ABC Part 2

On our second day of the trek, we clambered up thousands of steps to reach our destination: Ghorepani. Along the way, we passed by herds of goats, “donkeys on parade” and other adorable animals. Thr hotel we stayed at was full of guides and trekkers, who were eager to dance the night away and then get up early enough to make it to the top of Poon Hill by sunrise. This was one of my favourite parts of the whole ABC Trek, watching the heavenly sunrise over some of the world’s highest peaks:  Dhaulagiri I (#7-8167m)) and Annapurna I (#10–8091m).

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Part 1

So a few months ago I decided that while in Nepal I would love to go on a trek. Thankfully I was able to take two weeks off of teaching during the Dashain holidays. This was perfect because October is one of the best times to trek in the Himalayas. After much consideration, I decided to join a group with 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking. This organisation works together with Empowering Women of Nepal to empower women through skills-based training programs and employment opportunities.

The group I was with consisted of a guide and five assistants, all of which were female. My group’s singing trekking sisters supported us up to Annapurna Base Camp and back. I highly recommend trekking with these ladies should you ever come to Nepal!

www.3sistersadventuretrek.com

This trek is truly one of the best experiences I have ever had. I should feel exhausted after 12 days of 6am sunrises, relentless up and down and up and down pathways and adjusting to different conditions up high in remote mountain villages. I’m not. I feel strong and rejuvenated. My heart is full!

Here is Part 1. Enjoy!

One Solution to the Waste Problem

The waterways, roadways, forests and farmland in and around Kathmandu are heavily polluted. The beauty of Nepal is getting buried in rubbish.

There has got to be a way to deal with all of that waste!

 

It seems that groups and organizations are making efforts to conserve and protect Nepal’s land, water and air.  These groups also include NAG.  NAG is making an effort to educate the students about one solution to all of this pollution:

Recycling 

Working together with Doko Recyclers, the NAGers are building an understanding of the waste problem, what recycling is, how it works and how it can help reduce waste going to landfills.

Doko Recyclers

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NAG‘s new recycling bins

  

Two Class 11 students taking action and introducing the recycling bins at the assembly 

of classes 6-10.

Class 11 students also worked with each class from 1-10 to teach them what can be recycled and how to do it.

Students having fun sorting the recycling into the appropriate container.

  

A representative from Doko Recyclers presenting to NAG students 

There are, of course, issues with recycling and that’s why I say its one solution, not the only one. At least there is dialogue about how to better manage waste here in Kathmandu. And although the problem seems daunting, we have to start somewhere and we all have to do our part!