Notes from Nepal

by Joshi Mukard

Humor travel book about a trekking experience to the basecamp of Annapurna in Nepal.

174 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2020

Reviews

[Deepak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written book about adventure travel in Nepal. A tongue in cheek account of the Nepali way of life and the typical characteristics of the Nepalis.
I had always been fascinated about the Annapurna Base Camp trek and have read quite a few travel stories about it but this one beat them all hands down. However the tedious and tiresome the trek might have been, the author gets it across with dollops of humour. You will not turn a single page without a smile.

Here are a few excerpts to give you an idea of the laughs that you are in for when you read the book.

Some of the wooden planks from the flooring have gone missing, creating enough gaps for an average sized person to fall through effortlessly, and kill themselves by smashing their heads on round inviting rocks below, which appear to be there just for this purpose.

I even reply with a never before elaboration to forwarded Good Morning messages to people whose messages I never once bothered to even open,...

My odd behaviour is not a side effect of over-drinking. It feels like I'm saying my goodbyes.

I had already compromised on my dream of sleeping in a bag that doesn't have somebody else's fart collection.

Intriguingly, the latest news that's out there on the internet about bear attacks in the area dates back to 2014. I don't know what happened to the bears after 2014. It cannot be like they just called a meeting, held a referendum, and elected to remove humans from their hit list.

It is a one sitting read. Perfect for short flights or lonely evenings or just about anytime you feel like uplifting your spirits.
I bought this book on Amazon Kindle for a measly 99/- Go for it guys. It's worth every rupee spent.

[Anaswara Sudheendran · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the internet you scroll through with awe the several vacation pictures, their catchy taglines, and many a times you would have wished to be there yourself. But the story behind those clicks might not be as you have anticipated. Not everyone who goes on these trips are born to trek. Some just get along with the exuberant charm of the trip and whatnot told by their friends. And when the real trip happens, you go through scenarios in your head where you fight a rogue bear with your bare hands and how your friend is convinced that he might be haunted by the ghost of a trekker who never made it out of the trip!

Notes from Nepal is an account of three friends going to the Annapurna Base Camp and the various people they connect with and experiences they collect along the way. It talks about how you perceive yourself, and how silly you think trekking those mountains will be taken that you're quite a good athlete and this is going to be a piece of cake. Well, like us, the narrator himself is in for a surprise. There are times when he just couldn't place why he brought this over himself! He could have just relaxed at his home rather than having to deal with the cold and fatigue. But it's not everyday you visit Nepal with your buddies with the hopes of having a perfect experience. Not to leave, the need for the perfect shots for your social media pages! All in all, this book is a crisp read on a trip to Nepal and the fun moments the group encountered throughout the trip and also accounts of the author's other trips.

[Sarath Shyam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joshi, a techie from Bangalore, is on a trekking trip to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal with his two friends. A day before the actual trekking, Joshi decides to do a bit of Kayaking in the Phewa Lake while his friends choose to do fishing. Being a Malayali who comes from a land known for its boats and backwaters, Joshi thinks sailing a lightweight canoe is an easy-peasy task. In an attempt to show his inborn talent in Kayaking, Joshi soon finds himself in the middle of the enormous Phewa Lake, spinning clockwise and then the other. Finally, when the allotted time was over, the paddling company sends two of its guys to pick Joshi back to the Jetty. An amused onlooker asks, “How did you do it? I thought it is impossible to be at the same point for two hours.”

As the name suggests, ‘Notes from Nepal’ is full of such anecdotes from Joshi’s journey to Annapurna Base Camp and a few selected notes from his other trips. Joshi would make you laugh, think, and teach one or two things about travel and trekking throughout the book. However, he does not brag about the landscape, detailing every rock and vegetation that he encounters in his trail. Notes from Nepal is not a travel guide for those who wish to visit Annapurna Base Camp, as it does not give any survival tips or where-to-stay and what-to-eat details. It is for those who wish to have some laugh-out-loud moments while reading a travelogue. So, please avoid reading it in the office, especially when your boss is around!!!

[Gopikrishnan Potti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous and simple flowing language making for a wonderful leisure read! Joshi has managed to paint a picture of Nepal and Himalayan treks quite well, a common man’s experience which is both relatable and his humour makes it a really nice read!

[Priya Gunji · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm gonna do ABC and will update what happened here one day🤞.
I completed the Bandeja falls trek, no leeches for me though. 😂