Nepal: How to Plan Your Nepal Trip?

Hi everyone.

So Pai and Chiang Mai trip posts are over, lets move on to my 26th birthday trip, Nepal.

Nepal was in my to-go list for few years, i was suppose to go to Nepal 2 years back, right after i back from New Zealand, however, for some reason, i flew to HangZhou at last.

Anyway, John and I finally made my dream come true in Nov/Dec 2012.

We decided to fly with Thai airways, return tix / pax is RM1200 (KUL - BKK - KTM), we consider this is good deal until Airasia announced their new destination to Kathmandu, with the promotion price of RM400 return. T.T

However, we did enjoyed the fly with Thai airways, despite shit happened during transiting in Bangkok, but that is another story.

We spend 2 weeks in Nepal, because i wanted to do mountain hiking in the world famous hiking destination, even though hiking is something that John not really like it.

But, this is my birthday trip, so who cares? Haha.

Nepal has a lot of hiking treks with different level of difficulty, if you have limited time, or you're just a beginner, there are heaps of easy 3d2n or even 2d1n treks available.

Of course, you're professional one, Mt. Everest, the world highest mountain is in Nepal.

As for us, i did a few mid-to-difficult treks back in New Zealand, such as Tongariro Alpine Crossing and etc, i've experience in mountain hiking but not really good in it.

John loves sea more than everything, he only has the experience of walking up or down the stairs.

So under our condition, i was planning to do an easy 3d2n trek in Pokhara.

But at last,  we decided to take the Everest Base Camp trek (EBC trek), which is probably the highest level trail in the world, the trek to Everest's base camp.

Yes, we're crazy.

FYI, i'm a asthma patient, i was about to lose my life in Tongariro Alpine Crossing trail because of asthma.

The altitude of the starting point of EBC trek, Lukla is 2860 meters (9383 ft), the level that could caused mountain sickness almost immediately.

Anyway, due to limited time and John as a beginner, we decided to do only half trek, we made it to 5 days instead of 19 days.

I'm not going to the detail of my hiking trip yet. This post is all about preparation, plan and budget information sharing.

Alright, if you're planning to go Nepal....

HOW TO PLAN NEPAL TRIP?
My all time travel planning tips: You have know what do you want to do / see.
Nepal is 3rd world country, electricity and clean water is something luxury for a lot of people, and because of the country is developing, you can find heavenly scenery in this country, especially mountain.

What can you do in Nepal?
1. Hiking
As i have mention above, Nepal is a country which surrounding by world highest mountain, lots of choice of trek are available.
I've done a quick seach on the internet, here is some information on the treks choice.
If you couldn't decide or you need some advice, there are heaps of travel agency in Nepal, i will blog mine in the next post.

2. Extreme activity
All that you can think of can be found in Nepal, Skydive, paraglading, water rafting, the most-extreme one, of course is hike to the peak of Everest!

3. Culture and religious
This is what make me wanna go Nepal so much. Nepal is a multi-religious country, and all those religious and culture mix up to a culture rich country that present via their architecture, the way they live, the religious place and etc.
You can found Hindu, Buddism, Islam, Tibetan Buddishm, Christian and almost all the religious culture on this country.
Kathmandu also know as "thousand temple city", which you can spot temple everywhere and anywhere on the street of this city. Of course, you can meet Kumari, the living goddess of Nepal.

4. Relax and experience the life of Nepalese 
You can just do nothing, but find a place where you can see the mountain everyday you wake up, enjoy your simple breakfast and take a walk near the lake.
While current cut off (which is happen everyday and several times), get a cup of tea and enjoy the breeze in the garden, talk to Nepalese or just do your reading.
Go and visit some temple or church, spend some time with the god followers, get inspirited and keep it with you forever, no matter where were you.

5. Shopping
Believe or not, Kathmandu is one of the best city to shop for me.
You can expect some cheap and really nice khasmir scaf, carpet, religious souvenir, hiking equipment, tea leaf, hippy style fashion and etc.
Most importantly, you can always bargain and get really nice beautiful thing with really cheap price. I spend RM10 for a pair of beautiful tiger shape padlock, John and I both born in tiger year.

Conculsion: 
Except taking consider on what do you want to do and see, also calculate the time that you need, bare in mind, transportation from one city to another is tiring and take really long time, eg, 7 hours from Kathmandu to Pokhara by bus.

Do spare one or few days before or after trek for flight delay (which is happen very often due to weather), mountain sickness, rest and etc.

Temple / museum visit - Durbar Square (aka the Palace Square) that can be found in every city (because one palace in every city) is huge and lots of story, people who're really interested in goddess story usually spend more than one day in square.

As for us, we spent 2 weeks in Nepal and we feel never enough.

If you ask for my plan to refer, here you go.

===========

Nepal Trip:

Day 1 (27 Nov, Tues)

* Reach Kathmandu at 1030am (check in guesthouse and leave luggage)

* Walk around thamel area, meet Marvel travel for trip arrangement.

Day 2 (28 Nov, Wed)

* Kathmandu -> Lukla

* Trek to Phakding

Day 3 (29 Nov, Thurs)

* Phakding -> Namche Bazaar

Day 4 (30 Nov, Fri)

* Namche Bazaar (Trek to Panoroma Hotel for lunch and view of Everest)

Day 5 (1 Dec, Sat)

* Namche Bazaar -> Lukla

Day 6 (2 Dec, Sun)

* Lukla -> Kathmandu

* Free and easy 

Day 7 (3 Dec, Mon)

* Pashupatinath Temple

Day 8 (4 Dec, Tues)

* Kathmandu -> Pokhara (early by 7am)

* free and easy

Day 9 (5 Dec, Wed)

* Pokhara

* fewa lake, world peace pagoda and devis waterfall

Day 10 (6 Dec, Thurs)

* Pokhara, paraglading / relax

Day 11 (7 Dec, Fri)

* Pokhara -> Kathmandu

* Durbar square

Day 12 (8 Dec, Sat)

* Monkey temple

Day 13 (9 Dec, Sun)

* Bhaktapur day trip

Day 14 (10 Dec, Mon)

* Kathmandu -> KL.  

===========

Of course, this is very rough plan, in fact i didn't really follow the plan at last due to some accident (eg, very bad diarrhea or i think it is black magic in Kathmandu), also because of the budget.

And i will go into detail in the next post.

So if you concern about the budget. Here we go.

===========

Nepal Trip Budget Per Person:

Accomandation
Kathmandu (Asmita) 6 nights (10usd/day) = 60usd 
Pokhara 3 nights (15uds/day) = 45usd
Total: 105usd

Transport 
Round air tix from KUL to KTM return = RM 1200 (paid)
Taxi from airport to guesthouse return = 15usd 
Round bus tix KTM to Pokhara return tix (10usd/way)= 20usd
Taxi KTM to Bhaktapur = 8usd (rs650 for 2)
Taxi Bhaktapur to Nagarkot = 10usd (rs750 for 2)
Bus Nagarkot to KTM = 6usd
Local transport = 61usd 
Total: 120usd (exclude KUL to KTM return tix)

Meal
estimate 15usd per meal 
(9d in nepal exlude treking) 21meals x 15usd = 315usd
Total: 315usd

5 days treking trip
Round air tix KTM to Lukla return tix = 280usd
Porter / guide / permit / Stay and meal (marvel travel): 295usd
Other: 50usd
Total: 625usd 

Other 
Entry ticket = 50usd
Total: 50usd

LamSum
Accomondation = 105usd
Transport = 120usd
Meal = 315usd
Trek = 625usd
Other = 50usd 

Total = 1215usd = RM3888

===========

If you did follow my blog, you should know i usually mark up all the budget, in fact, for the 2 weeks trip, each of us only spent about RM2500 excluded KUL - KTM round tix.

And yes, the EBC trail costed you that much, because of the air tix price is crazy. If you wanna do the trail without taking plane to the starting point, you can either choose to walk 3 days uphill to the starting point.

But i tell you what, this trail is worthy to do it, and even i have to pay a thousand usd to do the trail, i will go for it.

Alright i've to go, next post will be EBC hiking post! Stay tuned for stunning photos!











Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20130730, 1117am
Rach in goin to work mood.

Thailand: Chiang Mai - Sukonthan Buffet

Food, is the most important concern for John (ok, also for me)  in a trip, we both love to try some really local food in some local place, just like raw octopus leg sashimi in Seoul Korea, the best salmon sashimi in New Zealand and etc.

Thailand is my another hometown, the famous tom yum and mango sticky rice no longer make us excited, as Chiang Mai is located in northern Thailand and we hope to dig out some really special place to give a try.

Then Chakree, my Thai friend told i shouldn't missed Sukonthan Buffet, which is the Moo Ga Ta aka hotpot + BBQ buffet in the town. 

I replied that John and I both know about thai BBQ and hotpot (from BBQ Plaza outlet in Malaysia), we're not really into in.

Then he said, if i don't go, i will be very regret, because the restaurant place is huge that i've never seen, there are over 300 choices of foods and great atmosphere.

Most importantly, only 199bath per person exclude alcohol, cheap ain't?!

How to go Sukonthan Buffet?

Get a tuk tuk and show him the address: 46/1 Huay Kaew Road T.Chang Puek A. Muaeng Chiang Mai.

You cant find this restaurant in google map, if the driver doesn't read the address, show him below photo might can help.  

If you think this restaurant is not as huge as i say, wait till you scroll down.

above photo is taken from the right, and this is left.

and this is another section.

                                     
                                       Short clip that i took caused we reach there early

So now you think this restaurant is huge? I read from the other review that written in Mandarin said this restaurant can fit in 1000 people in one times.

Crazy, Thailand is darn hot, why people want to make them hotter by hot pot and BBQ?

Maybe because of the food?

Drinks section, if you don't like the color, there are another section of glass bottle soft drink, take all you want.

uploading all the raw meats to the bar.

Raw foods for BBQ or hotpot are not the only option here, but cooked foods, just like hotel buffet man!

You can get thai, chinese, western, japan and korea taste all in Sukonthan.

Asian ready to eat foods

some fried stuffs.

Don't think they only serve cheap food, you see the huge shrimp yet?

Ok what is you've a sweet tooth or you prefer healthy food?

Got get all the fruits that you like in the fruits section, or take one of each of the dessert they have to fill your stomach!

ice cold fruit, and my cam cant fit all the selection in one shoot

dessert, at least 30 kinds of them.

more cakes.

If you're waiting for the hotpot / BBQ photos, here we go.

The restaurant only use charcoal, and they will light it up in the back of the restaurant, by huge electronic fan because serve to customer.

lighting up the charcoal

put the pan on charcoal and now you're ready to cook your food!

freaking hot pot

and he loves it :D

yum!

If you;re seafood person, get as much as you like.

Well you might think the pot is too small for shell food eg shrimp and crab or shell fish.

The restaurant prepare big BBQ pit for those who cant wait to slow cook the food on the small pan.

Like below.

big BBQ pit

fun to BBQ with stranger.

Ok what if you don't wanna BBQ shell fish but you like it by boil.

Serve yourself!

clam, a lot of clam

boil it!

If you happened to visit Chiang Mai, i strongly recommend this place for nice environment, foods and atmosphere!

Alright there end my Chiang Mai and Pai post, next will be Nepal. FINALLY!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20130708, 1053pm

Rach in vomit mood.

Thailand: Chiang Mai - Tha Phae Gate and Waroros Market

Chiang Mai is a small town that surrounded by a lot of temple like any other culture rich town in the Asia, so if you love history and legend stories, Chiang Mai will be a good place for you to explore. 

For us, we only stayed a night to catch the flight for the next day. 

As we stayed in ChiangMaan Residence which is located in the other gate from the famous Tha Phae Gate, we spent our first day by take a walk to Tha Phae gate.  

If you're interest on temples and its story, get a map in the airport and look for the temples around the city. 

And i just snap whatever temple that we bypass along the way to Tha Phae Gate.

Temple is everywhere in the town, like the main road.

a memorial hall for 3 Gods.

Artistic building catch my eye too.

Temple, really everywhere in Chiang Mai.

Gold stupa, some people say its real gold.

20 minutes leisure walk and we reach Tha Phae Gate

Old door.

One thing i love about Chiang Mai is the fine mixture between old and new stuff. 

leisure.

the wall is in very fine condition.

intro of the gate.

river that surrounded the town, just like Angkor in Cambodia 

We didn't explore the west and south gate, because we're not interested hahahahahah.

Tha Phae Gate is the hub of the town, you can find everything you need there, eg restaurant, backpacker hostel, massage, souvenir, transport transfer and etc.

We took some picture in Tha Phae gate and we decided to go back to the hotel and relax before go to dinner that really make me excited, well detail will be in the next post.

So the next morning we went to Waroros Market, do some last minute shopping before fly back home in the late afternoon.

Waroros Market is the traditional market but turning to tourist market, i didn't put my expectation that this gonna be the local market, but turn out this not bad at all.

tuk tuk drop us in the opposite road we and cross the bridge to the market place.

crowded even is raining.

lots of stalls outside of the building too

Waroros Market.

tea and souvenirs.

local foodstall, at least some are really for local.

snack, chip, food that you can bring back to your country.

we snap this from the 2nd floor.

you can spend lots time and do shopping here actually.

HK roasted chicken!

this is not sh*t, but sausage! haha.

local foodstall + flies. :S

some historical picture hanging in the market.

Waroros used to be the biggest market for the local.

Well, next post will be the best Thai BBQ buffet that i ever had! So i have to make a post specially for the place!

Stay tuned ya!




Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20130626, 0858am
Rach in hungry mood.

Thailand: Chiang Mai - Chiang Maan Residence Boutique Hotel Review

After 4 good days in Pai, John and I back to Chiang Mai to catch up flight by the next day.

As i mentioned in the previous post, Pai doesn't have an international airport but domestic, you can either go by minivan like us (save a lot) or transit in Ching Mai to catch Nok Air (the local airline) to Pai, cost you about RM300 for return.

Alright so we back to Chiang Mai with minivan from Pai. FYI, Minivan to or from Pai and Chiang Mai is very frequent, so don't worry bout the ticket. 

Minivan from Pai to Chiang Mai stop in 3 places. 

1. Train Station.

2. Bus Station.

3. Tha Phea Gate, which is the hub of Chiang Mai.

Just let the driver know where do you want to stop and they will drop you there. 

Frankly speaking, although i know Chiang Mai is a historical town in Thailand, but i'm not really interested, and that's the reason why we only stay one day in Chiang Mai. 

Chiang Mai is not a big developed city, it just a small town and not much of attraction if you're not interested in temple visit like us.

After tonnes of research, I came out our to-do in Chiang Mai:

1. Tha Phae Gate - The historical gate of the square town, John loves anything bigger than him.

2. Sukonthan Buffet - The local Thai BBQ Buffet, cheap but hell lots of food, we eat like local :D  

3. Warrorat Market - The local market that selling lots of stuff, we both love local market.

But i'll only write the above in the next post, this post is hotel review.

In Chiang Mai, we choose to stay in Chiang Maan Residence, the boutique hotel that out of the hub, which located in resident area.

I love this home-alike hotel that run by an old couple very much, indeed i'm regret why not stay another night here. To stay in Chiang Maan Residence, makes you like spending your summer break at your grandparent house.

As i said, Chiang Maan Residence is not in the hub (which is Tha Phae Gate), it was 1.4km away from the gate accordingly google map. Take you about 20 minutes slow walk from the place to the gate.

Red is Chiang Maan Residence, Blue is Tha Phae Gate

Chiang Maan Residence

Frankly speaking, Chiang Maan Residence did not really catch my eye when i first saw from Agoda website, because the photos didn't seem attractive, but i put it in the 2nd choice list for the location.

After go through some other choice and i came back to do some review research in Chiang Maan Residence and found more photos from guests and positive reviews, i decided to spend the night in this boutique hotel.

Oh, did i tell you? Rent for this boutique hotel is fairly cheap, cost me less than RM100 for a deluxe room / night. 

You would probably love Chiang Maan Residence if:

1. Live like a local but modern and designed room. 

2. Wish to stay away from of noise and club.

3. Prefer relax more than rush to attraction.

4. Don't mind walking a little for food (located in residence area)

Tips to Chiang Maan Residence:
- Tell the driver to go Chiang Man Temple, 3 times tuk tuk ride and none of them know where is this place.
- From the temple main entrance, turn left and turn left in the first junction, walk straight until you see the place. Less than 3 minutes walking distance, if you take tuk tuk, will take you like forever. =.=

Blue is the temple, red is the place and green is super nice chicken thigh rice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You will see the owner's pet welcoming guest from far

old but faithful dog. 

Chiang Maan Residence.

The outlook and the lazy dog :D

I love boutique hotel because of very detail deco, like this.

The "lobby", comfort like your own home.

The door to rooms.

Read and relax in the lobby is my favourite thing to do in Chiang Maan Residence.

coffee table outside of the room. 

I love the door in our room!

Room is not big yet very comfort and clean, of course with a big window and lots of sunlight!

love the wall, love the deco, love almost everything in the room!

the other side of the window is Chiang Maan temple's garden, greenery everywhere.

I spend a few hours lying on the bed and enjoying the scene outside. 

Light up the little lamp during night time, romance.

Put the mosquito net down although no bug in the room.

This boutique hotel is the home of the owner, so around 3 or 4 rooms available, every room (well at least deluxe room, which we're stay in) is with modern facilities, like:

1. Very strong pressure shower head.

2. Flat tv.

3. Air con.

4. Wifi around the building. 

Although no breakfast provided and you might need to walk a bit for food (nearest 7-11 is 5 to 10 minutes walking distance), but if i could decide again, i would definitely stay more than one night in Chiang Maan Residence!

Although the owner cant speak fluently English, but they treat you like children, always put their smile on face and suggest place to go, they even ask us to join for dinner when we bumped into their dinner time.

Chiang Maan Residence doesn't have an official website, but a very simple blog, but they work together  with some booking website. We make our reservation via Agoda.

If you decided to stay Chiang Maan Residence after reading my blog, please show this blog to the owner, and tell them they deserve this, and i miss them already =)





Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20130613, 0219pm
Rach in hungry mood.