My Everest Movie Experience

If you are one of my regular visitors, you may think for why is here a movie review which didn't appear earlier ! Well, my inner self urged me to write what I felt about watching the latest Baltasar Kormákur flick Everest. It's a 2015 disaster adventure film directed by Baltasar Kormákur and written by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy. The film stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, and Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie I watched was in 3D and the experience was quite interesting as for many times I felt like snow was about to hit me !!

Here I want to make clear for the views are just mine and it may differ from that of others. In my perspective, the cinematography, camera angles (specially those shot to show heights) are quite impressive for viewer like me who gets lost in nature. One can feel the enormosity, grandeur and aura of such a pristine and the grandest place of earth; and getting there is not just a matter of preparation actually. The movie is successful to show it. As there is one dialogue "It's now or Never". Movie is also brilliant at making an ignorant viewer like me understand as what it takes to step on the death zone as the Everest. Its all about attitude and not Altitude. It embarks on the journey so as to compelling us believe that yes, the Everest is one of the most dangerous place and one can not predict nature.

The point where the movie loses its grip at audience's mind is unclear reasoning of the climbers shown. It doesn't tells us why are they 'there' actually, just to view the 'view' not many have seen !! What is the driving force that makes them go towards the snowy foot trails from different parts of the world !!

I was so desperate to watch scene like this from top of the world.

There is no point I was hooked from beginning to the end credits while watching Everest as I am an avid mountain and nature lover and I know there is hardly any chance of me standing even at the base camp of the Everest in real, let alone conquering it !! I hopped into the cinema to satiate myself and the thirst of watching grandeur of Nepal, the Everest in such a wide screen. Till the end of the movie, I was craving for one wide shot of the panoramic view from top of the world. Sorry to say, I was disappointed for the very reason. Everest should have been a great landscape film as the crew was 'there' to shoot the grandeur of the place.

However, the movie does justice to present enormosity and grandeur of the place and hardship and threats of getting there. But the movie hugely lacks some expected shots which could have been shot from such a pious place on earth.

There are some moments of chills and wow worthy scenes well in the movie. One of them are the helicopter rescue scene by our very own Captain Mr. Bijay Lama. Its a proud moment for him and us as well to be seen there in such terrific shots. The scene lingers in audiences' mind after the movie is over. Kudos. 

I dont know how many of us have thought of this but i felt the initial scenes in Nepal could have been made without Indian movie song in the background. Also, how many of you have noticed the empty packets of wai wai noodles stranded at the base camp?? A serious matter of concern. 

Because it's there" is also a mountaineering philosophy which is repeatedly quoted in the film and movie can settle for that. One has to be 'there' actually to feel all it's frozen enormosity. Everest's chill will never quite make the leap from the screen into one's bones. But I must say I was in tears from the emotional scenes and felt broken with the characters. I enjoyed the movie with all its so little flaws as I was at cinema to feel what it feels like to stand in 'there' and even at the base camp. :-)

How to reach Rara Lake: Rara Rendezvous

Life is Beautiful. And we get to know it even better after reaching Rara, the Largest Lake of Nepal. It's  rare beauty lies in the fact that it is among least explored Lakes on Nepal. Everyone who has reached in the site has no words to describe the breathtaking beauty. They further justify it's panoramic beauty can't be framed even in the sophisticated cameras. 

So, it is one of the most sought after Lakes for the trekkers and tourists since it was discovered. But then, it is not easily accessible. This is the bitter fact for Nepalese tourism for underdevelopment in Karnali region. However splendid natural beauty lies in the very region and we can only hope for the good governmental policies and implementation to carry out development in the area.

Map of Nepal

 

Map of Mugu District (where Rara lake is situated)

Facts about Rara lake:

• Largest  Lake of Nepal
• Regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in Nepal
• Located at : Rara Village Development Committee of Mugu district in Far Western Region and falls in  Rara National Park
• Near headquarter Gham Ghadhi & Talcha Airport

• 3-4 days walking from Jumla

• Name formed 'Rara' : where the goat (Ra) was burnt (Raa)  

• Total length 5 km, 2 kms wide and 8 Sq. Km surface area with approx. 9 km perimeter and 167 metres deep.

How to reach Rara Lake:

Most appropriate option :

Ø      by trekking agencies in Kathmandu

Ø      14 day Camping Trekking via Jumla

Ø      Rara lake can be reached  in 3-4 days of walking from Jumla

Ø      By Plane : from Nepalgunj to Jumla, From Pokhara to Jumla & from Kathmandu to Jumla

Ø      Bus ride from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj will take 12 hours

Good alternative to Reach Rara Lake:

Ø      Fly directly to Talcha airport near Gham Ghadhi village and Rara Lake

Ø      Fly to Talcha Airport through Yeti Airlines at $100 approx. or NRS. 4,000.00 one way for per person

Ø      Directly from Helicopter from Nepalgunj or Surkhet which is around 20- 25% expensive but will save tough walk from talcha to Gham Ghadhi & back.

Ø      75% of the construction of Highway from Surkhet to Jumla is finished which will make Rara more accessible in near future.

Rara Rendezvous:

I've been exploring Rara through pictures and exploring it in real is one of my wish list. here are some of them.

Sunset in Rara Lake

Local woman riding boat in Rara 

Shepherd leaves his sheep to graze above Rara Lake

Beauty at it's best

No taxi and Bikes : make way for Ponies in Rara region

Colors of  Nature

Forget about resorts and Hotels; home of the locals is only option around Rara lake

Misty Rara in the Morning

Photo courtesy: www.rajeshkc.com

Hardship of lives in Karnali region and Rara through pictures:

A girl adorning Nepalese National Flower Rhododendron in Rara region

We talk about latest food in latest franchise of MNCs. The child seems content with that small piece of Millet Chapati (Phapar ko Roti). And what an infectious smile !!

An woman with her children. Content and happy.

Children waiting to be snapped. Education rate : very low in the Rara region and whole Karnali 

     Image courtesy : International Nepal Fellowship

 

Local attire of people and trekking foot trail road in Rara region

Image courtesy : www.Rara-Lake.com

Explore Rara for it's famous breathtaking natural beauty and face the nuances of Rural Karnali life in western Nepal to cherish the moments throughout our life. 

Thank you for the read. and stopping by. Till next post, take Care.

Image source: web

10 places to see before they disappear

Change is inevitable. But there are times when we tend to think for the way things can be preserved. We are compulsive to question why are the things are in the way they are and why cant we stop them from 'Change' ? Confused !! here are the places nature had gifted humanity to cherish. Due to many reasons, they are not going to be with us forever. They will disappear and GLOBAL WARMING is the most affecting factor. Have a look.

1. The Alps: The picturesque European mountain range which was the standard romantic song shoot location in Bollywood films of the 90's and which continues to be the popular ski holiday destination for many, is located at a low altitude. This means that due to global warming, the glaciers in the mountain range could melt faster than many other snow clad mountain ranges. The Alps' glaciers are predicted to melt and disappear by 2050.

2. Dead Sea: The name might suggest the dead nature of the sea, however, the increasing rampant use of the natural resources of this highly saline sea might literally make this sea go dead. The Dead Sea is the lowest place on Earth and has 10 times more salt than seawater. It's a rich source of many minerals which are regularly extracted by industries such as cosmetic industry. The sea has already shrunk by a third and on its way to its impending death!

3. Glacier National Park: This American national park first inhabited by Native Americans, comprises over 130 lakes, more than 1000 different plant species and hundreds of animal species. Of the 150 glaciers that encompassed this park, by 2005 only 27 were remaining. These remaining glaciers are predicted to disappear by 2030, all due to global warming. Once hailed as the "Crown of the Continent Ecosystem", this protected region might lose a majority of its biodiversity with the melting of its glaciers.

4. Great Barrier Reef: One of the few places on Earth to be spotted from outer space, might shrink so much that it may not be visible even on Earth. This is the world's largest coral reef system and biggest single structure made by living organisms. The ongoing climate change, water pollution, over-fishing and shipping accidents might destroy this region and the endangered species inhabiting it completely.

5. Madagascar: We all remember the lemurs from the 2005 animated film Madagascar dancing to I like to Move it. They are one of the 20 species of lemurs only found in Madagascar and are currently in the danger of disappearing. Over per cent of biodiversity of Madagascar is found only here. So hurry up and make a trip to this African country, which also comprises the fourth largest island, as its forest cover is predicted to disappear in 35 years and its inhabitants along with it.

6. Maldives: Maldives was severely devastated by the Tsunami in 2004, when only 9 of its over 1000 islands escaped flooding. It is the lowest lying country in the world and apparently will be the first nation to be submerged because of global warming. 

7. Olympia: As London gears up for the upcoming 2012 Olympics, Olympia, the city to hold the first Olympics in 776 B.C., struggles to keep it's hold on the world map. The rising summer temperatures have caused rampant wildfires in this Greek city, destroying its natural environment and historical architecture.

8. Patagonia: Located at the southern end of South America, Patagonia overwhelms its visitors with its dramatic landscapes and breathtaking beauty. Labeled as the "land of untouched beauty", Patagonia is not unknown to the ubiquitous and ominous effects of climate change. Its glaciers are steadily melting away and changing the landscape of this region. The flora and fauna native to Patagonia are in danger of losing their habitat.

9. Tiger habitats: One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Nepal and India, these places are famous for two things: mangrove forest and Royal Bengal tiger, both of which are currently in danger of extinction. Besides the tiger, some other endangered species inhabiting the region of Sunderland, India are Saltwater Crocodile, Olive Ridley Turtle, Gangetic dolphin, and Mangrove horseshoe crab. The rising sea levels in Sunderland, India have completely submerged parts of this low lying region, It is estimated that over 10,000 inhabitants of this region are now environmental refugees. It won't be long before this World Heritage Site is submerged under water.

10. Venice: All may not be good at the city of gondolas and honeymooners. This city of canals has experienced several floods in the recent past and its water level has gone up by 131 centimeters fearing a complete submerge of the city.

ITS BETTER TO EXPLORE  as soon as u can!!