Date: June 9th, 2008
Participants: DhilungK, GauravJ, AbhishekPC, BiswaS, PawanP, PradeepG, IshworM, DijupT, SureshT, AshishS, BabinsS, PragyaR, ManishS, RajK, SushmitaP, ManikM, RaviS and AbhishekS
Hiking Route: Naagdhunga – Dahachowk – Dharmaraj Foundation Monastery– Ramkot – Amitabha Monastery
Total Distance covered: 16 kms (approx)
Duration: 8 hours
Theme: A Walk to Serenity
Report By: Pragya/Manish
Caption: Bishwa/Gaurav
Photos: Dhilung/Pradeep/Ishwar/Bishwa/Dijup/Manik
Creative Support: Dijup/Dhilung/Pallavi/Pragya
Front row:[IshworM, DijupT, BabinsS, ManikM]
Middle row:[PradeepG, ManishS, PragyaR, GauravJ, SushmitaP, AbhishekPC, BishwaS]
Last Row:[SureshT, RajK, DhilungK, PawanP, RaviS, AbhishekS]
Finally, it was our turn. After hearing all the hiking stories from our intern friends, Manish and I couldn’t resist giving our names for the next hiking. Among the team of 17, five of us were giving our first shot at D2 hiking with a lot of excitement and curiosity. Sushmita and I were the only female hikers in the team ready for the unlimited adventure that the hiking sessions were reputed for. We set out at around 7:30 am to our hiking route from Nagdhunga to Sitapaila. The cool and refreshing weather was enhanced by some real good numbers played by DJ Ravi and AbhisekhS on the way.
When we reached our destination, we were literally amazed at the beauty of the place. The view of the hills, forest along with the fresh air recharged our souls. As truly said that Nepal is full of natural beauty, you only need to go out and explore. Climbing through the steep hills was the hardest part of the trip for Dijup and me. Dijup kept saying ‘Bhagwan mujhe uthaale’ when he felt hopeless during accent and I felt the same at times. But with the help and support of the team members we somehow made it to the top. On the way, some of the team members (Manik, Abhishek, and Dijup) chose to donate blood to the leeches though I didn’t get that opportunity. That was the first time I saw the leeches alive.
Gaurav, Dhilung, Pradeep, Suresh, Manik, Bishwa and Ishwor captured some truly incredible shots. Their amazing photography deserves an award. The day was cloudy since morning and it rained at regular intervals all day. Despite the rain, we managed to keep walking. Babins had come with the full preparation along with his raincoat, towels and extra clothes although that was his first hiking in D2.
Not a single moment was boring, thanks to such a wonderful team. We kept cracking jokes and making fun of each other throughout the journey. Abhishek PC’s constant concern throughout the hiking was encouraging. The amazing and spectacular view of mountains, hills, forests and a pleasant stroll through Amitabha Monastery at the end was the perfect reward for all the efforts we made. Seeing the rainbow was magnificent and the sound of wind chimes and the spiritual environment of the Monastery stimulated a feeling of positivity and serenity in all of us, and for a moment made us forget about the tiring feet and hungry stomach.
Finally, after a peaceful and relaxing time in the monastery, we made our way back and headed downhill through an easy walk to Sitapaila drenched in rain. We were then picked up by the office van at around 6:30pm which took us for the final meal of the evening. It was a wonderful end to a brilliant day – the whole team was together for dinner, except Raj who had to part from us at Sitapaila.
Nothing could summarize this hike better than this poem by Bishwa:
“a walk to serenity”
a walk to serenity
through the plains and hills,
through the shades of the pine trees
away from this feverish place
to a place where we can rest
a walk to serenity
where we discard our beast
where silence tortures us the least
where the sound of the chimes
soothes our mind
where the dark clouds pour rain
instead of just a gloomy day
where the eyes of the enlightened
watches us with respect
for we are at peace
with the nature,
with the world around us
with the creatures, that surround us
a walk to serenity
a moment of peace
a touch of the infinity
a moment of bliss
we walked the road
we kissed the reason
we met the non-existent
beyond the horizon!
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| 02 Start |
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| 03 A Smiling Welcome |
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| 04 Muddy,damp,fresh and fine |
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| 05 It looks great from up here |
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| 06 Three Stooges |
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| 07 Through the small village |
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| 08 Rainwave |
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| 09 Bud in the rain |
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| 10 A friendly chat with Ms Subedi |
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| 11 The Path To Serenity |
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| 12 The Serenity Gang |
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| 13 Visited Nepal -98 |
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| 14 And That-s the consolation prize |
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| 15 Innocence |
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| 16 We Care |
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| 17 Manure for paddy fields |
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| 18 Rookies at Dahachowk Gate |
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| 19 The First Stop |
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| 20 Bhuddha inside the perspectives |
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| 21 Dharmaraja foundation at balambu |
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| 22 Colorful and peaceful |
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| 23 This monastry is under construction |
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| 24 What are they called |
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| 25 Freshness – Redefined |
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| 26 Lost and lonely |
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| 27 Cloud calling |
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| 28 Manik – Damn…You told me we would only be snapping pics at Gumbas |
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| 29 Open Space at the top |
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| 30 Love lies bleeding…. |
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| 31 The Destination |
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| 32 The wait |
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| 33 The Descent I |
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| 34 The Descent II |
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| 35 You SUCK |
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| 36 Serpentine path |
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| 37 Pawan – I’m sure we go this way… |
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| 38 Pawan – D’oh |
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| 39 Lunch at farm |
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| 40 Through the fields |
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| 41 Mini Scarecrow |
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| 42 Through the jungle |
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| 43 Wild beauty |
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| 44 Tall and together |
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| 45 Ravi takes the hard route |
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| 46 Over the hills |
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| 47 Red Snow |
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| 48 Finally, Amitabh monastery welcomes us |
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| 49 Walk to Amitava |
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| 50 The architecture is magnificient |
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| 51 A nice side view |
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| 52 Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche |
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| 53 Script for you |
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| THE FIRST KYABJE THUKSEY RINPOCHE(1916-1983)His Eminence the first Thuksey Rinpoche Ngawang Gyurmed Palsang(1916-1983) was the son of the Tenth Gyalwang Drukpa and the grandson of Drubwant Shakya Shri.Under the guidance of many great masters of his time,Thuksey Rinpoche attained profound realization and became a well-known master of the tantric and the common vehicles.
After coming into exile following the political upheaval in Tibet in 1959, Thuksey Rinpoche worked extremely hard to re-establish the Drukpa Lineage in India. He was instrumental in searching for and enthroning His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa, and he became one of His Holiness’ most important gurus. He even built a second Sangling Monastery for His Holiness in Darjeeling, and established a solid foundation to restore the teachings of the Drukpa Lineage.
Thuksey Rinpoche always had a wish to build a spiritual community near the holy Swayambhunath Stupa, because his own grandfather had sent all his sons to restore the three holy stupas in Kathmandu. In an effort to fulfill his guru’s wishes, His Holiness gradually developed the Druk Amitabha Mountain here, just next to the holy Swayambhunath Stupa. And for the same reason, Drubpon Ngawang Tenzin Palsang Yongdu and his group commissioned this statue of the late Thuksey Rinpoche, as a tribute to him and the Drukpa Lineage. This statue was completed and installed on 25th September 2007 |
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| 54 The buddhists – they work,learn,practice,live |
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| 55 Perspective |
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| 56 Kathmandu – looks so far away |
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| 57 Serenity at last |
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| 58 Resting |
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| 59 The Sky The Limit |
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| 60 Two of the 5 Buddhas |
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| 61 Smiles and laughter |
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| 62 This is how we meditate(kind of) |
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| 63 Twins |
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| 64 The twins- shot |
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| 65 The hikers at Amitabh Monastery |
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| 66 Work hard |
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| 67 Looking back once again |
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| 68 Photography at its best |
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| 69 Shine On You Crazy Rainbow |
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| 70 The Third and final rainfall of the day |
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| 71 The rain stopped us once again |
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| 72 Codi March |
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| 73 Eating at Eden |
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great job sushmita perfect stats
@ Dhilung: And now after 24 months+, try googling ‘A walk to serenity’ and it is at the top of the list out of 3,020,000+ results…. 🙂
today ,i feel so proudy to watch that trip,i never thought my country is like heven,i,d like to thanks whole intire team of this progect for give me chance to watch this heven.after i saw this place in kantipur telivesion,since then i scarch to saw this hevanin net,but i could,t .naw ur team give me this glourios chance so i heartly wants to give u big thanks .keep it up
hehe …
aile lai bomb nai soche pani hunchaa ..
blast chai tehi din huncha …
Ok Ravi, my eyes on your right time and plan….;)…By the way Phase II lai blast garna Bomb banai ar ho ki kaso…..
there is a mathematical value for right time, my fren….
but i’m afraid i won’t be able to dispense the time here …
Just keep patience until next 2 hikes…..
hoping for that but …
is there any mathematical value for right time
example
right time = x day
xday = ???
don’t worry dijup… i’ve already planned for it…
wait for the right time …..(PKFMH)…..
Phase II gonna be a blaaast..
la dijjup … aba service ko palo ma garaula hai……….
are we working for phase II of A Walk to Serenity
hey guys ..
Lets plan for season II of “A walk to Serenity”
as a theme “A walk to Serenity II” of “Return of A walk to Serenity”
whichever u like ….
**3G**
great photographs..good workdone..go on…
Greetings from shashi.
**3G**
great phots…good work done…go on…
Greetings from shashi.
ishwor! kina chup ho?
pic 72…..codi march re….hahahahhaa
was there any such plan ishwor?
73 guys beaware ishwor is ready have plate.
It was obvious – whole day hiking and no food till 9PM
@ Shutterbug
Thanks for the comment here. Must be your first comment in a hiking post I guess 🙂
Out of those pics you mentioned Pic 30 ‘Love lies bleeding’ and Pic 15 ‘Innocence’ are lovely works from Gaurav…. Team described that child as the most photogenic face in the crowd.
Pic 63 ‘Twins’ nice work of Ravi.
And rests are mine
@raikanchi
Sure will take you there when you comeback.. and my fav shot is of course 69 ‘Shine On You Crazy Rainbow’. You know why, right? ehe
@Pic Pasand Ayaa and pic lover
Thanks.
Caption came in my mind even before I took that shot… .. the actual view of the mist coming down to engulf that lost tree was amazing..
@ Gaurav
Ya, I took that pic 32… 😉
I feel like pictures have overshadows the actual hiking excitements..
Let me put some of my points here
->Sush wishing for a rain that would last for 5mins when we reached the Danda Gaun (last up-hill that we accomplished that day) and surprisingly it rained! If we had started a timer I guess it was exactly for 5 mins 🙂
->I was a regular visitor of Amitava Monastery in the past. When I reach there after a long pause, I was sad to find out that my good old friend ‘Padma’ an Aani had already left the Monastery.
->Seeing The Rainbow! This was probably after many years, I got chance to see her in front of my eyes! Shine On You My Crazy Rainbow! (see my shot 69)
->Mediation experienced by Ravi. He was not even aware of mosquito biting during his pursuit of meditation.
long comment .. phew!
73 guys beaware ishwor is ready have plate.
73 control your hand
The more I view the piks in this post, the more I like.
@one of the hikers
Sorry bro…wasn’t me who did #32. I’m guessing must be Dhilung or Bishwa. I only did 15,16,27 and 30 🙂
a sachi…ii forgoi to mention ……26,32,46,47 and 56 ta jhan mind blowing…..its juss wow…..title no. 59 should b “dreamsky” hehe…..jus kidding…neverthless…..these are masterpiece….
pic 23 ekdam dami, rich colour and textures..mood kasto kasto chha…tara camera angle dami lagyo, foreground pani dami chha… ani 03 ko macroshot pani daami chha…..
da….u have to take me to each and every place after i come to nepal hai…..all the places in everestuncencored….u make me jealous each week hau….. 😥 …not fare….yaya ur taarif is yet to come…..tremendous job brother….esp 59,63,68,69 are best of the best…..marvelous….and no 15 was chooooo chhuuiiiiitt….loved it all….keep up the good work…and keep making me jealour each week…. 😆
26. Lost and lonely
tyo bawaal cha
pic 32…
professional photography..
who took that? –is it Gaurav?
Wow! some pictures here are awesome! Pragya and Manish you guys seem to have enjoyed yourself to the fullest!
Perfect Theme……… 😉
Dhilung bro!! dami lagyo yo article 🙂 ….
awsome….even a simple compact camera could capture such a story…i’ll definately go to that route….i want to try with my DSLR on those monastries…
It’s great to see interesting pictures in each hiking report and needless to tell, D2H hikers are wonderfully exploring their creativity through photography and poems. Keep up the spirit!
Picture no: 15 ‘Innocence’ is lovely.
Pictures no: 25 ‘Freshness-Redefined’ and 38 ‘Lunch at Farm’ are good close-up shots.
Pictures no: 27 ‘Cloud Calling’ is concept and caption are great. Whoever took these shots has eyes of a true photographer and perfect sense of visualization.
Picture no: 30 ‘Love lies bleeding’ is tragically romantic. The separation line of land and sky should be horizontal.
Pictures no: 47 ‘Red Snow’ and 63 ‘Twins’ are very creative.
Picture no: 69 ‘Shine On You Crazy Rainbow’ is a dream come to true of any Landscape photographer. Great moment indeed.
pic no 69…wow…..
how ever clicked that pic 69 had done a gr8 job.
the rainbow looks “wow….”.
can any one tell me wat was that in pic 35???
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee……………………………..
the best part of the hike was the frequent rain……………..really had a fun……
Hi Dijup,
its looking rocking 🙂
great and keep it hiking 🙂
Cheers to you all for expressing the great JOY!!!
ye ho ra. ok. hoping to c Sristi soon in the pics.
hi pragya dear,,,
kata herera daanga ni hummmmmmmmmmmm in pic 10.
hey shanti
Shristi was not there with us…jane plan ta thiyo ni..but she couldn’t make it. Lets hope she wont have any excuses 4 next time.
@:-)): Pathsala rocked, dude…..
Apni to pathsala, masti ki pathsala
Lose control :D:D
hi, manish n pragya….
seems that u two had a gr8 fun. But guys where is Sristi??? isn’t she missing?????
hey guys we also enjoyed in the van after returning from eden listening to “pathsala…” am I right? I think ravi will agree. 😛
Plannig to go next time for sure if…..
Shyam….
Thanks yaaar missed u there …
kunai din hami sabai sangai jamla ni hai
babaaaaal…………………
26 Lost and lonely
Great Pic
la maile khichidiyeko pic del bhayeko raicha.. 😥
😈 ko ho tyo delete garne..
ishwar ko cam bata hola..
I was in dilemma for joining this hike or not due to muscle cramp from the last hike. It was Abhishek who insisted me in joining this hike. Looking at the group I thought this would be a great hike, most of them were of same age and familiar too.
Ramkot to Amitabh monastery was my first hike at d2 which added more excitement. To see the place almost a year after was one of wonderful experience. I was wondering what is inside the monastery how it looks like. Finally I got a chance to enter inside this time. For me the best part of the hike was while 3 of us(dhilung, Abhishek and I) were sitting silently inside the monastery. The small piece of music inside the monastery made the whole environment so much mystique that as if we are living in a new world, a world of spirituality, a world of serenity. The theme and the experience ……. 😆 😎 Perfect hike
and finally thanks to abhishek Im alrite now and there’s no problem on my leg as well
Great Pictures!!
oie tek!
we work and enjoy as well! n thats the excitement of working at D2.
Pun(Sunita)!
i should have brought some leeches 4 u..hehehe 😀
By far, this is the best (theme, writeup, photos) since the start of theme based hiking.
You guys have captured the essence of theme.
Very Nice Pictures – Great job!
Thanks AbhisekPC and Abishesh
Pic 08- Nice concept from Bishwa but I couldnot freeze the rain drop (increase my shutterspeed) much in that misty weather.
@AshishP
Guess who took that pic hehehe
@Hiker
Thanks and my many thanks to you too for sub-coordinating such a great hike.
hey pragya n manish,seems like u guys had a grt adventure! Pictures are nice but no. 35 made me feel like YUCK!!!
nice pics,having lots of fun,mauj gara sathi haru
k ho D2 ma kaam chai hudaina.jaile hiking ani report pics upload ani comment tetti ho.
hehehhehehhehe…………………….
thanks a lot Dhilung for taking such a beautiful pictures.
u got ur rain and the rainbow right?
think i really missed great fun and adventure….hey nice photographs hai!!!…….n ya pragya n manish….great job hai! 😀
yes AshishP i too agree with u
pictures looks awesome man.. nice photography
Pic #26, Best ever landscape photo.
May be Windows will buy it for their default desktop background.
i could not resist my self from saving some of the pictures from the page
ceems a grand and great trip ……..
Some pics look amazing…………good work fotographers……….keep it up………….rain wave is da best one 😐
Pic 27: “cloud calling”???… looks more like bishwa’s answering nature’s call 😀
Nice pictures overall..must’ve been a great hike…
the ones i liked most – 39, 42,08, 69, 57, 36, 09 ( a bit more of color saturation would’ve been better)…
your pics are too good… good work dhilung
WOW ! Perfect Catch
Indeed, A walk to remember for ever!!!!!!!!!!!
The Weather, the Beauty, and finally the Rain…. All so perfect for “A Walk to Serenity”…….
and thanks Dhilung bro… i’ll take that as a compliment for now 😉
having a great time..being envious
hi nisha !
thanks for the comment. That was really an amazing trip.
Very nice theme, pictures and write up!!!
Hey fellow hikers and the co-ordinator why did u guys change the route?
It was going to be a short hike but why so..?
It was an excellent hike…the pics are more than just average, take a closer look!!
Cheers to all hikers!!!
Another one of those wonderful trips from [Office]…. 😆
Guys khai ta mero closeup photo….anyway it was tough but fun-filled hiking… and i like no. 35
A hike to remember……… 🙂
oie khukuri ta pani gako ani ta by walk ho ke bu wings ho hahahahahahahaha teyo sathi aheu lai ta bore bho hol ahia ta din bhanri co co co co co co garira hahahahahahahah i think u guys have nice trip……….
hey pragya!!
what’s up……only two girls on the hiking huh!! i went through the pic. and like you said some of them are just wonderful….and creative…..making me think that there is so much more in nepal which is yet to be discovered……missing nepal so much and missing you too.
you guys sure looked as if you had fun!!
PEACE
And hey Bishwa,
…where the eyes of the enlightened
watches us with respect…
touching man!
and didu know – YOU just pioneered the phrase A walk to serenity ❗ try googling it as well. Being at the second place out of 2,410,000+ results is not that bad, is it
We did the same last time with the phrase Tour de pokhara. Remember?
@Audio Enjected soul
It feels great that we make u feel proud of our country and ya, all pics are from normal cams, it is just the place was awesome 😉
(though Pic 23, 50, 57, 68 and 69 are some of my HDR photography attempts.)
One of the noble purposes of these featured hiking posts is to present a closer look of Nepal to the world at large. Try googling amitabh monastery – Out of 5000+ results this post is at the top!
Brilliant job!!!!
After checking this page… Agian, i feel like glorify myself wit all my excessive pride by saying 2 the world “I am frm Nepal n ths my country”
Exculsive pics(gud wkr,is th frm normal cam??) n Adventurous artical…thumbs up!
nice one, keep good wkr flowwing.
Hey guys, Malai pani teha jana mann lagyo!
Grate report Pragya.
i don’t know how i was able to reach there.
……… 🙄
Pouring Rain, Blood Thirsty Leeches, Wonderful Children n People, Wonderful Sights, Peace upon Clouds , what more could you ask for in “serenity”. Congratulations for the first hike made! Nice article!
First Hiking…babaal !! It was really a walk to serenity.
Mission Accomplished…………………..
Great! Amazing Piks!
And it rained in my hike 🙂
Not only once, but THREE times ❗
cool trip………………………….. 😛