Week with Trekking Partners:)

They say whatever happens, happens for the best! Sometimes,
distasteful events happen- events that create a lot of err emotional
upheavals when the best laid plans go awry.But then, they pave way for
unplanned events that in many ways open up newer destinations,journeys
and people. One such well- laid plan went awry when I started coughing
at Chowrikhang, 4500 metres, Kanchenjunga National Park, Sikkim and
told to turn back and walk down asap.I was in no mood to go back down
to sea level, 20 days ahead of schedule. I was bent on stepping into
Bhutan and had dreams of the monastery at Paro. But decided to give
myself a few days to get better. 2 nights in cold Darjeeling where my
throat and chest got progressively worse were enough to pack my sack
and head down to Siliguri. My throat was hoarse with barely any sound
creeping out. After the mountains, Siliguri felt overwhelmingly
unbearable. Bhutan, a new place and alone became a little distant
plan. Walked a few once i got out of the shared jeep at Siliguri and i
landed in a jeep enclosure - jeeps that were headed for the Nepal
Border. Hmm....did a quick check on the temp in Kathmandu - at 20
degrees- seemed toasty warm and familiar . While negotiating with the
the shared jeep driver, on a whim, quickly emailed Alex, founder,
Trekking Partners with whom I'd  exchanged a few emails earlier. His
prompt reply was that he's in Ktm!!!wuhuuu!

A memorable and bumpy bus ride later(Kakarbitta- Ktm), landed in Ktm
at 6 am. Went to KGH- but they didn't have beds available. I decided
it was too early to call Alex and meanwhile - went around looking for
room to stay. The cheapest option at NPR 600 was Hotel Radiant - in
the heart of Thamel and a few minute walk from KGH. Still undecided
and famished - went and had a nice breakfast before calling up Alex.
Met him at KGH and we walked down looking for hotels, finally settling
on Hotel Radiant.

I had no idea why i was in Nepal again except that i loved the place,
and it was warmer and more familar , with loads to do than
Darjeeling.But this was perhaps the first trip that i stayed a place
without really "doing" anything. For a person like me- that's an
achievement of sorts. The days that i stayed in Ktm, i planned on
treks, long solo cycling trips, bungee jumping, white water rafting-
but somehow cancelled every plan . The only thing i did DO was climb
at Astrek, Thamel for a few hours.I didn't regret it at all though.

Day one was spent showing me "Durbar" area of Kathmandu. It was
interesting to see Alex manoevre and bypass all the paid entry points-
since it was a festival day- Bhai-dooj. Also  saw the man in action-
Alex posting his posters on street lights, empty walls, beseechingly
colourful rows of posters that read"Trekking Partners".

Next day, walked down to Svayambhu , bumped into Alex at one of his
"offices" at Himalayan Java. He told me about Alobar 1000 , a cool
hostel that he'd  found out about.Met Alex for dinner who took me to
this small shop tucked away in one of those bylanes that you never
find again - it was kinda a "dhaba" as we Indians would call it.It was
the type of place that I'd pass by and not step in. But here, for 100
NPR, we got served 2 plates of nan, 2 vegetables and a dal. Plus
BYOB:). Suprisingly, the place was fully occupied and half of them
tourists! We walked back down- getting lost in the streets of Thamel-
identifying streets by noticing the TP posters, discovering that a
good Samaritan had left disco lights switched on in the streets-Diwali
celebrations perhaps. Was amusing to stand outside and watch a bakery
full of people coz post 9.30 pm, they offer a 50% discount on all
bakery products.

Next morning- checked out Alobar and kinda liked the place.
Immediately booked a bed for the next few days.Alex organised a dinner
for TP folks who were in Ktm. Was a small but fun group that night-
from people heading to EBC  and ABC to downhill bikers to people who
had stood each other up on TP! Next morning quick visit to Alobar 1000
to dump my stuff and we happened to speak to Tashi, the guy who
started Alobar. He spoke about a offroad and pristine route that he
was planning to bike to. Bingo! Alex and I decided to go there( plus
Patan) after renting a bike the next day. Les and I went to explore
Pashupatinath. Unfortunately , Les would have to pay a bomb to step
into the temple premises( and yet not allowed into the temple) so he
skipped it.Dinner with Alex, Les, and Stacy. We couldn't get enough of
her stories. She was the only UN pilot we'd met who flies in a strife
zone:)

Next few days were spent with Alex and Stacy - breakfasts, shifting
hotels, repairing brand new bike, climbing,shopping, giggling and
waiting for the melon from the tree above to fall on the unaware
breakfaster,choosing unheard of meals from a huge Tibetan menu and 
hoping we get served something palatable, farewell dinner for our Everester friend, 
Les,  dipping Parle-G biscuits in tea atop a temple at Durbar square, 
cancelling the rent-a-motorbike plan coz we discovered that the biking trip Tashi
mentioned was a commercial one after all,  meeting even more people -
interesting of which were the Catalans Alex and I spotted at
Revolution cafe -sitting with a biking map of Nepal .(Jordy - the
biker who had interesting stories cycling the Silk Route, Ikar, the
fireman who has been trekking in Nepal for a few months,Gloria and her
ebullient bf with an indefinite stay in Nepal- coz theyre enjoying
playing their part in a social project in the hamlets of Nepal.They
rent an apartment in Ktm and are very welcoming to anyone who needs to
stay)

Unfortunately, my trip had to come to an end because of the 10 day
strike in Nepal ahead of elections.It was really great to hear so many
stories, meet great people doing so many different things, in one
small country- Nepal and that too just coz i happened to register and
gainfully use this brilliant website called trekkingpartners.com.What
are the chances!

Alex, a stranger when i arrived in Ktm became , in a way home to me
those few days that i stayed in Ktm. Very interesting,
perseverent,dedicated and a fun person.His curiosity and openness to
accepting new cultures, people, experiences is what makes him such a
great person to hang out with and learn from. His is a new business,
so to speak AND, it seems almost everyone he meets has lots of ideas
and suggestions for him on how to take it forward and make it a
success and how to monetize it. It was interesting to see his
reactions and answers to people suggesting how he monetize it.. One of
the wonderful qualities noticed in Alex is that as he respectfully
listens to every suggestion and assimilates it, his eyes light up with
interest and he smilingly acknowledges and appreciates something good
about the idea. And he does this tirelessly EVERY single time!

I've never seen him dismiss any idea, or say it is not possible or
practical, nor does he justify why his approach is better.Not that he
agrees to every idea just because it was given.He has clarity of what
he'll do and won't. But It's quite remarkable how open he is to ideas,
suggestions, observations and even criticism.

I feel he embodies the spirit of open mindedness and is open hearted,
and he seems to take something of value from every such interaction
that he has. And THAT is an inspiring quality:)

Please visit, register and use http://www.trekkingpartners.com/ for your next travel adventure.....