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When talking about
Kusang Sherpa I am often accused of being “over
the top”, of simply exaggerating by hyperbole.
Not so. I have had the privilege of trekking 3 times
with Kusang and plan many more treks. Often, back
here in Ausralia, in moments of stress (very frequent)
I annoy my co-workers by exclaiming “Get me
to Muktinath!”. Well - Kusang has “got
me to Muktinath” on 3 very memorable occasions
and, at age 59, even beyond his over Thorung-La to
complete the Annapurna Circuit the “wrong way”;
i.e. clockwise, in contradiction to those who traditionally
go from East to West. (To those of you who are considering
the Annapurna Circuit – listen to Kusang! Go
from Muktinath, or from West to East! It could well
be the highlight of your life).
Kusang: nature’s
true gentleman. Intelligent, compassionate, fun loving,
responsible, powerfully informed, exceptionally knowledgeable,
immensely and totally reliable. He knows and loves
all the people of the villages; he gives you an unbelievable
insight in
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to his land, its cultures and its religions; he watches
each of us so carefully, quietly factoring in to his
leadership any of our weaknesses and all of our individual
interests. His management of his porters is very enlightening
– to a man they give
him total respect and honour. Kusang is, quite simply,
a man of utter integrity. I am honoured and privileged
to call him my very dear friend.
One can
really never only trek once in Nepal. Indeed if, like
me, one has been fortunate enough to have trekked each
time with Kusang Sherpa, the urge to return becomes
almost an obsession. Always, forever in the back of
my mind, is the knowledge that one day soon Kusang will
“get me to Muktinath” once more.
Bonny
Wadley
po box 7, Kairi 4872
Australia
randywadley@skymesh.com.au |
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In
March of this year, 2006, I had the most amazing experience
of my life...My 3 sisters, a cousin from NZ and I joined
up with Kusang in Kathmandu to trek the Annapurna Base
Camp and to reach Muktinath.. My older sisters (they
are 61, yes twins, myself 57 and our younger sister
55, and cousin 50) had previously trekked with Kusang
on 2 previous occasions and it was absolutely 'set in
stone' that to trek Nepal again we MUST HAVE KUSANG
as our leader. Kusang was our one and only Guide we
chose and we locked-in his services almost 12 months
in advance.
My admiration
of Kusang, my confidence in Kusang, our praises of his
expertise are testimony that with Kusang's abundant
knowledge of his homeland Nepal, Kusang's incredible
patience and understanding that some of his clients
(like myself) needed quite an amount of encouragement,
and assistance, particularly on some of those steep
enslaughts!! Kusang would always be there for you..
He could perceive from any angle if |
any
one of us were needing a little bit of a 'push', or
if we just needed a few words of encouragement.. He
understood each of us, as if we were his sisters!! Never
crowding us, never intruding, but always ready with
that amazing smile and hand to get us through the tough
spots..Absolute total respect for us all and at any
one time we had total confidence in Kusang, our 'fearless
leader' as we joked so often along the way with him...
I know
for certainty, that if my sisters, cousin and I ever
have the opportunity again of trekking Nepal, we would
be calling on Kusang to lead us... Without any shadow
of a doubt I would highly recommend anyone, young, or
old to trek with Kusang. Our experiences in Nepal with
Kusang are precious memories of one of the most exciting
3 weeks of a lifetime.
I look
forward to meeting up with you again Kusang and you
taking us on an incredible journey again in your wonderful
country of Nepal.
Sue Lobbezoo
(23.11.06)... Northern NSW, Australia.
srlobbezoo@westnet.com.au |
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I have trekked twice
in Nepal as a member of a small group, on both occasions
having Kusang as our guide. In 2004 he led us around
the Annapurna Circuit and this year, in March, up
towards Base Camp Annapurna and then half way round
the Circuit again to Muktinath.
Kusang has a deep love for his country and, having
spent several months in Australia, he intuitively
knows what would particularly interest Aussies.
He always stopped at just the right place to point
out the beauty and significance of the scene around
us, whether it was the soaring majesty of a particular
mountain or the simplicity of a farming implement
that he knew would be an unusual sight for us.
Kusang helped us
to understand the land and his people in a friendly,
gentle and unobtrusive way. He seemed to know at
least one family in every village we walked through
! I will never forget how he rallied his friends
in a village about half an hour out
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from Muktinath this year when it became very obvious
that I was too sick to keep walking. Within 10 minutes
of telling me, “Mam, you sit here, I’m
going to get help”, he turned up with a friend,
his horse, saddle and blankets. With me ensconced
on the horse like a modern day Lady Godiver, Kusang
and his friend led me triumphantly right to the steps
of our hotel for that night!
Finding
this horse for me at just the right moment is only
one of many examples I could give of Kusang’s
care and concern. He guides in a quiet yet confident
way, always there when you need him and constantly
mindful of the needs of each individual member of
his group. I am certainly returning to Nepal in the
near future and am already looking forward to once
again asking Kusang to be my guide.
Shirley
McCoombe
Retired high school teacher
Canberra
21 November, 2006
shirlbaz@hotmail.com |
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I
am one of four sisters who trekked the Annapurnas in
March 2006, accompanied also by our long lost cousin
from New Zealand. My sisters and I are Australians and
all very proud grandmothers who have a never ending
yearn to trek. It was Bonny's 3rd time to Nepal, and
the 2nd time for her twin sister Shirley.For Sue and
I, this was our first trip. Naturally Bonny did all
the organising and how thrilled she was to have Kusang
Sherpa as her guide each time and for us to finally
meet this outstanding guide and gentleman for ourselves
in our trek this year. Kusang was always there for us
in every way:- As a guide he is very informative with
wonderful knowledge of his home country; His ability
to forcast the moods/climate of the country was outstanding
therefor we felt totally safe at all times, even when
heading up to the Annapurna Base Camp and sadly had
to turn back because of avalance warnings. We totally
put our lives in Kusangs hands and would never hestitate
to do it again; As a person, Kusang is warm and caring,
forever thoughtful and there to offer his assistance
in his quite and unassuming way...it may be just his
hand out to steady you as you climb over or down a rock
or steep trail, or cross
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a
raging river, or help with the language, the money...anything.
A sign I saw in the mountains will always stay with
me and give me peace:- NEPAL:- "Never Ending Peace
And Love". Kusang Sherpa is in those memories of
this peace and love that I felt for Nepal.
Robyn Towne
Retired Travel Advisor and many years in Hospitality,
Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia.
21st November 2006.
robud@aapt.net.au
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Trekking the Annapurna
Circuit in 2004 with my Mother, Aunt and friend will
always remain one of the highlights of my life. Looking
back, I honestly don’t believe that we would
have had the same magical experience had it not been
for our fearless leader, Kusang. His strong intuition
for the moods and needs of each member of the group
at any point in time meant that our trekking experience
was beautifully tailored for us not just as a group
but as individuals as well.
Kusang’s gentle
nature and positive, encouraging manner made him the
perfect guide for our group. He wasn’t forceful
or pushy, and his enthusiasm and love of people and
his job kept us motivated when we needed to be. I
remember one very clear night admiring the stars,
which shone with a brilliance I hadn’t seen
even in the Australian outback. I pointed out to Kusang
a cluster of stars that I was unfamiliar with, and
could only laugh when he said, “they aren’t
stars, Annie, they are the lights
of the village
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where
we are going to trek to tomorrow!” Despite the
trepidation which filled us all right at that moment,
the next day of severe uphill climbing was for me actually
one of the most enjoyable, as we laughed and joked our
way to the top with Kusang patiently pushing, pulling
and cajoling us up the steep slope. I felt an immense
sense of pride that evening as I shared a beer with
Kusang and admired the sunset view, looking down on
the village that had been our starting point that morning.
It is with unhesitating
confidence that I recommend Kusang for any prospective
trek that you may have in mind. Please feel free to
email me at annette_mccoombe@hotmail.com
if you have any questions that I can answer for you.
Warm regards,
Annette McCoombe
Dublin, Ireland
v-annetm@microsoft.com
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Kusang
Sherpa has guided us faithfully and well on three treks
(Everest Base Camp, Anapurna Sanctuary, Anapurna Circuit).
He was reliable in all situations, from the urban environment
of the Katmandu Valley to the rarefied air at high Himalayan
passes. And he was delightful company. He knows the
territory and the people. He knows the trails and the
monasteries (and who has the keys). He knows the guest
houses. He can navigate in at least five languages.
I heartily recommend him and hope to have his guidance
again in wonderful Nepal. -- Larry Calloway, Colorado
writer.
Best,
Larry
FROM THE RIO GRANDE WEST. . .
www.larrycalloway.com
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