Rewind to the year 2016, almost 4 years back, January 1st was the day, I felt one of the most thrilling experiences in my life. The young blood, adrenaline rushing all over and desperate decision is to be blamed which led me to the suspension bridge of The Last Resort at the very day.

Led by reckless resolution yet full of life and adventure; The Bungee jumping experience is still one of the coolest things I ever did till the date.

Let me give you a brief detail on what you should know and then about my experience.

Things You Should Know Before you go for Bungee Jump

You can Bungee jump in Nepal in two places; The Last Resort, Bhotekoshi, and Hemja, Pokhara. The rules for the jump varies accordingly.

Some of the common tips are:

1. People with heart disease, high blood pressure, pregnant woman, steel in the body, or any kind of ligament injury are not allowed for the jump.
2. You are not allowed to consume alcohol before the jump.
3. Wear comfortable clothes i.e. you can wear shorts, trousers, or any sporty attire would be better.
4. Make sure you wear comfortable and closed-toed shoes.
5. Make sure you enjoy the whole ride and forget about everything while jumping.

Bungee at The Last Resort, Bhotekoshi

1. The Bungee jumping in Bhotekoshi is from above 500 ft (160 m).
2. Your weight must be between 40 kg and 98 kg.
3. Your age must be 18+.
4. If you are below age 18, then your parent must sign the wavier to get a ticket for the approval to jump.
5. The price per jump is Rs. 7500 for Nepalese nationals and $108 for foreigners. They have plenty of overnight and combo offers for various activities (Swing, Tandem, Canyoning)packages.

Note: The Bungee Jump in The Last Resort is ranked as Asia’s 3rd highest Bungee jumping site. The resort offers and hosts many other adventures besides bungee jump such as tandem, swing, canyoning, rafting, etc. Plus it is a wonderful escape from the concrete jungle and suitable for holidays and relaxation.

Bungy at Hemja, Pokhara

1. The Bungy jumping in Hemja is from above 70 m.
2. Your weight must be between 35 kg and 125 kg.
3. Your age must be above 13.
4. If your age is between 13-15, then your parent must sign the waiver to get a ticket.
5. The price per jump is Rs. 4000 for Nepalese nationals and Rs 7500 for foreigners.

Note: It is a tower bungee. Unlike The Last Resort, it is not facilitated as a resort to relax. However, it also offers a Zip Flying activity or a Combo package of both Zip Flying and Bungee Jump.

If you happen to travel to Pokhara, there are many local operator offices all around the lakeside, you can easily book and go for it as per your choice. You can find the link to one of the operators at the end of the blog.

Both bungee jumping sites provide the videos of your jump and a T-shirt on paying some extra budget.

Before Bungee Jump

Few days before the jump day, I and my friends went to Thamel, Kathmandu, and went for The Last Resort which is located on the corner of Mandala Street of Thamel. We booked our package including two-way transportation, breakfast, and lunch. On the day of New year, we hopped into the bus accommodated by The Last Resort early at 6 am in the morning at Thamel. It was around 3 hours of ride on the bus. We were stopped by in the midway and were asked to have breakfast as well. After a few minutes, we finally reached the place and we did pass the bridge from which we would jump later.

Safety Briefing

There were many people like us who came to jump on the day of New year. We were all introduced to the staffs and we were divided into groups according to our weight. We were given brief training on how to jump properly, safety measures, time-slots, and things we were supposed to do after the jump i.e. while hanging upside down.

During Bungee Jump

I am still nostalgic about the fact that I wasn’t scared at all initially when I went for the Bungee. I was quite sure about it and frankly speaking I was the one who suggested the idea of jumping on the day of New Year to my friends. I went along with my three other friends and while we first got off from the bus and passed the bridge I sure did look down the river and to be honest I wasn’t scared or let’s say I was that confident.

After the safety training by one of the staff, we were all separated into different groups due to our weight difference. I don’t remember quite well but I feel like I was the first one to jump among my friends. So, around two to three people were only allowed to get on the bridge at a time. I was with strangers on the bridge during my round and finally, after a few minutes, it was my time to shine. Jokes apart. I was asked to sit down, the staffs were really friendly and they made sure I was prepared and safe. Our package included the video of our jump as well. The overall environment before jumping was quite cooperative and motivating.

Into the climax, I stood up there on the edge of the bridge on steel suspension, 160 m high above the river, green vegetation all around, surrounded by beautiful hills, good cold breeze, BhoteKoshi river flowing in its pace, overall a complete orgasm to the eyes.

But wait, I was standing there, the weight I was tied to was slowly about to pull me. The guy behind me was asking me If I was ready. Oh and I thought I was fearless, my dumb ass thought I was not scared at all; and then my heartbeat was slowly rising. Courage, adrenaline, second thoughts, and excitement. I was slowly getting driven into a different state of mind while the guy behind me was yelling the numbers 3, 2, and I couldn’t process at all.

I suddenly turned into a Pentium and I knew I had to jump on the count of 1. So, before I could think to myself that I was freaking scared; all those mixed emotions, I left the bridge. I had to do it and I doubted it but yeah I wanted to do it anyhow.

I jumped, the moment I couldn’t feel my legs on the ground. I swear my goodness I feel funny right now but I definitely yelled “mom” unconsciously. I was freaking free falling for 2 or 3 seconds now, I was bouncing up and down. It was that moment that I longed for; immense happiness, just swinging up and down. I felt relief within me, I wanted to swing more and more. It was at that moment when nothing else mattered. It was all about me and my jump. I was shouting happily and felt I was alive.

More alive, cause I didn’t die and It didn’t kill me. More alive, cause it was something new and what I always wanted to do. I felt joy cause it was within me and it was one of the beautiful experiences I craved to do in this lifetime. It was totally worth it. A swing or a tandem is still listed in my bucket list.

After a few swings of up and down, I opened the knot as I was trained and I stood upside down. I was pulled upwards and the whole experience was lovely.

The funny thing is I was the one who was the most excited and kept on saying we need to do this to my friends. And my three friends who jumped after me, they didn’t even utter a sound from their mouth when they jumped calmly. And I was the craziest yelling “mom” and the video still gives me cringe moments to recall.

Yeah, if you are wondering about the food as I often do. We had our lunch in the resort as per our package. We got back at Thamel again by bus and actually thought about eating again. However, the restaurant we wanted to visit was closed after 8:30 pm. We stuffed ourselves with some sandwiches and the day went just right.

There are many packages offers for bungee, canyon swing, tandem swing, and many more. If you guys wish to do any one of these, you could get your info on The last resort’s official website. Similarly, for Pokhara Bungee Jump, you can get your information at Highground Nepal.

If I recall my ABC trek (4130m) and how it all started, I find my younger cousin brother and I talking to each other on the terrace with the sun almost set. I don’t know what was it exactly, but we both were at the phase where we often wondered about life choices, existential crisis, those conversations on the misery of human life, our sole existence, and the meaning of life. I know we all have been there. It’s just that I had some companionship with my brother to share it with.

The bonding and likeness of our perception at that moment led us to ABC. While we lied to our family on having a huge number of friends trekking with us, we two booked the bus to Pokhara, packed our bags overnight with lots of food and few clothes, we headed to Jamal the next morning and to Pokhara from Kathmandu.

Well, it was my first ever trek. However, I don’t remember if we were really scared or excited or afraid to be out there by ourselves. Just like that, I keep on forgetting some beautiful feelings right there even today. We took a taxi till Nayapul and separated with Pink, a friendly foreigner who was on the same bus as us to Pokhara. We separated with Pink and while separating he taught us how to carry the trekking bag properly so that it wouldn’t burden the carrier. Thanks for the hack Pink taught us; I often remember him and fix my bag every time I start my trek.

The first day of the trek was spent with the thought that we might not be able to make it to the destination of the first day. We went up along Ghandruk and had our lunch and came down to Landruk and trekked for Jhinu. Moving straight towards Jhinu would be a better idea now that I think about it. However, at the end of the day, there were no regrets and we got to see the Machhapuchhre.

Slowly, days were passing where we walked whole day from early in the morning at 6 or 7 with breakfast on, training our mind over matter to climb the never-ending stairs, greeting foreigners frequently, having conversations with foreign trekkers on various topics along the way, taking small breaks to fill the water bottle and sipping those chilled natural water, and reaching the hotel by evening to sit in those living room filled with trekkers and guides where we casually broke the awkward silence and furthermore start talking about further roads, experiences, hometown and some guides talking about how picky their guests are in the native language.

I just think there is so much beauty in traveling. I have had met my perfect strangers almost every time I travel. I think everything around us teaches us something; sometimes those things give us back our long-lost feelings, sometimes it’s wider sense to our existing perception and sometimes it’s growth in us to be OK with not understanding ourselves. Tony, Tam ho, a middle aged man was a Vietnamese tourist who was climbing to get to ABC as well. We were walking alongside each other, sometimes getting on the front and sometimes on the back of each other. We didn’t talk much. However, I don’t know when we got closer as I said, we often forget the feelings and events. The next time I remember we were clicking pictures of each other, taking turns.

Tony being my perfect Stranger for the trip was a helpful man. We don’t see such compassion in everyday life. At least I don’t. He was such an angel. I don’t know if he is always that way or the traveling allowed him to define himself in every new possible way. We conversed about Vietnamese history, his love life and I too talked about Nepal.

This trek or any travel journey I have made so far has changed or created a part of me and it will relate to Tony in one way or other and I will forever embrace it. I learned that kindness could always be offered even if you lack all the materialistic things. My perfect stranger taught me that.

Travelling makes you meet people for a shorter time with beautiful memories. Had we been there for more days, maybe our ego would clash, maybe our disagreements could lead to severe discussions or many things. I am always up for the discussion as long as we finally come to a mutual agreement with either side’s ego clashing into dust. However, it always doesn’t work smoothly. I like the way the trip is planned; where we are not allowed to cling to attachments and getting into a real normal life with bittersweet memories is the best part. Shorter and Sweeter. If you have ever traveled, don’t ask me why traveling? You know it, ask me my opinions and my experiences about it. It gives exposure and allows us to grasp the lessons that we miss while living in the monotonous school to work or work to home life.

You just slowly start to realize that when you are out there on the road, you get to decide who you are. Once again, free from all the bonds, things you learned, things they taught, things programmed in your mind, the idea of how life should be, how you should act, you get to break free from the perceptions of people around you and most importantly from the perception of you to yourself.

To break free from own perception is rather calming to me cause most of us lie to ourselves and expect ourselves to be someone else all the time.

I was not typical “me” anymore when I was on the trip. I didn’t care if I was bold enough or was I in my lane of mannerism nor did I care anymore if my bra strap was showing. I cared no more if anyone was looking at my tight leggings or I didn’t want myself to be that straight face strong individual or feel uneasy about anything, unlike my normal life. The “Be yourself zone” started. The real me, the sometimes pretty and most times ugly, the truth folded; the ego in me was reflected, again and again, I could realize how badly a person can tend to be pessimistic yeah that was me, I could see my temper when I would swear at those mountains for laying so high up above. I could see the real me and it felt good to know myself closely. That’s the beauty of traveling or is it just me!

We think “beauty” is the comfort, the easiness, the view, the perfect pictures, the things we could take back home. I don’t know if I am just a deep emotional but traveling gives another layer of meaning to my life.The self-reflection process, the greed, the ego, you see yourself in it and you accept it and you know what makes you “you”, how far you can push yourself, the hunger, the rarity, the lack, the “I am almost there” breathe and my favorite thing; walking quietly just with my head speaking to itself. I lose and find myself every time I trek.

I have learned two main things since the first trek:

I am nothing and I am everything.

Some things make me forget what I am. I am nothing and nothing makes sense here. I just enjoy what is given to me right now. The huge hills, the depth of the land where I stand, the clear streams, the beautiful vegetation even in the most inappropriate lands, the mountains, the climb, little bit of sickness, and starry nights. None of these things included me. They exist even without me, they don’t need me to celebrate their beauty, they don’t require audiences to bloom. Who am I even? Are my problems really bigger than the whole thing going on in this universe? And all these beautiful things exist and I thought I was important? I realized I am nothing.

And slowly, I realized I am everything. All these things in my world can only make sense if I exist. I had the ultimate power to either choose between suffering or living my life on my own terms. I could stop pushing and abusing myself to be anything and everything things outside me asked for. I did not have to make sense to anyone else but me.I became free from the obligations I had created in my mind.

We are so driven in our life influenced by social media, people around us, and things we have to do just because everyone is doing. Some of us have changed ourselves due to the circumstances. We either fall into the group of people who do things under influence of people around them or managing to come up above that and do things completely opposing the mainstream and fall back into the same category cause we doing either to follow or to completely oppose cause we hate the fact that we are following or we all are same. And barely a few of us are doing it for ourselves, for our passion, for our strong opinions and strong feelings.

We are allowed to give power to things, thoughts, memories, and people in our lives. That’s when I realized I am everything. Everything in my head and my world; I don’t know about your world but my world, my perception is under my power and my consciousness.

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It felt like a family reunion when I saw all the foreigners we have been stumbling upon since the last few days were all gathered together. It was my very first trek but I felt home in the living room of the hotel. No discomfort, no uneasiness, easy smiles, constant greet, no internet, no virtual connection and smooth conversation. The room was warm both with the vibes and temperature. I don’t know who they were, why they came, what’s their stories but definitely, it was such a happy place for me, must be everybody wanted to break free as me. Half of the people shouting at each other playing cards followed by laughter and teasing, few talking about other treks and history, some having their dinner and two of them talking about pickle rick and laughing out loud; yeah that was my cousin and a foreigner,and one or two reading book quietly in the corner.

This was home for me until the night came and I couldn’t breathe. I was going breathless, trying my best to distract myself by reading a book with a clove of garlic in my one cheek. My heart beating faster and my head starting to feel dizzy. My cousin had the same thing going on and he went to the living room to get the water. When he came back, he ran hurriedly and asked me to come out faster. It was just about to get midnight. Guess what I acknowledged?

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Once I stepped outside the room, we were surrounded by mountains; the white twinkling mountains at midnight. The full moon and millions of stars, surrounded by Annapurna range on the North and Machhapuchre on South. I could play the self-reflection journey, closeness with strangers in spite being an introvert, coming out of my comfort zone, celebrating every view and feeling things I had missed for so long in front of my eyes. It was perfect to sit under the stars in blankets and admire the beauty. No lens could ever do justice to what we see with eyes, nothing could capture what I saw back then unless you have very expensive lenses or some sick photo skills. I am not blessed with both. Obviously, I tried to click the pictures of the million stars and Annapurna standing right in front of me and all I got was a blank black. I know most of you have tried that on starry nights.

The morning sight to Annapurna was similar. This trip couldn’t get any better. It was one of the best trips I have ever had with exposure to people with different perceptions and representations. I was more with myself and I got out of all the confusion I was ever in. More like, I did not care about things I was confused with anymore.

Similarly, my cousin was in his own zone, vibing with Daniel; the Rick and Morty enthusiast and other trekkers/guides and I were on my own. Might come off as offending to readers with whom I have gone trekking with but got to give this one the best one so far where I got to know myself and I felt like I was traveling alone. But yeah, all the other trips might come off as different but I have my own streams of memories attached to every trip and I am thankful I made it those places.

I still think about the time when I and my cousin shared conversations on the terrace. I find it very goofy and funny now that I have grown out of it but cheers to that at least we made a trip together and it came out as perfectly as it could be.

It was all about my experiences up above. The itinerary for the ABC trip is

First Day: Kathmandu to Pokhara

Second Day: Pokhara to Ghandruk to Jhinu to Chomrong – 7 am till 5:30 pm

Third Day: Chomrong to Sinuhwa to Bamboo to Dovan to Himalayan -7 am to pm

Fourth Day: Himalayan to Deurali to MBC to ABC-7 am to 1 pm

Fifth Day: ABC to Jhinu 7am – 6pm (This was the hardest as We have to climb a lot to reach Chomrong. I would recommend you to take shelter in between if you have more holidays.)

Sixth Day: Jhinu to Pokhara – 7 am to 12 noon

Seventh Day: Pokhara to KTM

We spent around Rs. 20k each with lots of food packed in our bags.