Cela roams around: Lonely Planet

Monday, 26 December 2011

Don't you know we're all wizards, welcome to Oz

Day 13: Marpha - Gasha - Tatopani (by bus)

We had to separate from our lovely crew. We had to get up quite early to manage to catch 7.30 bus to Tatopani but unfortunately we did not catch it. We've made mistake not buying tickets the day before.When we've reached the ticket counter we were informed that the direct bus is full and the only option left for us is to take bus to Gasha and change there.

Our bus was to arrive to Marpha before the direct bus, but arrived later, actually both of them were late. Nevertheless somewhere in the middle of the way every vehicle on the road was stopped by the big truck that got broken down and blocked both directions. Everyone had to wait until they repair it.

Finally we were driving again and after changing in Ghasa (which was rather quick and efficient) we got to Tatopani (1190m), where we went to Daulagiri Lodge which again was recommended to us by the guide in Kagbeni and it's also recommended by Lonely Planet.

It was cool to meet there Jean-Pierre (the French guy, who we met for the first time in Chame and who had a guide with him with whom he for so friendly that the guide was calling hum daddy. In terms of age he probably could be his son) and Stephen (the German guy with whom we've been staying in the dorm one day and also hiking couple of times) and Israeli couple. No wonder everyone was there. Place is gorgeous, there is huge harden - peaceful oasis after shaky journey on the bus (even through the river as the driver was trying to take over other buses and trucks and catch up lost time) with supposedly good food as at the time of writing we were still waiting for our lasagnas.

Waiting for the truck to get repaired

Sun set in Tatopani

Cat in Tatopani - Daulagiri Lodge

Day 14: Tatopani - Ghora - Shikha - Chitre - Ghorepani (15 km/1750up/140down)

Weather and altitude in Tatopani got boring ;-) It was too hot down there, so we've decided to go up again. This time we had to cover 1700m up in one day to reach Ghorepani. Ascent was not steep (only the first part), but constantly up. Basically this day was dedicated to going up. Up and up, all day long.
First village on the way was Ghora which I had the feeling was the longest village ever. I think that walk from beginning to the end of it took me one hour.
In Shikha we had lunch with Stephen and Jean-Pierre and headed via Chitre (where we had out ACAP checked) to Ghorepani. This last piece from Chitre was the worst. Even Jacek lost his motivation and although I was slow I've caught up with him and we've reached Snow View Hotel together. It's a nice place with hot shower, heated dining room and all the friends.

Somewhere between Tatopani and Ghorepani

Jacek and Stephen in ACAP check point

Somewhere between Tatopani and Ghorepani

Monday, 7 February 2011

Be modern in Warsaw

I'm still waiting for Dubai visa. I was supposed to fly on Saturday, but I did not get visa, so I enjoy some more time in Warsaw. Due to that I could go for a party with FS department, where I somehow joined even though I don't work with them. I just sit with them and I it is just insane what happens there. There are only women in that department, half of them mothers and the only topics are either kids (these are mothers, I very frankly like this one: "I know that you are not interested in it, but anyway I'm gonna tell you about it ") or dating (these are singles and mothers who are always interested in our dating and picking up adventures).
Party that I joined was crazy and in the end I've been back home about 6 in the morning on Saturday as with Kinga we decided that bowling and Dekada is not enough. Every party must finish in Klubo and so we did.
On Saturday we had breakfast in one of our favourite cafes in Warsaw - Cafe Szpilka - at 4 p.m. which was rather extreme, especially that we walked there, which took us about an hour, so by the time we got there we had the feeling that we could eat every item from the menu. So we were eating and reading Lonely Planet guidebooks. She was reading about Annapurna Circuit which we plan at the end of this year and I was browsing Dubai guide book. I got pretty scare when for example I read about a guy who got arrested, because he had 3 poppy seeds on his shirt which fell there from a roll that he ate at the Heathrow airport. Crazy.
To balance partying and culture on Sunday we went to National Museum in Warsaw for an exhibition "Chcemy być nowocześni" (We want to be modern) which is exhibition of ca 180 objects from the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw, featuring the most important examples of Polish design, rarely seen in the West. It presents one of the most exciting periods of Polish design, between the political thaw of 1955 and the social changes brought in 1968.
It was really cool. Even for a person like me, who is completely non artistic it was fun to see objects which once were in use (and prolly still are in some households) and you could buy them in the store and we even had some of them at home and now they are on display in museum.
We went with the flow and saw one more exhibition: "Wzornictwo za 4 złote" (1 euro design) in Institute of Industrial Design. The exhibition presents 63 not expensive designer products. It aims at refuting the myth that design has to be expensive and impossible to attain, at showing that an object may be designed nicely and professionally, and still be available for everybody. The title 1 Euro is a symbolic price: the exhibition present the cheapest products for their type, well-designed and available for all.
It felt almost like that weekend last year, also in February, that we've spent in Munich and Ingolstadt and in Munich we saw Pinakothek der Moderne and Museum Brandhorst.