Nepal

Date: 22 Oct 05 - 6 Nov 05 [16D/15N]
Location: Annapurna trek - Pokhara - Kathmandu, Nepal
Altitude: 900m-3,888m ASL
Difficulty: 7.8/10
Camera: Canon EOS 350D
Lens: Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC
Filter: Hoya CPL
Post editing: PS CS2
Organizer: Dan
Members: Lilian, Sam, Soek Kiau, Lucy, Ming Wei, Irine, One, Jean, Choon Wai, Wai Hau, CS Law, Cheng Bee, Liang Kim, Teng Chuan, Bee Loon, Lay Theng, Ong Lee, Marina, Say Boon and Chin Chin
Guide: 2 local guides + 1 runner + 11 potters [for the Annapurna trek only]

My reason to go there: A friend name told me that she and some friends wanted to trek a very beautiful trail called the “Jomsom trek”, but there was no organizer for the trip. I googled it and was blown away by its beauty. So I told her I’ll organize a trip there.
ehemmm .. this is not a new holiday, just moving photo album from another website to here.
So this is about Nepal ... Land of the Gods....
If you are an avid hiker and love outdoor, don’t miss out Nepal …. It is a must go, you will never regret going there ….
I was there from 22 Oct 2005 to 6 Nov 2005 .... 9 of my 16 days there was spent trekking the Annapurna range, traversing thru breath taking valleys, serene villages, etc. It was magical.

It was a magnificent 2 weeks trip thanks to Nepal, it was a wonderful and memorable experience mingle in both the sacred and the profane in this once-forbidden kingdom nestled in the world's highest mountains the mighty Himalayas.
It is a land of enchantment with a unique blend of Hindu and Buddhist culture, breathtaking natural beauty, religious mystique, ancient temples, and timeless traditions that transport one back to another time.

Someday I'll wanna go back to this place .... it is a must.

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Java to Bali

Jan 2005 - I spent 10 days backpacking from Java to Bali of Indonesia, that was when I started to learn about photography and how to take pictures the better way...
Camera: Canon Powershot A80 (** that's when I realized the limitation of a compact cam)

eer Java, Indonesia ..... a predominately Muslim island and one of the most densely populated place on earth..... cities visited was Surabaya, Solo and Yogya, well more like stop over. They were not very interesting to me.
I have also visited:
1. Borobudur an 800 years old Buddhist complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues (I copied that from Wikipedia)
2. Prambanan an 850 years old Hindu complex, , another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Mount Bromo, located in the Tengger Caldera, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in East Java, Indonesia. It is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, and even though at 2329 meters it is not the highest peak of the massif, it is the most well known.

And then Bali, Indonesia ...... a predominately Hindu population island, well more accurately Bali Hindu or Agama Tirtha, the Religion of the Holy Water.
So I have been to several cities/towns like, Lovina, Ubud/Tegallalang, Kuta/Legian, Kintamani...
And I have also visited most of the usual tourist spots like:
1. Tanah lot
2. Ulu Watu
3. Pura Beji
4. Bedugul
5. Batu Bulan
6. Bersakih
7. Taman Ayun
8. Gitgit Falls
9. etc. ..

If you ever visit Bali, Java or Lombok...... go into the villages or the local traditional markets and look for Mee Bakso, it is very very yummy..

Quote from the Bali bombing memorial: You hurt us bombing bali, but we can take the pain. But if you think you'll beat us you can think a-bloody-again. (Yes we will never loose to terroism, support Bali and go back to Bali, if Bali falls ..we loose)

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