06 April Manang to Ledar (4200m) JB: Got away from Manang a bit earlier today (about 7.15). Took quite a while to exit the "outer suburbs" of Manang and on the way we acquired a rather friendly dog. He followed us for probably 3km before falling in with another, obviously more interesting trekker.Disappointing as I had read a number of blogs where trekkers had dogs follow them right through the circuit but also on a practical level a blessing as it would be anot...

5 April McVets Birthday in Manang JB: Decided yesterday to have a rest day in Manang today to both celebrate Chris' birthday and also aid altitude acclimatisation. Manang being the culinary capital of Annapurna saw us splurg on breakfast having poached eggs, baked beans, toast etc. Interesting, as despite the seductiveness of getting a western breakfast sort of missed the routine of Tibetan bread and either vege omelette or muesli and hot milk.The long blacks ...

4 April Upper Pisang to Manang JB : We'll call this the greatfood experience day as we seemed to go from one food experience to another none of them what you would call basic Trekkers food. Samosas at Ghyaru, cinnamon pin-wheels in Bhraka, mo mos in Ngawall and jam shortbread sandwich biscuits and long black coffee in Manang. Dinner in Manang consisted pizza for McVet and I, Mac Cheese for Harm and a nameless Indian dish for Mingle that transpired to be caulif...

3 April: Chame to upper Pisang (3,300m) MI: Today we had an early start planned due to the volume of people we had seen the night before. We were all packed up and in the dining room by 6:50 ready for breakfast. Unfortunately so were most of the other people staying there. The clear views we had of the Annapurnas rising up behind Chame at dawn soon disappeared as cloud started to roll in. This was our first day into uncharted territory without a guide per sea. ...

2 April: Meta to Chame JB: -5degC when we woke with last nights snow still on the ground. Packed up and left tea house to reacquaint ourselves with the steep hill down from Meta. Took us about 30min to get up but only 10min going down. Like all Kiwis we turn these things into a competition to see who can find shortcuts and get to the bottom first. So far no incidents due to shortcuts gone wrong! We then fast trekked the track back towards Koto. Passed one ...