Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Nepal Ghorepani Trekking
The Ghorepani trek is a colorful short foray into the Annapurna region. The trail winds through patchwork valleys, dense mossy forests and past icy waterfalls where you can stop to cool your face. Around every corner is a tantalizing glimpse of the high mountains, whole horizons of which will be revealed to you as you reach the high points of your trek. This trek in the Annapurna foothills to the view point on Pun Hill offers all the best of trekking in Nepal.
Enjoy trekking in the spectacular mountain scenery through charming villages inhabited by the Gurungs, dense rhododendron forests full of birds and deep sub-tropical valleys, all set below the Annapurna with the picturesque fluted peak of Machhapuchhare (Fish Tail Peak) dominating the skyline. At the climax of this trek you will climb Poon Hill at dawn to enjoy one of the most spectacular mountain escape on Earth. As the sun touches the snow-capped summits the Himalayan giants, Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna (8,091m) along with a maze of other peaks, slowly begin to appear, like magic, before our eyes. A rewarding trek that can be enjoyed by every lover of nature and beautiful landscape.
If you want to get the most mountain views in the least amount of time, the trek up from Naya Pul to Ghorapani and then over to Ghandruk should satiate your desire for Himalayan vistas. From the sunrise above Ghorepani to the in-your-face view of Machhapuchhare and Annapurna South from Chomrong, this trek does not disappoint.
Enjoy trekking in the spectacular mountain scenery through charming villages inhabited by the Gurungs, dense rhododendron forests full of birds and deep sub-tropical valleys, all set below the Annapurna with the picturesque fluted peak of Machhapuchhare (Fish Tail Peak) dominating the skyline. At the climax of this trek you will climb Poon Hill at dawn to enjoy one of the most spectacular mountain escape on Earth. As the sun touches the snow-capped summits the Himalayan giants, Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna (8,091m) along with a maze of other peaks, slowly begin to appear, like magic, before our eyes. A rewarding trek that can be enjoyed by every lover of nature and beautiful landscape.
If you want to get the most mountain views in the least amount of time, the trek up from Naya Pul to Ghorapani and then over to Ghandruk should satiate your desire for Himalayan vistas. From the sunrise above Ghorepani to the in-your-face view of Machhapuchhare and Annapurna South from Chomrong, this trek does not disappoint.
Bollywood draws global stars
British actress Antonia Bernath is making her debut in Kisna - the Warrior Poet, marking a growing trend for non-Indian stars to appear in Bollywood films.
Directed by Bollywood veteran Subhash Ghai, the film is set in the British Raj and Bernath plays an army general's daughter who falls in love with a rural boy, Kisna.
"I liked the fluid nature of film-making. We improvised quite a lot," says Bernath. "At times it felt very chaotic but Mr Ghai was quite clear about what he wanted."
Picked from more than 200 girls in an audition in London, Bernath cut short her education at Bristol's Old Vic Theatre School to take up the opportunity.
It is not often that somebody gets to play the lead role straight out of a drama school. She spent three weeks learning Hindi and taking dance lessons.
"Initially, I was a bit sceptical about how people would respond to me," Bernath says. "But I found the Hindi film industry very warm and encouraging. I even had a few offers before the work on Kisna was completed."
Overseas market
Films are one of India's biggest exports and those like Lagaan and Monsoon Wedding have broken the traditional boundaries of colour and culture.
Spurred by this, Bollywood producers are trying to go global in all aspects of film-making, be it technical or artistic.
Toby Stephens plays a key role in The Rising
From young heart-throbs like Nick Moran of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to model Sophie Dahl, many non-Indian stars want to make the most of this opportunity.
"Bollywood has truly gone global," says Taran Adarsh, editor of Indian film journal Trade Guide.
"Directors are now attempting to woo non-Asian audience to increase their share in the overseas film market."
Kisna has been shot simultaneously in Hindi and English, with the English print shortened by an hour to accommodate the Western audience.
The film even has a song composed in English by AR Rahman, the director of the popular West End musical, Bombay Dreams.
"Identification is a popular cinematic device. Use of European or American actors can be viewed as a step in that direction," says Adarsh.
Box office
The cast of Kisna also includes British actors Michael Maloney, Caroline Langrishe and Polly Adams.
Aishwarya Rai and Martin Henderson starred in Bride and Prejudice
Another actress, Annabelle Wallace, plays the lead role in a bilingual romantic comedy Dil Jo Bhi Kahey (Whatever the Heart Says), which also stars Indian screen legend Amitabh Bachchan.
Actor and Producer Aamir Khan's forthcoming venture The Rising is set against the backdrop of the Indian mutiny of 1857, with British actor Toby Stephens in a key role.
But it isn't only the Western actors looking eastwards.
Bollywood sweetheart Aishwarya Rai, recently seen in Bride and Prejudice alongside New Zealand actor Martin Henderson, is building her international career. And, many other Bollywood stars have their eyes set on Hollywood.
"Hollywood or Bollywood, it's the box office that determines whether something is a passing phase or a trend," says Adarsh.
Directed by Bollywood veteran Subhash Ghai, the film is set in the British Raj and Bernath plays an army general's daughter who falls in love with a rural boy, Kisna.
"I liked the fluid nature of film-making. We improvised quite a lot," says Bernath. "At times it felt very chaotic but Mr Ghai was quite clear about what he wanted."
Picked from more than 200 girls in an audition in London, Bernath cut short her education at Bristol's Old Vic Theatre School to take up the opportunity.
It is not often that somebody gets to play the lead role straight out of a drama school. She spent three weeks learning Hindi and taking dance lessons.
"Initially, I was a bit sceptical about how people would respond to me," Bernath says. "But I found the Hindi film industry very warm and encouraging. I even had a few offers before the work on Kisna was completed."
Overseas market
Films are one of India's biggest exports and those like Lagaan and Monsoon Wedding have broken the traditional boundaries of colour and culture.
Spurred by this, Bollywood producers are trying to go global in all aspects of film-making, be it technical or artistic.
Toby Stephens plays a key role in The Rising
From young heart-throbs like Nick Moran of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to model Sophie Dahl, many non-Indian stars want to make the most of this opportunity.
"Bollywood has truly gone global," says Taran Adarsh, editor of Indian film journal Trade Guide.
"Directors are now attempting to woo non-Asian audience to increase their share in the overseas film market."
Kisna has been shot simultaneously in Hindi and English, with the English print shortened by an hour to accommodate the Western audience.
The film even has a song composed in English by AR Rahman, the director of the popular West End musical, Bombay Dreams.
"Identification is a popular cinematic device. Use of European or American actors can be viewed as a step in that direction," says Adarsh.
Box office
The cast of Kisna also includes British actors Michael Maloney, Caroline Langrishe and Polly Adams.
Aishwarya Rai and Martin Henderson starred in Bride and Prejudice
Another actress, Annabelle Wallace, plays the lead role in a bilingual romantic comedy Dil Jo Bhi Kahey (Whatever the Heart Says), which also stars Indian screen legend Amitabh Bachchan.
Actor and Producer Aamir Khan's forthcoming venture The Rising is set against the backdrop of the Indian mutiny of 1857, with British actor Toby Stephens in a key role.
But it isn't only the Western actors looking eastwards.
Bollywood sweetheart Aishwarya Rai, recently seen in Bride and Prejudice alongside New Zealand actor Martin Henderson, is building her international career. And, many other Bollywood stars have their eyes set on Hollywood.
"Hollywood or Bollywood, it's the box office that determines whether something is a passing phase or a trend," says Adarsh.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
A Visit To Nepal
Nepal is a wonderful place for trekking. If you like to walk, there is no more inspiring place to do it. These pages show pictures and a journal from my treks. Traveling to Nepal is actually not very difficult, and the country is well-prepared to receive trekkers. I hope that these pages will encourage others to discover this beautiful part of the world for themselves.
This is an account of my first excursion away from America. In the fall of 1994, I spent six weeks visiting Nepal. After exploring Kathmandu, I went to the Everest Region for a twenty day trek. There, I climbed two 18,000-foot hills, Kala Pattar and Gokyo Ri for views of Mt. Everest and its surroundings, and visited the Buddhist monastery at Tengboche. Then I went to Pokhara for a ten day trek to the Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill. I was accompanied on both treks by my guide, Lal Man Tamang, who was an excellent companion. (He has his own trekking company now, Lal Man Trekking and Adventure.) Finally, I visited the Royal Chitwan National Park for some elephant rides and jungle walks among the rhinos, monkeys, and other wildlife. Nepal is a beautiful country with wonderful people. I was so happy with my first trip that I returned in 2000 with friends for another trek.
This is an account of my first excursion away from America. In the fall of 1994, I spent six weeks visiting Nepal. After exploring Kathmandu, I went to the Everest Region for a twenty day trek. There, I climbed two 18,000-foot hills, Kala Pattar and Gokyo Ri for views of Mt. Everest and its surroundings, and visited the Buddhist monastery at Tengboche. Then I went to Pokhara for a ten day trek to the Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill. I was accompanied on both treks by my guide, Lal Man Tamang, who was an excellent companion. (He has his own trekking company now, Lal Man Trekking and Adventure.) Finally, I visited the Royal Chitwan National Park for some elephant rides and jungle walks among the rhinos, monkeys, and other wildlife. Nepal is a beautiful country with wonderful people. I was so happy with my first trip that I returned in 2000 with friends for another trek.
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