Road To ABC: Preparation

Date: 14/02/2015 – 24/02/2015 (11 Days)
Route: Kyumi - Jhinudanda - Chomrong - Bamboo - Dovan - Deurali - MBC - ABC

Perancangan nak mendaki ABC memang dari last year cuma after Korea trip October last year barulah bersungguh-sungguh sikit nak buat preparation. Memandangkan ini bukan lah first time hiking trip aku, so, certain basic trekking equipment tu memang dah ada. Cuma nak mencukupkan apa yang tak ada sajalah. 

Untuk trekking to ABC kami telah menggunakan khidmat Third Eye Adventure owned by Mr Ganesh. Aku amik pun sebab recommended by a few hikers yang pernah menggunakan khidmat agent yang sama. Malas nak DIY sebab group members kami agak ramai 8 orang, so, better pakai agent saja. Bak kata Ganesh.. "...you will not have any headache since we do organize everything". Management sepanjang trip memang bagus cuma at certain points need improvement especially the guides. Anyway, will talk about it later.

Memandangkan trip kami hanya 11 days, so, agak limited lah nak cuba trekking trail yang lain. Contohnya, Poon Hill yang memerlukan at least 12 days (min).


Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trekking Package 

Price: USD 515 per person (for 8 pax)

Package Cost Include

• All the Ground Transportation from airport pick up to airport drop
• 2 nights Hotel in Kathmandu in twin sharing basis
• 2 nights Hotel in Pokhara
• All Meals during 7 days trekking (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) as indicated by the itinerary
• All Accommodation from day 1 to day 11 in twin sharing basis
• All trekking and climbing related permit & fees (Entry Permit Annapurna conservation fees and TIMS Card)
• Professional Trekking leader, guides and necessary porters (1 porter for 2 pax during trekking)
• A comprehensive medical kit
• All government and local taxes for Trekking
• Guide & porter’s insurance
• Farewell dinner
• Trekking/climbing certificate from the agency

Package Cost Exclude: 

• Foods in Kathmandu and Pokhara (Day 1 & 2: Lunch & Dinner) 
• Insurance which covers, medical, emergency evacuation, lost, theft expenses
• All food and beverages other than on the itinerary
• Personal gear and expenses
• Tips and gratitude provided to staff (Porter & Guides)

Package kami ni kira low season punya price kalau peak season memang harga package akan sedikit mahal. Actually above package boleh customized ikut keperluan. Ada satu group dari Malaysia yang pergi same timing dengan kami cuma extra one day saja boleh dapat less than USD500 sebab mereka tak pakai porter & exclude some unnecessary things in their package. Aku memang takkan lah nak bawa beg berat sendiri kan, hahaha. Aku dah cuba juga nak cut mana yang tak perlu tapi bila dia cakap akan reduce skit jer dari price asal aku rasa macam tak berbaloi pulak. Anyway, aku memang salute that 3 ladies yang carry bag sendiri and sanggup amik risiko sampai ke ABC except sorang yang sampai ke MBC sahaja.

Ramai jer trekkers yang buat trip sendiri without guide even trekkers form Malaysia yang kami jumpa. Sebab aku rasa trek tak berapa susah and easy to follow provided you have a map. Lagipun teahouse ada saja sepanjang perjalanan nak ke ABC. Cumanya kalau pakai agent ni, guide boleh secure bilik sepanjang trek. Macam time kami pergi ni ramai jer trekkers yang bergerak solo. Tapi bagi yang first timer tu is better to have a guide.

Before Depart...

TIMS dan ACAP 

2 weeks before trip, agent akan minta scanned copy of passport & photo untuk preparation for Hiking Permit (TIMS dan ACAP).

TIMS - Trekkers' Information Management System
ACAP - Annapurna Conservation Area Permit

TIMS and ACAP

Visa Nepal

Visa kami buat siap-siap dari Malaysia eventhough ada service visa on arrival (VOA). Ramai juga aku nampak yang buat VOA masa kami sampai airport Kathmandu. Malas nak fikir bila sampai sana sebab takut banyak buang masa pulak kan, so, kami decide settle kat Malaysia saja. Kami hantar sorang wakil jer buat Visa for all members provided with all details of participant as per below:

• Original passport (hardcopy)
• 1 photocopy of Original passport
• 1 Photo size (2X2) utk visa ke Nepal
• Form yang telah diisi
• Duit cash rm95

Ada cerita kelakar pasal Visa. Punya lah confident kan Nepal Embassy masih kat wisma MCA Jalan Ampang, siap dah sampai sana dah, rupanya dah tukar lokasi. Now, latest location at Kerinchi ya. Anyway, thanks to Eein for saving the day.

Insurance

I took travel guard AIG, price RM138 untuk tempoh 11 hari. Hiking is considered as extreme activities even ko panjat bukit saja pon. So, most of the travel insurance memang takkan cover. Travel guard AIG ada cover provided you are with licensed tour guide. Even AMS also they do provide. Kalau boleh masa amik insurance tu, ask about the policy wording sebab all the details are inside. At least kita aware lah apa yang dia cover kan. Kita bukan berharap yang buruk berlaku but prepare for the worst is much better right. Don’t forget to send a copy to tour agent hiking kat Nepal.

Also, it is better to have insurance which cover heli rescue if incase. Normally, insurance takkan stated heli rescue in their policy wording but they do provide with certain condition only. For more info, boleh lah bertanya dengan agent insurance bertauliah. Other insurance recommended by our Tour Guide, Allianz or Direct Asia yang katanya boleh can cover till 6000m height.


Trekking Checklist

Clothing

1. Down Jacket or fiber filled waterproof jacket (1)
2. Lightweight long pants (2 pairs)
3. Warm pants (2 pairs)
4. Long John/Thermal wear (2)
5. Fleece or Heat tech (1)
6. Dry fit T-shirts (3 pieces)
7. Sun hat (1)
8. Heavy weight gloves with waterproof (1)
9. Lightweight gloves (1)
10. Rain coat (1)

Foot Wear

1. Trekking boot or good hiking shoes (one pair)
2. Thick socks (4 pairs) – Night time & upper altitude
3. Light socks (3 pairs) – beginning of the trekking
4. Sandals/Flip Flop (1 pair) – useful kalau nak ke toilet
5. Gaiter (option) – kalau tak pakai high cut shoes
6. Rubber Crampon (option) – Useful to walk on snow (slippery surface)

Others

1. Sleeping bag (depend samada nak sewa dari agent or bawa sendiri, kalau sewa USD10 which cover up to -10degC. Tapi member yang bawa normal sleeping bag from malaysia survive jer tido malam tapi depend juga size & ketahanan badan, hahaha)
2. Sleeping liner (perlu kalau sewa sleeping bag dari tour agent)
3. Daypack (min 30L) – 1 (Carry personal stuffs during 7 days trekking)
4. Water bottle or bladder – 1
5. Hiking Stick (1 pair)
6. UV / Sun cream
7. Moisturizer
8. Sunglasses (Polarized Sunglasses sangat useful bila walk on snow daytime)
9. Knee Guard / Ankle Guard
10. Headlamp + Extra Batteries / Torchlight
11. Dry Bag/Waterproof Bag (to keep electronic item)
12. Hand warmer
13. Toiletries (Toothbrush, Toothpaste, syampoo, Cleanser etc.)
14. Travel Towel
15. Energy Foods (chocolate, biskut, energy bar etc.)
16. Lip balm / Vaseline
17. Wet Tissue

Medicines

1. Minyak Angin, Minyak kapak, Tiger Balm
2. Painkiller, Panadol Actifast etc.
3. Handyplast, bandage
4. Pil AMS / Diamox (kalau pakai guide, normally guide dah provide)
5. Oral Rehydration Salt
6. Water purification tablet (sangat perlu sebab air kita refill dari paip air jer)
7. Pil Che Ke Teck Aun
8. Bekunis (Constipation)
9. Counterpain cream/heat spray
10. ubat kuning/antiseptic

Alhamdulillah, sepanjang trekking selama 7 hari aku tak consume any medicine except ubat untuk sembelit, hahaha.

Other Tips

1. Change NPR kat Thamel sebab boleh dapat good rate. Transaction memang banyak in NPR tapi USD also acceptable. Cuma aku rasa bila bayar dengan USD macam lagi mahal pulak. WIFI, Hot Shower & charging battery kat Teahouse sepanjang trekking juga menggunakan NPR.
2. For trekking gears, kalau yang tak complete lagi tu, aku rasa better beli in Thamel Kathmandu sebab lagi banyak pilihan & harga pun lebih murah sikit & lagi senang nak bargain. However, Pokhara also not bad. Depends jugalah. Northface Waterproof Jacket with Gortex aku boleh dapat NPR1500 kat Thamel compare with Pokhara at NPR1800. 
3. Rubber crampon katanya sangat useful to prevent slippery on snow. Tapi aku tak pakai pun cuma Cik Eein saja yang pakai (sebab guide kami kasi pinjam) dan ternyata feedback sangat bagus sebab pergerakan akan lebih mudah & pantas. Actually, most of Korean & Chinese hikers memang ramai yang pakai pun. Tapi aku suggest kalau pergi time winter tu better get one. Aku hairan kenapa tour guide kami kata we don’t really need. Memang kasut kami dah cukup hebat untuk hiking tapi not really good to grip on snow/ice surface . Tapi aku rasa depends juga sebab ramai jer yang tak pakai pun sampai jer. Our tour guide cakap we can hire at Deurali tapi aku rasa better buy in Thamel sebab macam takde pun rental service kat Deurali. Price about 12$ per pair.
4. No need to provide medical certificate for ABC trekking how ever you need to be fit for hiking.  

Rubber Crampon

Macam banyak nak citer tapi tu jer rasa so far.


To be continued...

Misi belum berakhir

Alhamdulillah, semalam kami dah selamat landing ke tanahair tercinta Malaysia. After 11 days in never ending peace & love, Nepal. Walaupun misi nak menjejakan kaki ke signboard ABC gagal tapi pengalaman sepanjang trekking selama 7 hari banyak mengajar diri ini untuk lebih memahami & menghargai.

Ohhh.... I missed Himalaya so much

Kecewa memang tak payah citer lah sebab memang sangat kecewa pon. Kalau orang tanye banyak kali tu rasa macam malas dah nak respond. Cuaca memang sangat cantik sepanjang kami trekking cuma small avalance (snow slide) otw from Deurali to MBC on the day kami sampai ke Deurali yang mengahalang kami untuk meneruskan misi utama kami. Rasa terbakar jer bila tengok photo geng-geng yang berjaya sampai. Memang bukan rezeki kami. 

Tapi aku masih tak puas hati sebab kami tidak diberi pilihan untuk meneruskan misi pada pagi kami suppose to ABC. And guide tak transparent lansung untuk menyuarakan something that we should know. You should give us a choice and be transparent. Dia cuma cakap bila aku tanya dia masa turun dari Chomrong. Even kau dah notice that some of us having difficulty to walk fast & a bit slow or whatever... just be transparent. Even though the truth is somehow painful but being dishonest & lies are twice or even more painful. Aku notice one group form China where the guide was asking the group wheather to proceed or not... and half of them agreed & half was not. At least they are given the choice. But we are not. There always risk in every decision but someone has to be given a choice to decide.

Tak sabar rasanya nak send feedback to Ganesh. Farewell dinner last 2 nights rasanya masih banyak lagi yang terpendam.

Anyway, dah berlalu pun kenangan yang sedih itu. Let it be. Tapi keinginan nak ke ABC masih ada lagi. I love trekking in Himalaya. Trekking thru trek bersalji memang new experience & somehow amazing. Terasa nikmatnya ciptaan Allah swt. I wish I could be there again. Masa tu berharap sangat ada yang sudi bersama-sama mengharungi saat yang indah di Himalaya lagi nanti. Anyway teringat bait-bait lirik Cintaku sampai ke Eutophia... "Jangankan Gunung Fujiyama, Puncak Himalaya ku ikut kamu"... hehehe

Saat yang indah bersama korang

Poyo Caption

Sekarang nak focus on next trip to Rinjani, InsyAllah.

Rindu nya nak baring atas snow lagi

Will update more on next entry.... zzzzz

Bukit Saga... Until the next session

Bukit Saga, Ampang
Sunday, 8 Feb 2015

Rasanya, sekejap betul masa berlalu. And today, is our last training session for ABC. Mungkin to some of regular hikers yang pernah ke sini, maybe akan fikir, training kat Bukit Saga jer... emmhhh. Jangan pandang sebelah mata tau, walaupun, trekking to Saga Hill top will take your approximately half an hour (for fit person) tapi kemampuan nak naik sampai atas boleh tahan jugalah. Mungkin ini sajalah option untuk kami yang sentiasa busy & takde masa nak trekking bersama-sama. Kalau ikutkan hati memang nak jer terjah jer gunung-gunung lain juga tapi apakan daya kemampuan kami nak trekking bersama-sama hanya di Saga tak pun di Apek. 

Sebenarnya, kalau kena gayanya trekking kat Saga ni, boleh jadi regular training for any hiking trip practicing. Refer map below, normally to regular trekkers yang memang every week pun ke sini, they will take trail A, B or C nak sampai ke hill's top. Tapi trail A lah yang paling popular among trekkers yang ke sini. Kalau menikmati air terjun boleh lah trekking dalam 30min juga dari puncak (Saga or Apek) nak sampi ke waterfall 1 or 2. Dan kalau nak training yang lebih meyakinkan atau lebih terasa hazab nya, buatlah satu round (Trail A, B or C - waterfall 2 - waterfall 1 - station 5 - turun trek ke awana - ascending to station 6 - Bukit Apek - Bukit Saga - Trail A, B or C). Complete satu pusingan. Altogether, 4 - 5hours jugalah, depend on stamina. 

Bukit Saga & Apek route... our favorite hiking trail for training, hahaha

Alhamdulillah, last training kami berjaya buat satu round cuma skip turun ke station 1 Awana jelah. Instead of turun, kami direct from station 5 to station 6 and back to Saga.

Semalam for the first time in Bukit Saga aku tengok sorang aunty ni jatuh betul-betul depan kami. Ya Allah, masa tu aku boleh tengok bagaimana tangan dia terkapai-kapai nak berpaut pada sesuatu sebab tak balance lagi dah. Akhirnya, jatuh juga ke  bawah sampai ke tangga. Aku tak nampak lah dia jatuh ke bawan tu macam mana sebab terhalang dek pokok besar tapi memang suara anak dia menjerit buatkan kami terkejut juga. It happened too fast. Aku sempat turun ke bawah nak hulurkan bantuan tapi aunty tu macam dah trauma sikit. Dia cakap ok, tapi aku tahu she is not ok. Jatuh ke bawah kot. Aku advise dia turun dulu eventho she is not that serious... luaran tapi dalaman, sapa tau kan. That time one of their friend turun suruh aku proceed trekking while he will take care of that aunty. Whatever it is, always keep in mind, safety always comes first in whatever you do especially trekking. Mungkin nampak mudah nak panjat tapi kalau silap langkah boleh mengundang bahaya.

Hopefully kami dapat kekalkan stamina & semangat yang membara di bumi Nepal nanti.

Semoga Allah SWT permudahkan segalanya untuk kami di sana nanti.

Last Training before ABC... see again until the next session

To all my dear friends, pray hard for our safety journey. May Allah bless all of us... Ameen.