ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP, DAY 4

At the arrival 'gate' of Annapurna Base Camp - the dog is not as excited as I was

Everyone so relieved to finally make it!

Weather: Freezing cold and wet

Alright. Imagine walking outside in a vast open space with barely any trees, just grassy lands. It’s a steady, cold shower, of about 2 degrees and the grounds are slick, muddy and wet. The wind is strong, and because it’s an open space, there is nowhere to get some shield from, so there you are walking in the middle of nowhere for hours next to a large river of icy waters, with your left eyeball not completely covered so you have to wear foggy reading glasses instead. And now you have to pee.

That’s today.

But on the upside, the view of the grasslands and valleys are magnificent. Honestly, why do I work in an office all day?

Eventually, there it was. We reached the Annapurna Base Camp, the holy pilgrimage destination all of those who hiked there were really coming for. The minute I saw the signboard looming in the distance, “Welcome to Annapurna”, my spirits quickly picked up and I literally ran for it.

I can’t describe the feeling. Exhilaration, gladness and a punch of adrenaline. Two dogs greeted us by the signboard, and I was just as glad to see them as they were glad to see me. It was definitely a moment I won’t forget, just being there, in the middle of nowhere, deep in the Himalayan wilderness, a place so foreign and lonely and distant from everything I have ever known. There are times in your life when the present moment surpasses your ‘real’ life – momentarily you forget about your problems, your obligations, and your past. This was one of them.

I will always love adventures. I hope it will always love me back in return.

I underestimated: The cold. It was numbingly cold.

I overestimated: My susceptibility to cold-weather illness. I feel flu coming.

Tips: Bring wet wipes. You won’t shower for a few days. 

Locals going up and down the Base Camp route with their chores

So many flowers and wild berries growing around

A small temple in the middle of nowhere