Dana's Musings from Kothe - Tilman Trek Reloaded
4 Nov, 09 - 17:04
(left to right) Dana Engler, Caroline Ang and Phill Michael in Kothe, Nepal...preparing for part 2 of the Secret Spot Tilman Trek 2008
It's funny to think back to the time when we descended upon Kothe, Nepal...and Dana and Caroline were still 'Future Members of the Secret Spot Seven Summits Team'.(www.secretspot7summits.com)
That was a little over a year ago. Tempus Fugit!
I talked to Ang Dawa Sherpa (who was in Kathmandu) by Skype last night...and he is about to embark on another Mera Peak trip. I'll be showing YOU some newly released scenes from last year's odyssey in the Secret Spot Seven blog (www.phillmichael.com) while Dawa is, physically and imminently, covering the same ground. I hope the weather is just as good for him this year?!
Time will tell...=^]
**********
October 24th , 2008
Close up of Mera from Kothe, Nepal
Sitting on the banks of the Hongu River, Mera Peak visible in the clear morning sky, I realized my senses have been overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, and experiences over the last 12 days.
Looking back on the first eight days trekking through the remote Arun River Valley, we were treated to a mere glimpse of the real Nepal. My heart is forever touched by the genuine smiles and curiosity of the people who make their difficult and very full lives in this lush environment. Although we were only traveling through, we saw and experienced a few of their joys and tragedies. Life is very real here.
Butterflies are everywhere!
The honesty of these people was most evident when on descending one of the many hills, a woman dressed in her traditional clothing and who was traveling with her family suddenly stopped Caroline. With a huge smile of her face. She gestured to Caroline and repeated the same words over and over again, touching her own face and pointing at Caroline. We were all amused by this display and of course Caroline had no idea why this woman was acting this way towards her. After a few moment, we learned that this woman was struck by Caroline's features and she thought that Caroline was the most beautiful woman she had ever met. Caroline was a bit embarrassed at this point so we of course let Caroline know that we were impressed that we were traveling with a beauty queen.
We traveled through a web of rice paddies, water flowing endlessly from terrace to terrace. Insects were abundant from screaming beetles and June bugs, spiders the size of dinner plates and trees of butterflies. The rice paddies gave way to river side hill trekking having the feel of a jungle with various palms, bamboo and ferns. We traveled in and out of various climate zones where tropical and temperate plants intermingled. Everywhere there were flowers attracting bees which hovered effortlessly, birds too, brightly coloured and looking totally new to these foreign eyes.
Spiders as big as your hand in the Arun Valley
Our exit out of the Arun River Valley was marked by our first encounter with Westerners. The climb up and out of the Arun River Valley to the Hongu river valley is long and high. The temperature has been steadily getting colder with hard frost overnight. These past few days, we have begun our acclimatization to greater heights. Our first major objective is in sight and we are now preparing for the mountaineering aspect of our trip. The high altitude porters need to be hired and our mountaineering gear organized.
We are now part of the trekking and climbing machine that fuels the Nepal tourist economy. That being said, I marvel at what has transpired so far and I know I am only just beginning to understand how the real Nepal has touched me.
Dana Engler
Future Member of the Secret Spot Seven Summits Team
**********
I concur...those of us who have been fortunate enough to connect with the people of remote Nepal have been forever changed. It's easy to find solace at the Centre of the Universe! B^)
The next entry at the Secret Spot Seven Summits blog (www.phillmichael.com) will include some video. I suggest you check it out...and virtually absorb the sights and sounds of some truly magical places. B^]
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL
Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
SecretSpot.NET
PhillMichael.COM
SherpaSchool.ORG
SecretSpotStore.COM
(left to right) Dana Engler, Caroline Ang and Phill Michael in Kothe, Nepal...preparing for part 2 of the Secret Spot Tilman Trek 2008
It's funny to think back to the time when we descended upon Kothe, Nepal...and Dana and Caroline were still 'Future Members of the Secret Spot Seven Summits Team'.(www.secretspot7summits.com)
That was a little over a year ago. Tempus Fugit!
I talked to Ang Dawa Sherpa (who was in Kathmandu) by Skype last night...and he is about to embark on another Mera Peak trip. I'll be showing YOU some newly released scenes from last year's odyssey in the Secret Spot Seven blog (www.phillmichael.com) while Dawa is, physically and imminently, covering the same ground. I hope the weather is just as good for him this year?!
Time will tell...=^]
**********
October 24th , 2008
Close up of Mera from Kothe, Nepal
Sitting on the banks of the Hongu River, Mera Peak visible in the clear morning sky, I realized my senses have been overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, and experiences over the last 12 days.
Looking back on the first eight days trekking through the remote Arun River Valley, we were treated to a mere glimpse of the real Nepal. My heart is forever touched by the genuine smiles and curiosity of the people who make their difficult and very full lives in this lush environment. Although we were only traveling through, we saw and experienced a few of their joys and tragedies. Life is very real here.
Butterflies are everywhere!
The honesty of these people was most evident when on descending one of the many hills, a woman dressed in her traditional clothing and who was traveling with her family suddenly stopped Caroline. With a huge smile of her face. She gestured to Caroline and repeated the same words over and over again, touching her own face and pointing at Caroline. We were all amused by this display and of course Caroline had no idea why this woman was acting this way towards her. After a few moment, we learned that this woman was struck by Caroline's features and she thought that Caroline was the most beautiful woman she had ever met. Caroline was a bit embarrassed at this point so we of course let Caroline know that we were impressed that we were traveling with a beauty queen.
We traveled through a web of rice paddies, water flowing endlessly from terrace to terrace. Insects were abundant from screaming beetles and June bugs, spiders the size of dinner plates and trees of butterflies. The rice paddies gave way to river side hill trekking having the feel of a jungle with various palms, bamboo and ferns. We traveled in and out of various climate zones where tropical and temperate plants intermingled. Everywhere there were flowers attracting bees which hovered effortlessly, birds too, brightly coloured and looking totally new to these foreign eyes.
Spiders as big as your hand in the Arun Valley
Our exit out of the Arun River Valley was marked by our first encounter with Westerners. The climb up and out of the Arun River Valley to the Hongu river valley is long and high. The temperature has been steadily getting colder with hard frost overnight. These past few days, we have begun our acclimatization to greater heights. Our first major objective is in sight and we are now preparing for the mountaineering aspect of our trip. The high altitude porters need to be hired and our mountaineering gear organized.
We are now part of the trekking and climbing machine that fuels the Nepal tourist economy. That being said, I marvel at what has transpired so far and I know I am only just beginning to understand how the real Nepal has touched me.
Dana Engler
Future Member of the Secret Spot Seven Summits Team
**********
I concur...those of us who have been fortunate enough to connect with the people of remote Nepal have been forever changed. It's easy to find solace at the Centre of the Universe! B^)
The next entry at the Secret Spot Seven Summits blog (www.phillmichael.com) will include some video. I suggest you check it out...and virtually absorb the sights and sounds of some truly magical places. B^]
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL
Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
SecretSpot.NET
PhillMichael.COM
SherpaSchool.ORG
SecretSpotStore.COM
Posted by Phill Michael at 11/4/2009 9:38 PM 
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Categories: Oakley, SecretSpotStore.COM, SecretSpot.TV, tibet, Everest, Sherpa, HumanEdgeTech.com, Kathmandu, SkypeVidCon, SatellitePhoneStore.com, SecretSpotAfrica, SecretSpotEverest.com, SecretSpotStore, Mustang, Tilman Trek Reloaded, BGAN, Frick, Nepal, Phill Michael, Podcast, SherpaSchool.ORG, Kathmandu Guest House, secretspot7summits.com, Kilimanjaro, SecretSpotAlaska, phillmichael.com, Alberta, SecretSpot.NET, Email, Video Conferencing, Surefire, Buddhist Tankas, Inmarsat, Tilman Trek, Medtronic, Loose Cannons, Satellite Phone Store, Seven Summits
Tags: SecretSpotStore.COM SecretSpot.TV tibet Everest Sherpa HumanEdgeTech.com Kathmandu SkypeVidCon SatellitePhoneStore.com SecretSpotAfrica SecretSpotEverest.com SecretSpotStore Tilman Trek Reloaded BGAN Frick Nepal Phill Michael Podcast SherpaSchool.ORG Kathmandu Guest House secretspot7summits.com Kilimanjaro Alberta Medtronic phillmichael.com SecretSpot.NET Email Video Conferencing SecretSpotAlaska Surefire Buddhist Tankas Inmarsat Satellite Phone Store Tilman Trek Mustang Loose Cannons Oakley Seven Summits
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