Photography and Videography

“Cycling to Tatopani on 2 wheels”

While the people of the world are busy on their daily stuff, Apa Sherpa, 21 times Mount Everest summiter is walking the Great Himalayan trail with his team (Dawa Steven Sherpa, 2 times Everest summiter, Saurav Dhakal British Council International Climate Champion 2010 and Sameer Jung Thapa Photographer) are walking on "The Great Himalaya Trail". The three young guns were riding their cycle to Tatopani (China border). Once again, it was trio to complete a long journey on cycle.

Day 1:

Jung Gurung, Shardool Gurung and I (Khashing Rai) finally managed our time for 3 days cycling. As schedule we met at Banasthali at 6:30 am on 24^th February, 2012. I being the experienced on cycling among 3 of us, I am fully responsible to manage all the lodging and fooding. But they synchronized well. The roads are black topped so, the ride won’t be that much difficult as riding on off road But still we need a good stamina to ride for 105 kms a day. We even on cycle had to obey the traffic rules of the Bhaktapur Highway and we obeyed it rightly. The stomach must be filled with some foods and fluids from time to time for such long riding. So, we had a breakfast at Sallaghari (Bhaktapur) then pumped up to pedal our cycle till Dolalghat for lunch. From Banasthali to Dolalghat it is around 55kms with only the slight uphill of Sanga (Bhaktapur) and Dhulikhel except that the roads are almost plain. Shardool being the youngest one walked for few minutes along with his cycle on the uphill of Dhulikhel. The road is completely downhill till Panchkhal and then from there it’s plain and few downhill till Dolalghat. The time was perfect for lunch when we reached Dolalghat. There we had lunch and took rest for a while then got ready for steep incline for about 2 and half kms. On the way there are 2 ways: one to go to Chautara and next to Kodari. We took the way to Kodari. The sun was just above us and providing us more heat than we wanted so, we had to replenish our body with fluid time to time. We are not in a mood to leave excellent chances to click the photos on the way. We even interacted with few people while resting and clicked jpt photos. Most of the time we were on our cycle and once we reached Khaadichaur it’s just 37 kms for Tatopani. From Khadichaur we took the straight road, the right way goes to Jiri which is the gateway to Everest (Mount Everest 8848m) but now it is being used very less due to Tenzing –Hillary Airport of Lukla (built in 1960’s helped by Hillary). Tenzing-Hillary airport is ranked as one of the deadliest airport in the world and holds 8^th position (History Channel). We pedaled our cycle towards Barabise where we ate MOMO and Chowmein (Chinese food as we are approaching near to China) and it doesn’t take more time to get ready. From here the roads are quite inclined. We lowered our gear during the uphill. It was 5:30pm when we reach Borderland (one of the company which provides facilities of rafting, Kayaking, mountain biking, trekking and many more). As holi (Nepali festival of colors) is approaching near the young ones tried to hit us with balloons filled with water but couldn’t aim at us. When we reach “The last resort” 100 kms from Kathmandu, it was dusk but we kept on pedaling. Pedaling for about 5 kms Shardool faced a flat tire but we (Jung and I) didn’t become aware of that. “Parkhishyoos” said Shardool but Jung heard “Gayishyoos” so we kept on moving. Later Shardool came running along with his cycle. While fixing the flat tire, a bus came flying on the way and even it’s getting dark we opted to take a bus till Tatopani. It was 10 kms from that place. Once we reach tatopani we stayed overnight at hotel near to Tatopani (Hot water pool). We fixed the cycle in room and got ready for dinner. The room was perfect for a sound sleep for our tiring body with attached bathroom plus television. But the food was not that perfect (because of rice quality but tarkari and daal were good). There is no power cut so watched tv for few hours then fell asleep without switching off lights and tv. I got up at 2:30am for short break and turned off lights and tv.

Day 2:

The very next day after riding for 105kms we managed to got up early and prepared to pedal our cycle towards China Border. It was only 3kms from tatopani. We had grams, milk and eggs as breakfast moved towards border. Once we reach the border we need to fill up the form for one day permit to visit Khasa (China) and we Jung and I) did fill up the form. Shardool doesn’t have Citizenship card so he didn’t fill up the form. Jung and I were allowed to enter by Chinese Army/police from the bridge. But at last terminal other Chinese Army (of lower post) is in dilemma and called the senior. The senior police again rang his senior then the senior one approached towards us and tore the form. We had no option other than to return back. We took a few snaps at Nepal’s border and returned back to Tatopani to plunge on hot water pool. Many people visit this Tatopani especially senior citizen. There is a belief that we cleanse all our sin and it’s good for health too.

Then again we pedaled our cycle towards Kathmandu (Capital city of Nepal). From Tatopani it’s all the way downhill till Khadichaur with few uphill but not that steep. On the way we didn’t miss the opportunity to cycle on suspension bridge. But that ride was quite a scary as it was tilted. We reached Dolalghat on time and managed our lodging and fooding. Then, we roamed around Dolalghat. The room was good with attached bathroom without television and even the dinner was delicious with fish curry (Ashala). We didn’t regret of not having television as there was loadshedding (power cut)

Day 3:

Now it’s only 55kms from here to Kathmandu but still 23kms uphill to be climbed. This day was like we were on picnic we kept on eating after every 10kms. The lassi on the way to Dhulikhel was special one. Not to forget the lunch at Sherpene’s hotel. People were on queue to have lunch there. The lunch was yummy with meat (buff curry, buff fry, and mutton curry as we like). As there is a saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” same goes to this place “Don’t judge the food by its place”. I would like to rate this as “Must taste food of the roadside”. But we had to wait to dig up a lunch, not only we all the people had to do so. Then we pedaled towards “Bhaktapur Durbar Square” listed in the world heritage site by UNESCO. There we tasted Juju Dhau (curd) that is Bhaktapur’s special and spent a time at Siddha pokhari. We headed back to our homes from there. We trio completed the journey of nearly 230kms in 3 days time. Happy Pedaling and Keep on exploring the new places on your cycle. Happy riding.

After the successful hiking to Shivapuri 3 months had passed away. Our legs are itching either to hike or to cycle. Finally a program of cycling was fixed and this time we planned to invite many new faces. This time we just messaged them than hitting with phone call and altogether the number of participants confirmed was 9. Others couldn’t join us due to their personal work. Those who don’t have their own cycle hired it.
According to plan we decided to meet in front of Nepal Tourism Board at 8am. Being Nepal we couldn’t get away Nepalipan. We started to pedal our cycle at 9am from Bhrikutimandap taking a route of Putalisadak-Maitighar-jaulakhel-satdobato. We bought some dry foods plus Cadburys. The roads are black topped which makes the ride easy and comfortable. The awe inspiring view of mountains really fascinates Claudia (from Germany), “the best view of mountains I see after spending few weeks in Kathmandu” said Claudia. At some junctions we had to ask the locals about the direction, it’s better to ask than get lost or return via same route.

This route is a complete mix of uphill, downhill, off-road. Claudia’s cycle showed some problem during the first back topped uphill. The shifting of gear didn’t work well. I was little bit worried, if it continues to give a problem then this would be a complete mess. This day all of them pedal hard on the uphill. We reached Chapagaun, all are still fit and fine. This is a good sign and showed we can still pedal more miles. Pedaling for around 1 mile we found out an open space perfect to shoot few snaps with a clear sky. All the photos shot here was amazing including the photo where we carried our cycle. Most of the time cycle carries our weight, we carry them very rarely. So, those cycles must have felt lucky this time.
After the photo session, the trail leads us to off-road. We had breakfast (heavy breakfast including noodles, sel roti, tarkari, tea), Andrianto had milk and few sel roti but Claudia had spicy noodles, tarkari too. We filled our stomach and bottles too. It’s time to move on. After few rotation of crank it was time to face downhill. This kind off downhill adds fragrance to gold. The trail was little bit bumpy and might have given hard time to butt to others. We (Amita, Suman and I) had pedaled the same trail 2 years back and the memory of that time was still in our mind. We decided to take a snap at the same place under the huge tree. Few changes took place within these 2 years of time. We are very much excited to pedal cycle on the suspension bridge. Everyone did enjoy the ride over that suspension bridge (except Claudia just a thought). Now the roads turn into dusty one. The fore rider acts like a catalyst to raise a dust on air. Till we reach Tika Bhairab temple the roads are dusty and full of natural powder (dust). Few times we spent at Tika Bhairab was fully utilized by Andrianto, the snaps of Andrianto was amazing (btw I was a photographer) and envied by others. We had to climb an uphill for about 1 mile and then it was black topped till we reach Lele temple.
It was already lunch time. We went to nearby local restaurant. We ate varieties of foods including Juice. We then slowly pedal back to khokana and had to cover the same road till the junction of suspension bridge. Andrianto was in a pain may be due to soyabean which he ate(uric acid). He had a painkiller. I think that works for him. While returning back we spent few times at small hill viewing the beauty of Lalitpur. We pedaled and pedaled and pedaled till we reach Khokana. It was getting dark and late as well and had to skip a plan to do a round trip to sano Khokana (new khokana).
Before reaching Jawlakhel Suman was energy less and he opted to buy chocolate and at the same time he fell from his cycle (I guess no one knows about this). It was dusk when we reached Tripureshwor but we had no option than to pedal up to Thamel. We all reached Thamel safely and luckily Claudia didn’t face problem regarding her cycle. The buzzing of Christmas Eve had already started at Thamel. We bid goodbye to each other and moved towards respective home. Happy Riding……..

Participants:
1. Amita Thapa Magar
2. Bhabishya Gurung
3. Claudia Muller
4. Himal Gurung
5. Khashing Rai
6. Nishant Sapkota
7. Shardool Gurung
8. Suman Udas
9. Zafach Andrianto