal drew near, I found that most people assumed I was trekking to Everest Base Camp (EBC). I knew I wasn’t, but the fact was, prior to arriving in Nepal and taking a good look at a map of the Everest Region (also known as the Khumbu), I really didn’t …
The Trek to Gokyo Ri: An Alternative to Everest Base Camp Read More »
Almost any trekking trip in the Everest Region of the Nepal Himalayas starts with a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, a small town that is widely considered the jumping off point for such treks. The only real alternative to flying to Lukla? Taking a 12 hour bus ride from Kathmandu to a town called Jiri …
I have never been one to take a lot of pictures of people when I travel. With my point and shoot, I could never get close enough to take compelling photos without making myself (and likely the subject) feel uncomfortable. I always felt like I was imposing. Even if I started chatting with the locals, …
As I logged onto the wifi at our lodge in Namche Bazar for the first time in ten days, I paused. How could I condense the previous fortnight into a single status update on Facebook or a 140-character tweet? Heck, how could I capture the emotions, the challenges and the rewards of the most physically …
Seventeen days in the mountains. Not just any mountains, but the Himalayas – one of the most famous (and highest) mountain ranges in the world. Sometimes I want to pinch myself to remind myself that this trip is really happening. Other times I wonder what I was thinking when I entered to win this trip …
My Biggest Challenge Yet: Hiking in the Himalayas Read More »
Yes, I am a cat lover. So in addition to all of the amazing history and architecture I knew I would see in Istanbul, I was really looking forward to seeing all of Istanbul’s stray cats (does that sound weird?). I heard they would be everywhere and I was not disappointed – even though I …
I stepped out of the Otogar metro station in Istanbul and looked around me in awe. I had no idea where to go next. I was expecting a single bus station with a few dozen buses sitting out front – not over 100 offices for various bus companies forming a circle around the metro station. …
