alpinescenery

The clearest view I could get so far of Machapuchare (fish tail) peak
by shankar s.

I take some pictures at Phangrei across the valley
by shankar s.

I kept running out of steam pretty quickly after this
by shankar s.

I finally had to bark at a fellow who was obscuring everyone's view by holding up his cellphone indefinitely
by shankar s.

Worried at my struggling on the way up, my hosts were surprised at how fast I came down
by shankar s.

Like icing on a cake!
by shankar s.

At the Sarangkot sunrise point- I wasted a lot of time waiting for my guide who I thought was going to turn up
by shankar s.

Adding to the confusion was the fact that most people were facing the mountains
by shankar s.

Behind all those clouds in the fabulous Annapurna range
by shankar s.

My clearest shot yet of Machapuchare or Fish Tail peak
by shankar s.

This ice cream vendor makes his own cones
by shankar s.

Still smiling- little did I realize how steep it is going to get after this
by shankar s.

The tiny microlight looks like a mosquito in the sky!
by shankar s.

I have always been very unlucky with mountainscapes
by shankar s.

The Himalayan views were stunning notwithstanding the cloud cover
by shankar s.

Photo shoot over, I have the viewing spot back to myself again
by shankar s.

I too spent a lot of time looking at the mountains
by shankar s.

Uninterrupted view of Machapuchare for a change!
by shankar s.

Sometimes the most mundane of things makes for an interesting foreground
by shankar s.

Misty morning over the Himalayas at Sarangkot
by shankar s.

Beautiful monsoon clouds over the hills in Ukhrul, Manipur
by shankar s.

Now isn't that a magical scene!
by shankar s.

We enter Kazbegi at last- it's now called Stepsantsminda
by shankar s.

Much of Manipur is mountainous country
by shankar s.

The first rest stop- I was initially surprised at myself
by shankar s.

Dhaulagiri (L) and Machapuchare (R) in one frame
by shankar s.

Mountains being cut away for construction- or mudslide?
by shankar s.

The climb up the Phangrei hill starts easy- you can see the path in the foreground
by shankar s.

As the hill got steeper, my rest stops became more frequent
by shankar s.

Do you spot the utralight aircraft in front of the Machapuchare?
by shankar s.

Clouds at dawn- fat chance of catching the sunrise, I thought
by shankar s.

I skipped a walk into Bandipur village and stuck to the Himalayan views instead
by shankar s.

Sunrise over the Himalayas at Sarangkot, Pokhara, Nepal.
by shankar s.

A pit stop on the way, to stretch our legs a bit
by shankar s.

Nice view, but you could fall down the mountain if you don't watch your step!
by shankar s.

Sunrise over the Himalayas at Sarangkot, Pokhara, Nepa
by shankar s.

For a while I did not know which side the sun was going to rise from
by shankar s.

Haystack 'pyramids' for livestock are a typically Georgian feature
by shankar s.

Hidden behind the clouds is Machapuchare or fish tail peak in the Himalaya
by shankar s.

The sun is up now, quick shot of Machapuchare before the clouds rolled in- as usual
by shankar s.

Posing before the International Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal
by shankar s.

The crowd that had gathered to catch this spectacle was unbelievable
by shankar s.

The World Peace Pagoda atop a hill in Pokhara, Nepal
by shankar s.

You can still see the microlight just above the tree
by shankar s.

Dhaulagiri I presume?
by shankar s.

The sun announces it's arrival by lighting up the mountain peaks
by shankar s.

A setting to die for- wonder how it is during winter?
by shankar s.

Fabulous views of the valley and snow capped Himalayas at Bandipur
by shankar s.

The cloud cover became particularly virulent at this stage
by shankar s.

More haystack pyramids for livestock in the distance
by shankar s.

The sun announces it's arrival by lighting up the mountain tops
by shankar s.

I was lucky- first time in 60 years!
by shankar s.

The end of the steps- well, almost- to the Peace Pagoda
by shankar s.

My guide snaps me pushing my luck
by shankar s.

The river follows us for much of the way
by shankar s.

The clouds always come in the way for me
by shankar s.

I envy those locals living in such idyllic surroundings
by shankar s.

I was surprised at how spacious it was on top of the mountain
by shankar s.

Light on the peak shows that sunrise is not too far behind
by shankar s.

The clouds move just enough to reveal Machapuchare
by shankar s.