Nepal was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of India, not that the Thamel area of Kathmandu didn't have its fair share of touts as well. We joined an Intrepid tour that operated through a local company called Himalayan Encounters. Our tour involved some sightseeing in and around Kathmandu, a three day hike around the Kathmandu Valley, then a five day trek in the Siklis Region in the Annapurna Conservation Area. After our five day trek, a few of us went down to Chitwan National Park, where we spent a few days with the wildlife before returning to Kathmandu.

Unfortunately, during the last day in Pokhara, our laptop went belly up, and we were not able to retrieve all the pictures from the first few days in Nepal. We're missing photos from Kathmandu sightseeing, and some of the shots from our warmup trek in the Kathmandu Valley. However, this didn't mean that we were lacking of photos for our stay in Nepal; we still have enough material to fill four full pages here!

The Boudanath Stupa in Kathmandu, the largest Bhuddist stupa in the world.	Visiting the temple on top Monkey Hill.	Walking around Durbar Square (just before getting a shave).	Fluid is supposed to flow from this stone the first time one person is able to read all 15 languages inscribed on it.	One of the many statues and figures of gods found throughout Kathmandu that are worshipped on a daily basis.
A bead vendor's colourful stall in the shopping district of Kathmandu.	This young Nepali and her puppy show off on the first day of our Kathmandu Valley trek.	Terraced fields of rice, maize, and barley could be seen everywhere we hiked.	Our Intrepid tour group takes a break near Chisopani.	Nearing the end of our first day of hiking with great views of the surrounding hills.
Sunrise light turns the tip of the Himalayas a light orange-pink.	The colours of the sunrise and sunsets seemed especially vibrant, due possibly in part to the Kathmandu Valley air.	Marigolds adorn a farmer's terrace with dozens more terraces stretching down the mountain.	Our Intrepid tour group trundles along on the second day of our hike.	One of our guides, Dabi, grasps a harmless snake in his fingers.
More flowers in a field near our lunch stop.	This single cicada was producing such a loud noise from its tiny body.	Jen haggles with a fruit vendor over the price of her bananas. Every rupee counts!	An ominous passage in our guidebook warns us about Nepali busses.	Duck! Sitting on top of a Nepali bus with the packs is a whole different kind of adventure... you need quick reflexes!
This guy was tipsy enough to sing for us for the whole bus ride, earning him the nickname of the "Drunken Sailor."	Carrying firewood with just a rope and your forehead; the preferred method of carrying heavy loads in Nepal.	This load of leaves posed no problem for this elderly lady.	The little town of Bandipur has just one street and one square; it was one of our favourite places in Nepal.	Jenn contemplates the sunset above Bandipur.
Going down or coming up, the sun turned the surrounding mountains all kinds of brilliant colours.	In the morning, low clouds slither over the hill's edge before being burned off by sun.	A Nepali toddler peers out a doorway in the early morning.	A bus-top view of a tight squeeze with oncoming traffic.	Enjoying the view from the top in the little town of Dumre.
After the five-day Siklis trek, a few of us relaxed on the lake at Pokhara.	Waiting for our Everest mountain flight at Kathmandu airport's domestic terminal.	No Everest flight for Ray or Winston this time; we'll just have to return again another day.	The Nepali definition of 'flat' was a little different than most people's. This is the front of Cindy's custom made embroidered shirt.	The highest point on the planet, Mt. Everest, seen from our plane flying from Bhutan to Nepal.