.::. Hello from Nepal .::.

.::. Food & Love .::.

We have been going around, buying supplies for our trek this week. Since we've got our Goretex jackets and Northface Goretex trekking boots, we were pretty much set. We got a cheap +15C Outgear sleeping bag for $29.90 from Planet Travellers and the husband eventually got a pair of soft shell pants from Campers' Corner at Waterloo Street.

We were trying to check out Adventure 21 at Chinatown Point after reading all the good reviews online. To our dismay, the whole Chinatown Point was under renovation! We went to the other outlet at Central after work this week, but were pretty disappointed because things were pretty expensive generally. The cheapest sleeping bag was like $109 for +3C and pants seem to be from $200++. Everything seemed very expensive generally and we left without buying anything.

We were pretty desperate as the husband has no pants and can't possibly trek in jeans. Moreover, he was too skinny and we were worried that he may not be able to get any pants in Nepal. We only have an afternoon there before we started trekking early next morning. We tried Northface, but they had no S size!

We eventually got his pants from Campers' Corner at Waterloo Street and prices seemed more reasonable there with a pretty good selection of everything.

Our 'Valentines' Day' meal.

We never celebrated Valentines' Day since the first year together.  But I skipped my Kickboxing to check out pants together with him. My colleague recommended a Nasi Padang restaurant at Central when we bumped into her after visiting Adventure 21.  She mentioned that it was pricey and I thought, how expensive can Nasi Padang be?  $10/pax?

It was the most expensive Nasi Padang I ever had in my life.  Was it delicious?  Yes, it's pretty good, very rich and fragrant.  But then again, a chicken drumstick cost $9.20 and the whole meal came to $40.  Goodness!!!

I like the old-school feel of the place and Hotel Rendezvous was named after it.

I guess I'm not going back again!  The husband couldn't stop complaining and said that he's sure he can have Nasi Padang that was as good but a lot cheaper somewhere else.

And this came in the mail and made my day today.

A hand-made card from Jo.  =)  So pretty.

The husband got me a Valentines' Day card too, and I was so touched and guilty because I didn't get him anything at all.

Not feeling my best and feeling nervous about the Nepal trip now.

Can't believe I'm flying in 30 hours time.

.::. Hush .::.

Everything will turn out fine.

Life's too short to be upset.

I need a holiday. And alot more money.

.::. Passed .::.

I passed my last ACCA fundamentals paper!  *weee~

In fact, it's *phew!  Because I just scrapped through.  But since passing rates are hovering around 40%, passing would put anyone easily in the top half of the cohort.  I guess I'm really lucky since I didn't go for classes and self-studied last minute.

It feels like forever, and I still have FIVE more papers to take...I've been studying for like, forever.

This year's aim is to take 3 more papers and finish it all up next year!

Jiayou.

.::. Training .::.

We went for the hardest 11km trail at Mac Ritchie to break into our shoes and to train in preparation for the hike.

Although some most books and forums are saying that anyone can do the Gokyo Trek, the husband kept telling me how difficult it is.  It got me a little worried and I started training a lot harder these 3 weeks.



Pretty greenery.  The trail started easy like this, totally walkable.  But as we went deeper, it became steeper and more uneven.  Some stretches were more tiring and slowed us down quite abit.

My partner in life.  =)

We started at about 530pm and finished at about 730pm.  We did 11km in 2 hours, and it was pretty fast considering that the uneven uphill stretches slowed me down quite abit and I was quite tired at towards the end.

There were so many people jogging along the track!  I'm totally amazed by how fit these people are to jog 11km of this trail.  I reckon I should train more and get more fit.

By the time we finished, the sun was setting.  We made it out of the forest just before it turned dark.

Had Indian food opposite Mustafa on Friday, the same restaurant we went with the girls quite some time back.  *yums.  We wanted to get sleeping bags from Mustafa, but it was of too lousy quality, so we didn't get them instead.

We wanted to visit Adventure 21 at Chinatown point after the trek since we heard that it's a good place for trekking equipment.  We made it there at about 845pm, before the 9pm closing time, but the whole complex is closed!!

By then, I was famished and very tired.  We have been on our feet for 4 hours without any rest!  We finally had dinner at the hawker before coming back.

Amazingly, I have no muscle aches today!  We went walking for an hour and a half tonight after dinner too.  I guess whatever training we do now would make it easier for us there.

Borrowed my Dad's Oakley's for the trek since I didn't want to spend money on shades.  I don't look good in the at all.  Shades always seem to look good in pictures but I hate wearing them.  I dislike looking at things through tinted lens and would always prefer to take in the natural colors of beautiful scenery.  But it's essential when those snow-capped mountains reflect light and strong winds.

I'm still thinking if I should get a wide-angled lens for the trip.  The husband wanted to get it for my birthday but I told him that I didn't want it and would prefer to save the money for the house.  Now, I'm having second thoughts and feeling very tempted.  =(

5 more days to the trip!

.::. Can't wait .::.

Got my Northface Goretex trekking boots today.  I guess I need a good pair of waterproof shoes.



Many thanks to Ju and Karen for the discount!

And I'm roaring to go after looking at all the pictures while researching about the trip.

Gosh.

It's so beautiful and I'm prepared to be in awe.  I reckon pictures do not prepare you for the real thing.

Take my breath away.

I wonder if people feel very touched when they visit beautiful places?  I do, all the time.  I feel so touched and so thankful that I could witness such beauty, that I feel like tearing. I love that feeling, that excitement and anticipation, that fulfillment and amazement.  It makes me feel so small, yet empowers me and make me feel like I could make all my dreams come true.

.::. Preparations with love .::.

We have been kept busy these weekends, and I'm enjoying it.

McDees have this new (maybe not) deluxe set which I love!  I no longer have to choose between sausage egg mac muffin meal and hotcakes, I can have them both!  *yums.

So we have been visiting furniture shops and researching about renovation cost and ideas.  We have also been preparing for our Nepal Trekking trip and checking out gear from North Face.

We checked out both of North Face's shops and visited Journey East at Thomson which carries a brand of furniture which I really like - dBodhi.  I love solid wood furniture, the grains, the color, the texture, the feel.

We went to MacRitchie Reservoir in an attempt to walk more and prepare for our trekking trip.

It was an enjoyable stroll, but we didn't do the full trail since we didn't have proper footwear nor the luxury of time.

But!  We will be going on the 10km trail this weekend to break into our new hiking boots.  I'm looking forward!  I can't run but I can sure walk for hours.  As much as I'm becoming a little worried if I'll strong enough for a 2-week trek in such high altitudes, I think I'll make it!  I have been training and working out pretty hard these weeks.

There are monkeys everywhere, even monkeys loves oranges.

The husband started getting very involved about the trip after hearing his colleague's adventures and advice for Nepal.  His colleague has been there to trek twice!  We stocked up on some fuel for the trek too.  Some energy bars, canned food and of course, my favorite comfort food during travels - cup noodles!

He was saying that many friends and couples break up after the trek, since people start showing their true selves when they're really tired and all during the trek.  And his colleague married his wife because they got along well even during those difficult times.  We are going on this trek after we got married, so hopefully we get along well enough and I keep my husband after the trip!

I feel so loved, contented, blissful, thankful and fulfilled these days.

Looking at the pictures of the trek, I'm really looking forward to clocking more wonderful memories (and photos) with the husband.

Loves.