Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer Book on Amazon | My review on Amazon 3 out of 5 stars Reviewed September 8, 2009 I do usually like Jeffrey Archer in the best seller fiction category, but this book is quite a disappointment. “Paths of Glory” is somewhere in the grey zone between true-life chronicle and…
Touching the Void by Joe Simpson Book on Amazon | My review on Amazon 5 out of 5 stars Reviewed August 21, 2009 Told in first person, this story of Joe’s survival on an inhospitable mountain after breaking his leg, his determination to get off that beastly mountain, and his future decision to continue climbing…
Limping to the Centre of the World by Timeri Murari Book on Amazon | My review on Amazon 3 out of 5 stars Reviewed July 16, 2009 This book is a personal travelogue of a 64 year old Indian man on a spiritual quest, whether he wants to admit it or not. Of how he starts…
Plans for heading to the hills start in December 2008 over the extended week long New Years’ eve celebrations at MM’s place, Chennai. Meena organizes the people, itinerary and books everything by Jan or Feb 2009. Anyone who has interacted with Meena knows that her organization is neat, efficient, and reliable. Head count – 18…
Our “extra” holiday in Pokhara. The other two have tucked into breakfast. In fact we’re in danger of missing breakfast, that’s how late we wake up. We scramble to the dining hall and find reasonable leftovers in the buffet breakfast. I spot MShah walking around the garden by herself. Sadly there’s no watermelon juice. I…
We know today is a short trekking day, so we’re in no big hurry to leave. MShah and Kanaks are down at breakfast already when I come down. I wolf down a couple of boiled eggs. Nitya breaks open a boiled egg and it turns out to be runny (yuck yuck!). Breakfast done, we set out,…
I have a so-so night and wake up early. Get out of bed trying not to disturb N. Wrapped in some warmies and armed with my little notebook, I go out to the dining area in the hope of writing in my journal. Through the trip I never get beyond writing about day 5 or…
The much dreaded 6000 foot ascent is today. Everyone we met in Tatopani yesterday, who are doing the trek in the opposite direction to ours, gave us a lot of hype about the Ghorepani – Tatopani section. There was a European woman who was getting out of the hot springs as we were getting in….
I wake up quite early and potter about. No bath today. I sit in the front lawn and watch other trekkers leave early. The Israeli chicks are nowhere in sight – must have steamed off ahead. I have some quiet time with the nastrutiums. We decide to leave early and have breakfast enroute. We’re mostly…
Morning has broken… and with it comes our wake up call with a menu in hand. I shoo him away: “g’morning… 5 mins please…”. Yesterday was a long day – elapsed time about 10 hours, hiking time about 8 hours. But Miss.M feels good, somewhat to her surprise – no aches and pains. The thought…
