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Exploring Xplor

by Rick Chin 2 Comments

Fake exploring... but impressive nevertheless :)

Fake exploring… but impressive nevertheless :)

Quick post alert! I was looking back on Mexico photos and here’s something to do if you’re in the Riviera Maya area!

Highway 307 runs from Cancun south toward Tulum. Tourist buses and vans carry beach-goers from the airport to the many resorts lining Quintana Roo. But along the highway, there’s no shortage of excursions: Xcaret, Rio Secrets, Dolphin Discovery, and cenotes, for example. We opted to experience Xplor, an all-inclusive park with zip lining, rafting, amphibious motor vehicles, and a stalactite river. The pamphlet sold it for us… [Read more…]

Recommendation: Nepal Eco Adventure

by Rick Chin Leave a Comment

http://www.nepalecoadventure.com/

http://www.nepalecoadventure.com/

I only have great things to say about Nepal Eco Adventure. I posted the following review on tripadvisor and trekbooking.com, so I thought I’d include it here on my blog:

Me and two friends decided to trek to Everest Base Camp over Christmas. I contacted Chhatra and he was professional, knowledgeable, and very quick to respond. He was able to accommodate our group for the dates we wanted at a great price, and was able to advise on logistics and gear. All safety concerns were addressed beforehand, so we arrived in Nepal ready for an amazing adventure. [Read more…]

New Year’s in Kathmandu

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New Year's Eve street party in Thamel, Kathmandu

New Year’s Eve street party in Thamel, Kathmandu

Post written January 3: It’s been a relaxing few days. After a morning flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu, and a short stop at Swacon to obtain my discharge papers, it was back to the Royal Penguin Hotel 2 in Kathmandu to meet up with the group. They all looked freshly showered and out of ‘trekking’ mode. With hugs all around, it was great to see them.

We headed to Nepal Eco Adventure, debriefed with Chhatra about our travels, and then it was full vacation mode: lunch at the Gaia restaurant to catch up and hear all about the trek; lounging at the Himalayan Java in Kathmandu; then dinner at the Roadhouse cafe for incredible wood-oven pizza. And then the next day, New Year’s Eve, we did it all over again: breakfast at the hotel, a quick walk over to Himalayan Java for coffee; lunch at the hotel; more Himalayan Java; dinner at the Third Eye restaurant for amazing Indian food; the busy streets of Thamel for the New Year’s street festival and rave; and then drinks back at the hotel while watching really bad movies. And thus concluded the low-key yet awesome New Year’s Eve. It was cool to find myself wandering the streets of Thamel for New Year’s. You never know where life takes you, but wherever it goes, you gotta make the best of it. So Happy New Year! May you find many unexpected adventures in 2015 and make it the best year yet! [Read more…]

Everest Base Camp: Time to Look Forward

by Rick Chin 1 Comment

This trek was not a failure. I have to remember that.

This trek was not a failure. I have to remember that.

Post written December 29: I’m particularly hard on myself.

I’ve gone thorough the range of emotions, from elation to utter dissatisfaction. I recently saw EBC photos from the group. The scenery was incredible in the ways I had hoped and expected. I was super thrilled that they had accomplished that feat. But then I felt beside myself again, saddened by the fact that I needed to turn back. Dan had left a University of Guelph Alumni t-shirt with the words “Ricky and the Sparkling Momos”. It’s so cool that the shirt now hangs in Gorakshep… but not cool that I never reached base camp.

And here’s why I’m hard on myself. Despite logically knowing that the decision needed to be made; that the guides and my friends were thinking of my well-being first; that I had told myself beforehand that I will turn back if advised; that trekking for 5 days and making it to Tengboche is an accomplishment on its own… I’ve had that nagging voice in my head screaming “You failed.” [Read more…]