The past few weeks have been deceptively busy though looking back it doesn't seem like we did a ton. We spent a week making ice tea of various strengths, sugar contents and flavors. At one point we had 4 volunteers doing a blind tasting of 24 different variations! In the end, we settled on a recipe and started figuring out how to produce it on a larger scale.   

The week after, dad and his friend norman came to visit for a few days. Norman is on a trip through northern india for his work and dad was tagging along. It was really good to see them although they were only there for a short time. We went for a couple short hikes and enjoyed hanging out by the lake. 

Last week, we took the bus to Kathmandu in order to work on a couple websites for some businesses headquartered in the capital. KTM is a rather crowded, dirty place. People poo on the sidewalks and there are animals everywhere. Some areas a really old with super narrow streets and stone buildings with 4 foot high doors and labyrinth-like alleys. 

Last night we met up with our hotel owner from Pokhara who just moved to KTM and is opening a big 6floor, 30 room hotel in the middle of the tourist maze. He's kind of a big deal.

To get there we got a ride from two of the nepalis from the granola bar factory on the back of their bikes. Zooming across town through KTM rush hour was quite the experience. 

We made it and got a tour of his new place. It still needs a lot of work but once it's done it will be quite nice. We then hung out by a garbage can fire for a while with him and his landlord, the local property tycoon, before getting a tour of the neighborhood.  He called up two of his managers (and cousins i think) and we went for some local nepali food. It was quite good though I ate way too much as they kept refilling our plates. We we were done he called up his driver and car and they drove us home.  Fun night all around. 

The following pictures are a random assortment from our commute to work. (probably the prettiest commute ever)

Fruit Salesman

Believe it or not, this is one of the main intersections in town. It always seems to be full or dirt and 15ft deep holes.

Bamboo truck

Happy monk on scooter

The buffalos are always trying to get into the garden.

Laundry day

Rotor tiller trailors everywhere. They're so noisy

Rice delivery

This truck missed the bridge...oops

Local garbage collection center in KTM. Toronto summer 09 anyone?

We just got back from our hike into the annapurna sanctuary. Quite an amazing place. The route is a pretty popular one and is usually done in 7-10 days though we did it in 5. We were motivated to get back for monday morning as that way we wouldn't be taking any days off from work and another, longer trek next month will be a easier sell. Also, we quickly realized that it was going to be close with the amount of cash we brought along as prices go up significantly the farther you get from the road. In all of the villages where we stayed, everything has to be carried in as there are no roads, just little paths. If the hills aren't too steep, mules can carry stuff in but usually everything arrives on the back of an old lady.
We started our trip at the local bus station where we caught the first bus out of town. The inside of the bus was already full so they made us ride on the roof on the giant roof racks. It was actually better up there as the breeze was very nice and we weren't in the super crowded and stinky inside. The view was also pretty awesome while weaving through the hills towards the mountains.
Two hours later we arrived at the trail head where we got our permits stamped and set off. There is a saying that there are only two directions in nepal, Up and Down. That pretty much sums up trekking here as your are always going up one side of a valley or down the other. The path is generally very steep with large stone steps. We got some rain the first day too and the leaches came out. They move like inch worms and are rather active, always trying to crawl down your socks.
At night, we'd stop at a little village, each with little guest houses. Talking to people who had done the trek in the past, we were convinced that everywhere provided blankets and sleeping bags weren't really needed. So convincing where the multiple people we talked to that.. we didn't take them. Upon arrival in the hills, however, we learned that blankets were only for the porters. We almost froze the first two nights in the fetal position with all our clothes on. At annapurna base camp, thankfully, we found some blankets which was nice as it got down to 7 degrees and we were in the middle of a cloud.
Overall, the weather wasn't great with clouds obscuring the mountains most days. Once and a while the clouds would break and we'd catch a peak which was nice.
After five, eight hour days of speed walking through the himalayas, our legs were rather tired at it was time to get back. Our bus broke down on the way home (sounded like the transmission fell out and landed on the road) but we just hopped on the next bus.

Back with the Tibetans, we've switched gears and started working on some Ice tea recipes so that the factory doesn't have to be dependent on seasonal fruit. It seems promising but full production is a fair ways off.

Party Bus!

We shared the trail with various livestock

Breakfast at dawn

Our path went up the far valley

Looking back where we've come

It was a cold night

Inside the sancutary

Welcome to base camp

Dawn Panoramas

Bus trip home. Above the clouds