Turning 35 in 2018, I had visa stamps on the passport from my numerous family vacations. However, I was determined to go on a solo trip. The most troublesome part was convincing my husband that I could manage alone for ten days. After weeks of persuasion, he believed I could survive myself just fine.
The sense of freedom is terrific! When to wake up, what to eat, where to go, schedule your day is liberating.
Though a beach lover, Nepal was on my bucket list and this was my first experience to a foreign land. I did a thorough recce of the local places, supermarkets, hotels to stay with quick accessibility points like the nearest police station and embassy. The biggest challenge was self-safety; reading the insights of other travellers helped me plan my itinerary.
Finally, the day of the most awaited trip arrived. I was in mixed sombre emotions of missing my son & being homesick. I bid adieu to Mumbai, shopped at duty-free and boarded my flight to Kathmandu. I took a catnap in the flight and woke up winks to the mesmerising view of the Himalayas once the plane entered Nepal aerospace.
Voila! After 3.5 hours, I reached my destination. The airport is in the centre of the city. I took a cab and reached my hotel in the bustling streets of the tourist Thamel area. Before heading out, I contacted a local tour operator and joined a small trekking group, mostly of foreigners.
Next day, I took a short flight to Pokhara, a base for most trekking expeditions. Flying past the mountains, the view was magnificent. I put up in a hotel close to Fewa lake, a major tourist attraction with cafes and snack bars along the promenade.
On the day of the trek, I woke up to a cold morning, geared up in warm clothes with my backpack. Soon, the group reached Kande, trekked up Australian base camp via Dhampus village. On reaching the top, I was awestruck, watching the closer magnificent view of Annapurna, Machchapurche and Lamjung Himal ranges of the Himalayas.
We continued our week-long trek through quaint villages, jungles, crossing rivers, bridges, eating Nepali food and meeting and cooking with the local people till we reached our final destination of Ghorepani Poon Hill located at 3210 m.
The trek to Sarangkot, the haven for paragliding is enthusiastic. We stayed awake overnight to catch the first glimpses of the morning sun-rays that fall on the mountain tops. On completing my trek, I reached Kathmandu. Before flying back, I visited Buddha Stupa and World Heritage UNESCO site of Pashupatinath Temple, the holy abode of Lord Shiva and the world’s open burning cremation site where women are allowed. I sat afar looking at the pyres burning and thinking of the ying-yang of life that gives you a reality check.
I brought mementoes and artefacts from the Durbar Square which has prominent Chinese influence. My camera was my trip buddy. I captured great clicks and made vivid memories. The Nepalese locals are humble, soft-spoken and hospitable people who happily obliged to click my pics.
As of now, I have backpacked alone to few Northeastern states of Guwahati to visit Maa Kamakhya temple, Shillong, Cherrapunji, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mardi Himal in Nepal (did my second trek too). My more recent journey to Kedarnath temple.
The experience of ‘me’ time sends flashes of thoughts, pulls out tears, reminiscing personal life experiences. One returns enriched as a better decision-maker and more self-confident. I aspire to travel solo to Europe someday.
Quick tips –
* Keep a map and GPS handy
* Learn a few words of the local language
* Adapt to new surrounding and adjust as per the situation and the climatic conditions
* Carry dry snacks
* Ensure to keep a swiss knife handy for self-safety and emergency
* Wear well-fitted shoes and keep your fitness levels up
* Keep your family well informed about your daily itinerary
* Go optimistic because age is no barrier to see the world
