I totally agree with Annie's discussion about the people and places we visited while trekking the Annapurnas.  It feels as though you're taken back in time centuries, to when life was simpler, which can mean easier in many ways.  Certainly not in a physical sense - these people work hard!  I do however feel the need to reiterate just how beautiful the landscapes were on this trek and the emotion that invoked.

After 4 months on the road, we've seen some pretty amazing places, but for me, nothing creates awe like white, ice capped peaks - in this case around the Annapurnas.  It's difficult to describe with words, but for me it proves, yet once again how amazing and beautiful our natural world is.  For some reason I always think of seeing snowflakes form under a microscope for the first time and being amazed at its beauty.  Although very tangential, this is yet another (and for me arguably the most beautiful) landscape the natural world can provide...

So the second half of pictures from Nepal focus mainly on the mountains...however there are the other typical things thrown in there, including a few shots from our days after the trek in Pokhara, then our visit from Scotty Rokis, which included a rafting trip (with the Swedes) and a then a trip to an ancient town outside of Kathmandu.

Currently sitting in Hoi An, Vietnam, it's raining - as it typically does here in December, but this place is really neat.  The city was spared from massive destruction of the "American War", so the French and Japanese influence of colonial times lives on.  Oh and you can get a suit tailor made for fifty bucks!

We're now working on where to spend Christmas and the turn of the New Year.  Fun fun!

...in the land of the magical Himalayas. We're in Kathmandu, Nepal and wowsa! If you thought Beijing was busy, think again. We're here, we're talking to trekking companies and gearing up the Annapurna Circuit. It's fun and exciting. But this place has so many little sanctuaries as well, you can see how people get "stuck" at Base Camp for days longer than expected, "sipping hot chocolate, growing a beard". We've got a few days, but we're ripping to get on the trail. More later!

I'm not liking this 2 game losing streak by the GMen. Back into form against the Eagles this weekend - let's go big blue!