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I have arrived! My pile of junk in our hotel in Katmandu. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Mike and I in our hotel in Katmandu. The candle is because there was no power. Katmandu has regular power outages at specific times because they can't produce enough power. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Filling out the required forms for permits to go on the Annapurna trek. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Mike and I leaving our meeting with our guide and porter. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Mike, Andrea, Bethany and I on the street in Katmadu by our hotel. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Bethany, Andrea and I walking down the street in Katmandu. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Breakfast before we set out. Yoghurt, Fruit, Mueseli and Honey. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Waiting for the bus to take us to the start of the trek. As you can see, I have a slight height advantage over the native Nepalese people. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Everyone before the start of the bus ride - Andrea, Blaine, Bethany, Me, Mike. Photo by Blaine Franger (taken by Raj, our guide).
As you can see, most things in Nepal weren't made for a guy my size. The bus doesn't even come up to shoulder height on me. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Andrea, Mike and I enjoying lunch on the bus ride. Photo by Blaine Franger.
And what's for lunch? Dal Bhat - Rice, Lentils and Potato Curry. 22 out of 24 million Nepalese people eat this meal twice a day. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Mike telling me some sort of story involving an innuendo while we eat dinner at our first night on the trail. Photo by Blaine Franger.
After a long day of travel by bus, walking and Jeep, I was exhausted and crashed. Thanks to Blaine Franger for the photo.
Anish, Andrea and I at the start of our first day hiking on the trail. Photo by Michael Katz.
Bethany, Mike and I heading up a steep hill on the first day. Note the porters behind us and how much crap they're carrying! Photo by Blaine Franger.
Mike and I crossing a bridge over a river on our first day. Photo by Andrea Katz.
The river that we crossed the bridge over.
Another picture of the first river.
Anish, our porter at the river.
Here I am hiking after crossing the bridge. Raj our guide is behind me Photo by Michael Katz.
Me hiking on the first day. Photo by Michael Katz.
As a demonstration of my stupidity, I didn't think it was important to drink enough water. I ended up getting really dehydrated and Mike carried my bag for a bit so I could rest and get my fluids back. Not a way to start off the first day of hiking. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Valley and river at Tal. I can't believe that I didn't take a really good photo of this myself, but I was so exhausted after a day of hiking that I forgot to. Photo by Michael Katz.
Checking our altitude on my watch as we arrive at our lodging for the night. Michael is being himself in this photo. Photo by Andrea Katz.
The daugher of the inn owner where we stayed.
And this is the little sister.
Changing my socks during a rest break on the trail to Chame. They were sopping wet from sweat and I didn't want to get blisters. Photo by Blaine Franger.
This girl was chasing this poor goat all over the place until she finally caught it.
Why is just my bag here without me? Because I'm on the other side of that little hill getting my christening of my first case of trail diarrhea. Photo by Michael Katz.
We all take a short break after I delayed everyone with my side of the trail sickness from the last photo. The temperature was dropping and I wasn't feeling well. Photo by Blaine Franger.
I somehow found a groove for hiking when Andrea lent me her hat and I finished 10 minutes ahead of everyone else that day. I was freezing due to the weather and not feeling well from the diarrhea either. The pic from above was from earlier in the day. I'm surpised I was able to smile for this photo. Photo by Michael Katz.
Here I am later in the evening after the pic from above. Even a hot shower and new clothes couldn't make me feel better. I was extremely cold and the family of the hotel we were at let me eat in the kitchen to try and warm up. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Waiting in Upper Pisang while Mike negotiates hotel room prices. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Everyone relaxing in the lodge in Upper Pisang. We were catching up on our journals and pumping water. Photo by Michael Katz.
Mike filtering water in the morning before we set off for another day of hiking. Photograph by Andrea Katz.
After terrible diarrhea and getting sick of trail food, I bought myself some Pringles along the hike to Upper Pisang. It was just the taste of home that I had needed and somehow cleared up my diarrhea. The chips were so glorious that I bought three more tubes. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Here's the entire group at Upper Pisang before heading off to hike to Manang. Photo by lodge owner with Blaine Franger's camera.
Andrea and I on the high road to Manang. Photo by Michael Katz.
Here I am at Ghyaru at just over 12,000 feet. This was the end of our hour of hell in the morning on the high road to Manang. The next couple of pictures were all taken from where I am standing in this photo. Photo by Michael Katz.
Panorama from the top of the trail at Ghyaru.
Mike and I along the high road to Manang at Ghyaru.
Mike and I along the high road to Manang at Ghyaru. Check out that scenery!
Here I am with our porter Anish on the high road to Manang at Ghyaru. He was a loyal little guy and my buddy on the trip. He often hiked along side with me in case I needed anything.
Staged photo along the way to Braga. Photo by Michael Katz.
This photo was taken during a lunch stop along the way. These weird posters are everywhere in Nepal. Photo by Blaine Franger.
We all stopped for a rest along the way, and Micheal took this rather glamorous photo of me as I tried to lean up against a rock with my backpack on. Photo by Michael Katz.
As we closed in on Manang, it started to snow like crazy, so we stopped in Braga instead. Here I am trying to take pictures into the snow storm. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Here's our hotel "New Yak" with Annapurna III behind, just before sunrise.
Annapurna III at sunrise. You can still see the moon.
Panorama of Annapurna III at sunrise. Blaine and I had hiked further up the hillside for better photos.
Closeup of snow dusted trees on Annapurna III.
Snow blowing off the top of Annapurna III.
My alarm went off early in the morning, and Blaine was already ready to go, so I hurried to get dressed and out the door while the sky was clear and before the sun came up. I was in such a rush to get out the door, that I only put my long underwear on, and forgot my pants. I didn't notice until about an hour later. The pictures I took above show that my rushing was worth it. Photo by Blaine Franger.
After I got back from taking some early morning pictures with Blaine. I hurried out so quickly to take them, that I forgot to put on pants. Photo by Michael Katz.
Mike and I after I got back. He had elected to sleep in. Photo by Andrea Katz.
I had to get in this weird stance to try and steady myself to take a photo of Mike and Andrea. Mike thought it was hilarious and took a picture. Photo by Michael Katz.
Here I am hiking up towards the Ice Lake. Photo by Michael Katz.
Annapurna III along the hike to the Ice Lake.
Everyone on the way to the Ice Lake. Annapurna III is in the background. Photo by Andrea Katz.
Blaine, Bethany, myself and Anish on the way to the Ice Lake (15,200 feet) Photo by Andrea Katz.
Flags at the summit of the ice lake at 15,200 feet.
After hiking up 4,000 feet in 4 hours, the first thing that Mike and I wanted to do was throw a rock into the Ice Lake. Here I am throwing a rock into the lake. You can see it flying through the air in the upper right.
The ice lake after our 4,000 feet climb. Blaine and Bethany are sitting in the bottom right corner and Anish our porter is in the bottom left corner.
On the way down from the Ice Lake hike. You can see how narrow the path is, and how steep the drop off is as well. A loooooooong way down if you slip! Andrea is in the foreground and I am just about to head around the bend in the background. Photo by Michael Katz.
Here I am in my ninja outfit. I had gotten my face so sunburned on the ice lake hike that I needed to see a doctor in Manang. I was given cream, antibiotics and told to wear a mask to protect my face. Photo by Michael Katz.
A cow along the way to Yak Kulka.
Our guide Raj along the trail to Yak Kulka.
Even teenagers in Nepal like to own Mustangs. We got passed by this guy as we hiked futher towards Yak Kulka.
As we get higher, we're getting closer to Thorong-La. Only a few days away here.
The stove in Yak Kulka was dung fed. I may be full of it, but I didn't supply this one. You can see the sunburn on my face. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Andrea filtering water in the cold temperature in the lodge in Yak Kulka. Shortly after the picture was taken, I asked her "How many seals have you speared today?" because she looked like an eskimo. Poor Andrea heard that joke for the rest of the trip. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Eating breakfast in Yak Kulka before our hike to Thorong Phedi. I look stoned. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Here we are just after setting out for breakfast. Anish is in front of me here carring our gear. It had snowed last night which made everything look beautiful.
I had gotten ahead of the group and was killing time waiting for them to catch up. I amused myself by taking pictures of people going by. We're at about 13,000 feet right here.
It always amazed me how much stuff these guys can carry.
The porters always manage to make it look so easy, although the snow was wet and in places got very packed and slick.
This was a nice couple from Australia that I chatted with for a while as I waited for the others to catch up.
I have no idea why I always kept doing these poses with my walking sticks, but here I am on the way to Thorong Phedi. Photo by Michael Katz.
I was rather amused by this sign and spent several minutes photographing it before looking ahead and watching the rocks come down the side of the hill across the narrow path we had to go down. Fortunately, there were large outcroppings you could scamper between to get safely through.
Here we are in camp at Thorong Phedi. I'm showing off the altitude and have my hand in front of my face because I didn't want my sunburn photographed. Photo by Michael Katz.
Here is a picture of the camp at Thorong Phedi. (15,000 feet)
The camp at Thorong Phedi. Right around 15,000 feet. This is where we stayed before we went over the top of the Thorong La.
On the way up to High Camp (16,100 feet) during a day hike. Photo by Michael Katz.
Andrea and Mike wanted a nice photo up at high camp. Blaine had other ideas. I love this photo. Photo has been censored so as not to burn anyone's retinas. Photo by Bethany Franger
Photo of me with my bandana on up at high camp. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Here I am right before bed in Yak Kulka. You can see how sunburned I am around my nose. Andrea is all rolled up in her sleeping bag like a mummy. Photo by Michael Katz.
Here's the group on the morning that we left to conquer the pass. The picture was taken at about 5:30AM. Photo by Raj with Blaine Franger's camera.
The sun starts to come up as we hike up to the pass. Here, we are about halfway to high camp at around 15,600 feet.
The toilet at High Camp on the way to the pass at Thorong La. Nothing like dropping your drawers at 16,100 feet to be faced with the scene from above. Photo by Blaine Franger.
The group had stopped to drink some water when I turned around and snapped this shot. We're about halfway through the morning here at around 16,600 feet. You can just see the buildings in the bottom left that make up high camp.
A panorama that I took closer to the top of the pass later in the morning. You can make out a halo around the sun in the upper left part of the photo.
Blaine and I on the way up to the pass at Thorong La. Photo by Michael Katz.
Here's the entire group halfway through the morning on the day that we reached the summit. Photo by our guide Raj with Michael's camera.
The sign letting you know that you made it to the summit. (17,800 ft).
Mike and I at the summit of the Thorong La (17,800 ft).
Picture of the group with Blaine's fisheye camera lens. You can see how bad the sunburn was on my face even after several days of treatment. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Reading on my altitude watch at the summit.
Bethany and our porter Anish having fun pushing the bag down the mountain on the other side of the summit. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Michael was nice enough to take this picture of me, right as I sat down due to starting to feel the effects of the altitude. Fortunately we had already made it over the pass and I just had to keep going downhill. Photo by Michael Katz.
Descending after the summit. After hiking 2000 feet up to 17,800, you drop almost 6,000 feet on the other side. It makes for a long day. This part of the descent sucked because of the possibility to slip and go right down the side of the hill, which I almost did several times. God bless hiking poles. Photo by Michael Katz.
My boots and hiking poles after reaching the end of hiking down the other side of the summit. In one day you go up 2,800 feet up to the summit, and then down almost 5,700 feet on the other side.
After going without meat for quite some time, I decided I wanted chicken and mashed potatoes after reaching the summit earlier in the day. I paid for my choice the entire next day with the worst diarrhea of my life. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Hiking toward Kagbeni. After hiking for many hours, everyone gets a little weird. I'm evidently some kind of ninja here. Photo by Michael Katz.
After the beauty of the snow, it now felt like we were on Mars. The dark dots on the side of the cliff face are caves from who knows how long ago. Unfortunately you're not allowed to go explore them.
Doing laundry after taking a shower. Clean clothes were a luxury on this trip. Photo by Michael Katz.
Amazingly enough, Kagbeni had a little movie theatre. We all watched Blade 3, ate candy and drank beer. Andrea was disappointed, but for me, it was just the ticket. Photo by Blaine Franger.
On our hike to Johmson, there was a landslide about 50 yards ahead of us. A hiking group ahead had to scramble out of the way as the large stone on the ground in the middle, came down the cliff and crashed into the rock wall here. Mike and I were both disappointed that it just missed the cow on the path. Photo by Blaine Franger.
It was election time in Nepal and here was a rally in Johmson. These people support the democratic congress, who were soundly defeated by the Maoists in the election several days later. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Getting all of our gear loaded up on a Jeep before we headed onto our next stop. Photo by Michael Katz.
This little kid was playing with a flashlight at the hotel we stayed at in Ghasa. Photo by Blaine Franger.
But upon closer examination, this is the image his little flashlight was projecting. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Mike and I enjoying acting like little kids as we kick and throw big rocks down a cliff into a river below. Photo by Blaine Franger.
After being in the freezing cold only several days before, it was weird to be in the lush green (and hot!) valleys as we hiked lower in altitude.
You could find these guys along the way. They bite and are poisonous.
Stack of wood. Here's a prime example of deforestation in Nepal. The wood is cut to heat lodges for tourists. The Nepalese people don't naturally use wood to stay warm.
Local woman washing her clothes in a river.
Chicken in Tatopani.
The price of not having properly broken in boots. Here is a blood blister on Michael's foot.
After a day of hiking and a stressful bus ride, I was exhausted and crashed in Blaine and Bethany's room in Tatopani while talking to Blaine. Photo by Blaine Franger.
As we walked back up out of the valleys, the landscape became more rugged. Here you can see a house surrounded by terraced farming.
A house in the village along the way to Ghorapani. I lighted the lighting in this picture.
Fresh garlic at the guest house we stayed at on the way to Ghorapani.
This is the daughter of the guest house owner where we stayed. I had her give me the "Namaste" sign for "hello."
Before dinner, I took a walk to go take some pictures and I found this little guy.
This woman was watching me take pictures of the kids and when I smiled at her, she gave me a big smile too. I asked for her permission to take a picture, and was surprised when she said yes. We were two weeks into the trip and she was the first old woman to let me take her photo.
Eating dinner in along the way to Ghorapani. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Playing Canasta later that night after the power went out. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Along the way to Ghorapani, we passed through a small village. It was still early morning and the lighting was magical. This little cutie came running to the door when we passed and I snapped her photo. I think this is my favorite photo that I took on the trip.
A common sight along the trail, donkeys fullen loaded down walking from village to village.
Here's the path up to Ghorapani that we hiked.
Right after the previous photo, this guy was standing in an open field watching us pass by.
Peppers drying in the sun in Ghorapani.
This young woman was drying rice and let me take her photo.
A beautiful site at the end of a day of hiking, your room. Time for rest!
Sunrise just starting to show at Poon Hill.
An hour after sunrise at Poon Hill.
Here I am taking pictures of the sunrise at Poon Hill. Photo by Michael Katz.
Another photo of me taking pictures of the sunrise at Poon Hill. Photo by Michael Katz.
Sunrise in the morning from Poon Hill. The reason this panorama looks so short is because it is such a wide angle. The shots stiched together here are somewhere between 180 and 270 degrees of view from the top of Poon Hill.
The hike down from the Poon Hill area had us descending into rhododendron forests. Photo by Michael Katz.
The rhododendron forests were quite beautiful. Photo by Michael Katz.
rhododendron flower on the way down.
Cilantro drying in the sun in a town we passed on the way down. I couldn't believe that they had cilantro in Nepal since I always associate it with salsa and Mexican cooking.
This boy was pouting on the porch when we walked by, so I snapped his photo.
Bethany and I trying to take pictures of kids. You can see the challenges it poses when two people try to take pictures at once and the kids don't know where to look. Photo by Michael Katz.
Here's a local man in front of his store along the way.
Here's a little cutie making the sign for "Namaste" or "Hello" in Nepalese.
This old man let Blaine and I take pictures of him, then promptly asked for money.
Cabbage growing in a field towards the end of the trail.
These kids were having ball climbing the haystack and sliding down.
Since we were finishing at a lower altitude, there was more farmland and animals such as this buffalo to do the work.
Flowers along the river at the end of the trail near Birethanti.
The group celebrating the end of the trail with rum and cokes. Photo by our guide Raj with Blaine Franger's camera.
Anish watches as I pump water after a long thirsty descent. Photo by Blaine Franger.
I walked ahead on our way to the bus to take some pictures, and found this guy napping in a doorway. This is really the only good picture that I got of the dog, because once the owner saw me trying to take pictures of the dog, he started messing with it to screw up my photos.
This little girl was given a teddy bear by some German tourists. This is a huge problem because it gives them the expectation to expect gifts, and makes the rest of the kids angry who don't get gifts or treats.
As I was walking ahead to the bus station, I came across these women. These two women were sisters and I found it odd that they were eager to have their picture taken. I was happy to oblige.
As I was walking ahead to the bus station, I came across these women. These two women were sisters and I found it odd that they were eager to have their picture taken. I was happy to oblige.
Maoist election poster on the way to the bus station in Birethanti.
I love how they used stones to brick the windows closed.
Right around the corner from the bricked up windows, they had pepper drying out in the sun.
Onions in a local market while we were waiting on a bus in Birethanti.
The very hot, crowded, sweaty bus ride to Pokhara. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Billboard in Pokhara. Reach for the best noodles! The ones that go Shaka Laka Boom! Sadly, I didn't get to try these.
Another favorite billboard of mine in Pokhara, panther condoms. Anyone else reminded of the movie Anchorman? I bet they're made with bits of real panther and 65% of the time, they work every time.
Dominating breakfast at Mike's Breakfast in Pokhara. Steak, eggs, fried potatoes, muffins and orange juice. Fantastic! . Photo by Blaine Franger.
Men in Nepal like to get real close to one another, even just as friends. It's quite normal to see them draped all over one another or holding hands while walking down the street. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Showing off my terrible pool form during happy hour in Pokhara. Photo by Blaine Franger.
Trying to catch some sleep on the 5 hour bus ride back to Katmandu. Photo by Blaine Franger.
On the bus ride back., we hit traffic. Here's a shot that I took from the back of the bus. You can see that there is no order anywhere on the streets. People just drive anywhere, which is how you get stuck in such jams. There are no lanes or traffic lights, people just drive.
The spire in the Monkey Temple in Katmandu.
Prayer flags at the Monkey Temple.
Buddhist prayer wheels in the Monkey Temple. I played with the effect by spinning the two wheels and leaving the center one stationary.
These coins were for sale in the Monkey Temple. You could buy them and try to throw them in a pot at the bottom of a golden statue in a fountain.
This is the woman who was selling the coins. Her teenage daughter was playing with some of them and spilled them everywhere. Mom proceeded to give her daughter "the business" and when she noticed that I was watching everything with a big grin on my face, she broke into a big smile. I asked permission to take her photo and she let me.
In Katmandu, everyone took a trip to a market / temple area together. I have an obsession with photographing things for sale in the markets.
Flowers for sale.
Anchovies for sale. It was weird to see them in a big basket for sale all dried out.
No one could figure out what this was. Looks like some kind of seaweed or funky noodles. It was right next to the fish.
Dried Cherries.
These are all different kinds of popcorn, with the exception of the peanuts in the middle.
Crap! Right outside the temple you have all of the crap sellers who hawk this junk to tourists. I did spring for an elephant for myself for a whopping five dollars.
The stuff that the Nepalese people will carry amazes me. They aways wear that head strap thing too. They must have the strongest necks in the world.
Katmandu has a big problem with kids sniffing glue. Here is a boy around 12-14 years old sniffing glue. His friends busted me taking his picture and then he bothered me for a good 15 minutes asking for money.
This old woman was in the market as well and let me take her photo.
After getting back to Katmandu, I booked a flight to go see Mt. Everest. Here you can see it as the dark triangle in the upper left of the photo.
Here's some more of the mountains just to the west of Everest.
Picture of the main temple in Katmandu (Bodhnath). Notice how similar it looks to the Monkey Temple.
A closer up view of the spire on the main temple.
The eyes on the temple are supposed to be the eyes of Buddah.
This monk was at the main temple. A very friendly guy, he also spoke excellent English.
Here's another view of the main temple in Katmandu.
This temple Pashupatinath that Andrea and I walked to had monkeys everywhere. I like this picture because it looks liek the monkey is doing Tai Chi.
This woman was selling food in the temple Pashupatinath that Andrea and I walked to. The whole thing is full of monkeys. Her customers were eating some sort of peas when monkeys began to sneak up behind them, and she pulled out her slingshot to scare the monkeys off.
Here's a neat building in the temple Pashupatinath.
This girl was keeping her mother company in the temple. She was too cute to pass up.
This temple was actually used for the cremation of bodies. Here is a funeral pyre going.
I bought my sister a couple of these wool hats.
Rum and Coke out on the balcony for everyone on our last night together. Set the exposure for 30 seconds to get the flame jumping around.
Playing with my camera as we drank out on the balcony. Set the timer to 30 second exposure to get the clouds goin' by.
Whats the significance of this cat? A. It's feral and B. it's in the middle of the god foresaken Delhi Airport, which is the biggest, crappiest airport I've ever been in, in all of my life. Sadly, I was unable to get any pictures of the bat flying around.