Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
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handdrummer
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Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
It makes me miss the days in the Rocky Mountains of California & Colorado.
Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
It was now not far before we swung right to make the ascent up to Muktinath on what was the best road seen so far - a smooth strip of blacktop snaking up the mountain above the snow line. As the altitude increased the bikes grew a little sluggish as the Enfield carbs struggled to suck in the dwindling supply of oxygen.
A few more twists and turns past locals with their mustangs and the occasional pair of young hikers, and we rolled into the tourist village of Muktinath at 3,800 meters elevation. There were a few locals selling tourist trinkets, prayer bowls, and textiles but the area was generally quiet due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
We had now crossed to the northern side of the Himalayas and were close to the Tibetan border. To celebrate our arrival, yak steaks and sizzlers were enjoyed at a local ‘Bob Marley Hotel’ before we geared up for the final ascent to the temple. The irony of listening to ‘Hotel California’ over the sound system was not lost.
To follow: Muktinath Temple
A few more twists and turns past locals with their mustangs and the occasional pair of young hikers, and we rolled into the tourist village of Muktinath at 3,800 meters elevation. There were a few locals selling tourist trinkets, prayer bowls, and textiles but the area was generally quiet due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
We had now crossed to the northern side of the Himalayas and were close to the Tibetan border. To celebrate our arrival, yak steaks and sizzlers were enjoyed at a local ‘Bob Marley Hotel’ before we geared up for the final ascent to the temple. The irony of listening to ‘Hotel California’ over the sound system was not lost.
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To follow: Muktinath Temple
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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dtaai-maai
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Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
I'm really enjoying these photos, buksi, but I can't help noticing that you're never in them. I'm not convinced you were really there...
This is the way
Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
I'm taking them! 
I'm in one or two on the previous page.
I'm in one or two on the previous page.Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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pharvey
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Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
Surprised Bob Marley got there though.....
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
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migrant
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Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
Very cool!! How was the yak steaks??
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
Yak steak is superb!
It was a quick blast on some very hairy single tracks up the mountain to the roof of the world where we parked up and took in the breathtaking panorama. There was too much adrenaline running to worry about the cold.
It was then a short ascent up the stairs to the one of the world’s highest temples and the going was made tougher due to the elevation, breathing was noticeably harder. The team leader challenged us to running it and collapsing at the top, but since they were all young and none of us was under 40 we declined!
The lack of tourists up here added to the ambiance and serene spirituality of the place and it was easy to get lost in your own thoughts wandering around the ancient complex. The Hindu name for the temple is Chumig Gyatsa, meaning ‘place of salvation’ while the Buddhists know it as Chumming Gyasta, which in Tibetan means ‘Hundred Waters’.
Ice cold holy water poured off the prayer flag adorned mountain and cascaded through 108 stone faucets, from which it was the done thing to take a wash and drink to cleanse the sins. A large Buddha overlooked the entire valley and town in silent contemplation and time seemed to stand still up here – you could almost touch the sky.
To follow: Muktinath to Kagbeni
It was a quick blast on some very hairy single tracks up the mountain to the roof of the world where we parked up and took in the breathtaking panorama. There was too much adrenaline running to worry about the cold.
It was then a short ascent up the stairs to the one of the world’s highest temples and the going was made tougher due to the elevation, breathing was noticeably harder. The team leader challenged us to running it and collapsing at the top, but since they were all young and none of us was under 40 we declined!
The lack of tourists up here added to the ambiance and serene spirituality of the place and it was easy to get lost in your own thoughts wandering around the ancient complex. The Hindu name for the temple is Chumig Gyatsa, meaning ‘place of salvation’ while the Buddhists know it as Chumming Gyasta, which in Tibetan means ‘Hundred Waters’.
Ice cold holy water poured off the prayer flag adorned mountain and cascaded through 108 stone faucets, from which it was the done thing to take a wash and drink to cleanse the sins. A large Buddha overlooked the entire valley and town in silent contemplation and time seemed to stand still up here – you could almost touch the sky.
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To follow: Muktinath to Kagbeni
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
Fabulous, breathtaking, fantastic photos words fail me
Well done Buksida
Well done Buksida
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Ginjaninja
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Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
Absolutely amazing!!!
I definitely have to do this trip.
Superb photos mate, very impressive.
Edit: question - do you know what the highest altitude you achieved on the trip?
I definitely have to do this trip.
Superb photos mate, very impressive.
Edit: question - do you know what the highest altitude you achieved on the trip?
Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
The locals, guides and Google confirmed that the temple there was our highest point at just under 4,000 meters or around 13,000 feet.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
A fabulous read and absolutely amazing photos, thank you so much for posting!
It's all good 
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lindosfan1
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Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
Superb set, extremely interesting.
Woke up this morning breathing that's a good start to the day.
Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
It was time to leave this spiritual oasis and head down the mountain to our accommodation for the night. But in the spirit of things we took the direct route rather than that slick road that brought us up here.
This yielded even more stunning scenery and was like riding across the surface of Mars. With the adrenaline and altitude came tiredness and there were a few minor spills on our journey down to the rustic little village of Kagbeni.
This quaint little stone hamlet would provide our accommodation for the night at ‘Yac Donalds’, a quirky and popular trekkers retreat. We cracked a beer and reveled in what has been undoubtedly the best day of the trip.
Nightfall brought subzero temperatures and very little sleep despite a couple of drams of Jameson that we had brought along for such purposes. It takes time to get used to the elevation and breathing up here was remarkably more strained, especially when you’re trying to sleep.
To follow: Kagbeni
This yielded even more stunning scenery and was like riding across the surface of Mars. With the adrenaline and altitude came tiredness and there were a few minor spills on our journey down to the rustic little village of Kagbeni.
This quaint little stone hamlet would provide our accommodation for the night at ‘Yac Donalds’, a quirky and popular trekkers retreat. We cracked a beer and reveled in what has been undoubtedly the best day of the trip.
Nightfall brought subzero temperatures and very little sleep despite a couple of drams of Jameson that we had brought along for such purposes. It takes time to get used to the elevation and breathing up here was remarkably more strained, especially when you’re trying to sleep.
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To follow: Kagbeni
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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pharvey
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Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
"Yac Donalds"!! Love it!! 
Incredible scenery and also, I'm assuming the photo with the "stack of stones" is as below?: -
"It is said that, in Buddhism, this practice of stacking stones is a form of worshipping - but it can also be a gesture of asking or wishing for good fortune to be bestowed on the stacker and his family. Each stone within the stack represents a particular wish and, possibly, a particular family member."
Once again, great report and superb photo's buks.
Incredible scenery and also, I'm assuming the photo with the "stack of stones" is as below?: -
"It is said that, in Buddhism, this practice of stacking stones is a form of worshipping - but it can also be a gesture of asking or wishing for good fortune to be bestowed on the stacker and his family. Each stone within the stack represents a particular wish and, possibly, a particular family member."
Once again, great report and superb photo's buks.
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
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migrant
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Re: Photo Trip Report: Riding Across Nepal
The Yogis perched by the stairs in your pic, were they selling timeshares?
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.