[ Pokhara, Nepal ]
Let me get straight to the point (shocking, I know): I’m going to be returning the United States for a short visit, arriving on June 1st1 and beginning the trip back to Asia on October 1st (via Italy and Turkey).
Although it wasn’t my original intention, once I made the decision I found myself unexpectedly excited at the prospect of visiting old friends and wishing the Transglobal Matriarch a Happy 85th Birthday in person (June 2nd).
While stateside, I’ll be selling off the rest of my worldly possessions, making a handful of skydives, securing additional support for my now-greatly-expanded Monglia++ trip2, and maybe even working a few hours here and there as a code monkey—just to keep the chops in shape. Of course I’d love to spend some time with any of you who find yourselves in the Houston-Dallas area; send me an email and we’ll make it work.
Namaste,
—le Transglobaliste
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1) I’ll be leaving Nepal on May 19th for New Delhi, where I’ll attend to medical and dental needs at a cost-quality combination my home country’s abysmal health care system, even with the new Obamacare bandaid, can’t provide.
2) Now delayed by a year—to align with the seasons in the high Himalayan portions of the trip—the extended version will last for 7-8 months. Beginning in April 2015, here’s the plan, roughly (I think it sounds pretty incredible, myself):
Beginning in Ulaanbaatar, cross Mongolia’s northern region (full of nomadic peoples) from east to west; enter into northwestern China, descending through a very barren, high altitude, remote part of northern Tibet called Chang Tang and continue down to Lhasa; from there, ride into eastern India (Sikkim – Darjeeling), and cross back into Nepal at the eastern border; ride to Bhojpur, leave my bike with my family in Kot, and trek across Nepal—all the way back to Pokhara (about a 5-7 week walk).
