WoW Petopia Community

From Sunday (Saturday night for most of you) I'll be fairly absent from the website for seven weeks.

Hopefully I'll have net access daily for most of the trip, and will check in when I can, but Spiritbinder will be keeping an eye on things here (thanks mate!).

I'm off to northern India (2 weeks), then Kathmandu in Nepal (1 week), then off on a World Expeditions trip to Darjeeling, Sikkim (both remote Himalayan regions of India) and Bhutan (2 weeks) then another World Expeditions trip that goes overland from Lhasa, Tibet back to Kathmandu (2 weeks). The last part is the one that has me a tiny bit nervous since we fly directly to Lhasa, which has an altitude of 3600 m, and altitude sickness is real! But it should be amazing.

I'll post some pics if I can get decent access. And if I don't die of altitude sickness or get eaten by a yeti, I'll be back in 7 weeks

OK here's a few select pics from my first week and a bit. Hope these are small enough.

Me in a boat on the Ganges at Varanasi. The boat was stuck and we were trying to get it to deeper water.


Ganges sunrise at Varanasi


Evening ceremony on the Ganges.


Old street dog, Orchha. This old girl was blind in both eyes and mangy but she was still getting about. She was sharing my paneer pekora. This look is typical of Indian native dogs. They're like scrawny dingoes with curly tails. They come in various colours but most are sandy. They wander everywhere but never seem to bother people. Most don't have floppy ears though.


The maharajah's palace at Orchha. Apparently only used for one night by the emperor then left to ruin o.O


Enormous Jain statue carved into the cliff at Chanderi. It dates to the second century BC apparently.


The elephant gate at Bundi palace. That's my sister and family underneath.


Bundi old town from the Palace.

Wow, that sounds like an incredible trip Wain! I've never even been off the North American continent so I'm very envious. I hope you have lots of fun!

So jealous! Have fun Wain, it sounds like an amazing trip. And if you get to feeling sick, just try stopping and doing some deep breathing for a few minutes, try to get some oxygen built back up. And if you come across a yeti, see if it's tameable won't ya?

Have fun!

Wain wrote:I'll post some pics if I can get decent access. And if I don't die of altitude sickness or get eaten by a yeti, I'll be back in 7 weeks

Bring an Undead pet... or a Beast.
They have bonus attack and defence against Yeti.


And have fun!! (totally jealous)

Ohh that sounds fun!! Hope you have a marvelous time !

Woo! Show some pictures when you get back.

That sounds like quite a neat trip. Have fun.

Oh, and don't forget pictures of any tames you make when you're out there!.

Oh wow, that' sounds cool and interesting. Hope you have fun!!

That sounds so amazing! I hope it will be a wonderful experience. Have fun Wain!

Bring coffee. If WoW has taught us anything, it's that yetis like coffee.

Wow, enjoy!

7 weeks might be a bit short though if you want to bring back a pair of Pristine Yeti Horns though...

Thanks for all your kind comments guys. I'll try to post a picture or two when I can. Most hotels seem to have wifi these days, even if they're in the middle of the Himalaya! The only place I'm uncertain of is Tibet, since the Chinese government is paranoid about open internet access. They apparently even ban satellite phones. And photographing a bridge is a serious offense! I guess I'll have to wait and see what is restricted. Plus, once we get out of Lhasa I'm not sure what will be available at all.

I've added a few pics of my first 10 days to the OP. Sorry if it's big and spammy. Hard to organize from my phone!

Wow, those are incredible photos! Looks like you're having a great time.

Love the pictures. Im not alt all envious Hope you will continue to have a great time

Looks amazing! Hope you have a fantastic time Wain

Umm... does anyone know if Wain might've been caught up in that big earthquake in Kathmandu? /concerned

I have just found out that he is fine, but been separated from his family, and yes he is in Katmandu at the moment, I was @#$%ing terrified when I heard about it.
Any other news I'll let you know asap.

Wain ~ My thought are with you and your family mate, I hope your all reunited as soon as possible.

**UPDATE**

Family found, safe and sound, all is well as it can be.

Thanks for the update SB!

Wain, I know you wanted an adventure, but I think you're taking it a bit far... stay safe!

Thanks. I'm ok. I was inside a painting school in Durbar Square when it happened. It was beyond belief. The ground shaking so hard we had trouble standing. When it stopped I came out and realized most of the temples in the square had just collapsed like jack straws. It was a festival day and many had been in there. I was so lucky. My sister and family were in the same square but they'd gone half an hour before me so I didn't know if they were safe or buried or back at the hotel. There were aftershocks and huge crowds of people were screaming and huddling in the open. Once it settled I wandered and looked and couldn't find them. I started helping move rubble but people were screaming in Nepali and I didn't really know what was going on and I really much use. After a couple of hours I decided to leave and try to walk the long distance back to the hotel. A lot of streets were blocked with rubble and I wasn't sure if I'd find my family back there or if I was leaving them under rubble somewhere. It was chaos. Eventually got back to find them safe and I've never been so thankful for anything my whole life. Not sure what happens from here but at least we're safe. A lot of people were not so lucky.