Hokkien Mee (also known as Prawn Noodles) - a popular hawker or street food item. It is a soup with wheat and rice noodles, chicken, shrimp and bean sprouts. Its distinctive flavor is the soup which is made from brewing shrimp shells and pork bones for several hours.

Pasembur - a favorite dish of various fritters from shrimp to fish as well as fried tofu, boiled eggs and cucumber. Once you have selected your fritters, they get chopped up and a sauce is poured over the dish. Pasembur is popular among Indian Muslims and it is a good dish for sharing among family and friends.

Dosa or Thosai - a South Indian crepe made of lentil flour. It is popular breakfast meal and it is usually eaten with spicy sauces and chutneys.

Char Koay Teow - a popular fried rice noodle dish. It usually has shrimps, eggs, bean sprouts, Chinese sausage, chives and chilies.

Chee Cheong Fun - steamed rice noodle sheets that filled and then rolled up and cut. The fillings are usually shrimp, minced pork or pickled vegetables.

Nepal - the country

Official Name - Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

Capital - Kathmandu

Population - approximately 30 million

Nepal is a land-locked country; it is located between China to the north and India to the south.

Much of Nepal’s land mass is situated in the Himalayan Mountain Ranges. The most famous area is Mount Everest; which is the highest peak in the world (approximately 8,848 meters / 29,031 feet - above sea level).

Religions in Nepal are mainly Hindu (81%) and Buddhism (9%) - Islam, Christianity and small tradition religions make up the rest.

Annapurna Circuit - it is approximately 162 km or about 100 miles. A trekker can see many different mountain peaks while on the trek. Our group completed it in 12 days.

Primary crops in Nepal - Rice, Maize (corn), Barley, Buckwheat, Millet, Wheat

Caste system in Nepal- Brahmin (priests), Kshatriya (warriors), Vaishya (merchants), Sudra (laborers)

Tourism Industry is an important part of Nepali economy.

Pujan started as a porter in the trekking business. A porter is a person who carries luggage for trekkers.

With more experience Pujan has now become trek leader.

Highlight of Annapurna Circuit - Tilicho Lake and Thorong La Pass

Tilicho Lake - (below) is the highest lake in the world. It sits at 4,919 meters above sea level.

Thorong La (below) is a mountain pass with an elevation of 5,416 metres (17,769 ft) above sea level in central Nepal. Khatung Kang and Yakawa Kang are the mountains forming Thorong La. The pass is located on a trail which connects the village of Manang with the temple of Muktinah. Thorong La is the highest point on the Annapurna Circuit.

**Trekking group at the the top of Thorong La Pass**

Village Life in Nepal

Padam works in the trekking / tourism industry in the fall and spring. In the winter and summer (monsoons) he returns to his family where he works on the family farm.

He lives with his wife, 3 children and his parents.

He grows rice, corn, wheat, millet. He also grows vegetables - like spinach, potatoes, beans, cabbage, and carrots. And he has 10 water buffalo. His family uses the buffalo for milk and he sells milk in the market at his village.

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Photos of village life on the Annapurna Circuit Trek

**Nepali woman winnowing maize (corn).**

Video and Audio Summary of the 12 day Annapurna Circuit Trek

Video of Trekking Guides in Nepal

Street food in Malaysia

Travels in Nepal