Sorry I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been able to write anything…

Well, we are now back home in Paris – actually the titles will be in French from now on – no I am kinding! But seriously I still have plenty of photos to show you and many adventures to share.

Let’s start with our epic journey into the Annapurna Sanctuary, in Nepal, literally at the top of the world – mostly all over 7,000 metres, no less!

From Besisahar to Jomson, it is a 12-day adventure, with an average of 6 hours of walking time per day – okay, do you start feeling the pain from here?

The trek starts in the valley, at 830 meters. The trail climbs gradually but continuously along the river.

We came across many villages and tribe settlements, mostly Gurung people.

We followed the rocky trail we were now above the 2,000 meters. We reached Dharapani, which is marked by a stone-entrance chorten typical of the Tibetan-influences villages from here further up.

After a steep climb, in the middle of a forest of pine near the village of Chame, an old man stopped us. He was a Tibetan refugee and was trading turquoise, silver and various religious artifacts. Guillaume could not resist and our poor porter had carry a prayer shell and an heavy silver bottle! He seemed to be all but happy…

At the entrance of the village of Chame, wheels spin ancient prayer drums, sending OM MANI PADME HUM down the cold mountains.

Inside the stupa, at the end of the village, buddhas are painted in amazing vibrant red ochres, blues and whites.

Just before Bryaga, a bridge with flags crosses the torrent. Across it, the village is flat-roofed, built of stone. Each house is like a several-storied fortress topped by Buddhist prayer flags. These ‘wind pictures’ snap in the cold mist.

And then…

Wait, you don’t think I’m going to give it all away in one post, do you?!

*Ascent to Heaven