7 - 10 Dec 2012
So after watching our safety guys in the kayaks during rafting, Sam really wanted to give it a go. I kind of did, but my fear was really strong and I was hesitant. I'm pretty outgoing and I love crazy adventure activities, but the idea of being strapped into a kayak through white water scared the shit out of me. Especially as you could see how easy they tip and I don't like the feeling of being upside down under water - it freaks me out!
Finally after asking my fellow face bookers I was convinced to give it a go. After all, I'm over here to try new things, step out of my comfort zone and experience shit right? So our first day off, we head to the paddle nepal office to pick up our rafting pictures and ask about the kayak clinic. The staff are so damn good at selling things to you, especially when they gave us $40 off the total price because we'd already done canyoning and rafting with them. Right then and there we signed up and paid in full by credit card. This was it. I was really doing it! The fear already starting to bubble in my gut even though we still had 2 more days off.
The clinic was 4days, 1 day on the Fewa lake right here in Pokhara and the other 3 days on the river,camping 2 nights. Each day would be slightly more difficult as we progress with our skills and reach new challenges on the river. Apparently it was the perfect beginner river - getting harder each day.
Day 1 we headed on down to the paddle nepal office at a reasonable time of 9am. We were given a short briefing about kayaks, what they look like, how to fit in them etc before we were each fitted our new kayaks that we would be using for 4days. We then had to carry them 200m around the corner to the lake. Getting in for the first time already felt unnatural. The way you are trapped in this very light and flimsy boat that felt like it could tip any movement you made. We began by paddling across to the other side of the lake, me being way at the back, struggling to get the strokes right and I kept spinning round in 360 circles - it was so frustrating! Sam wasn't doing the best either, he was way ahead because his paddle stroke was stronger but he also kept spinning around haha... I could not stop laughing! The other couple who were with us, from the Netherlands, seemed to have no trouble at all paddling and were way in front. Apparently they were big into canoeing - bastards! lol.
We finally reach this bay on the other side and then the basic skills teaching start. The first one is self rescue where we have to capsize ourselves and detach ourselves from the kayaks underwater upside down and get to the surface. Fuck. It terrified me! Basically you wear these wet suit type skirts that attaches you to the mouth of the kayak so no water goes into your kayak when you capsize in the river. The guys on the river were rafting just rolled themselves back up.It's insane! I was terrified I wouldn't do it right and I'd be stuck under the water. Because these skirt things seriously trapped you to the kayak, the only way you can detach yourself is by pulling this lose tag at the front, but you have to learn forward under the water or you won't find it. We had to do this 3 times. It took me forever just to do the first one as I was so fucking scared. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life. The guide almost came and pushed me under as I was taking so long. Why can I bungy after the countdown without hesitation but I can't capsize myself in a kayak? Being underwater just freaks me out, having to figure stuff out on your own underwater freaks me out. I don't trust myself and I always think I'll do something wrong.
So i finally did it, I wiggled my hips from side to side and capsized myself, leaned forward upside down under the water, found the tag, pulled it, then swam to the surface and tipped my kayak back the right way. 1st time was great.But then I had to do it again. Second time not so great. I didn't lean forward and I couldn't find the tag and I started to panic. Eventually I did and came up gasping for air after choking on water. He said I took too long that time. The third was better again and this time he wanted us to stay under and hold our breath for as long as possible before pulling the tag and releasing ourselves. Stupid me though automatically pulled my tag straight away which of course starts flooding the kayak so I knew I had to come up or my kayak would sink.
We learn t a few more tricks with the kayak before lunch. The T rescue was one which is when you capsize then you bang on the bottom and when you feel the rescue kayak you pull yourself up with it - saves detaching yourself and flooding your kayak every time with the self rescue. This one also freaked me out and it took me awhile to even attempt it. You just feel so heavy and stuck upside down under water and I didn't think I'd be able to pull myself up. It turns out it's all in your hips. You need flexibility. Sam learnt the eskimo roll and nailed it! I never got the chance as we ran out of time - on the river the guide said I'd learn.
Sam learning the eskimo roll
The next 3 days were wild! Being in the river felt completely different to being in the still lake. I struggled even harder to just stay ahead and kept turning in circles - in the rapids to! My first rapid was terrifying. I just didn't feel in control and felt so vulnerable in the kayak, like every single tiny wave felt massive as it hit you and twisted you this way and that. I struggled just to stay upright. At the end of the first rapid I capsized! haha, I made it through the actual rapid but capsized at the end where all the currents crash into each other. I did a self rescue which was easy peasy and then I started to relax a bit realizing it's not so bad when you fall out. I only fell out once on the first day because there was only one major rapid. All the rest of the smaller rapids I managed somehow. Luckily I was at the back with this guy Zom who looked after me so well. He basically baby sat me through every rapid, directing me which way to go and what to do. Not that it's easy in the rapids to control where you go and what you do, but that's all part of learning I guess.
Sam fell out way more then me! He was really good at all the skills we learnt but he wasn't so good at controlling the kayak and paddling correctly. He fell out millions of time lol.
We camped on the side of the river on a sandy bank both nights which was so cool! We'd literally drag our kayaks up on the bank and set up camp then chill out by a fire with a beer which one of the staff managed to get on the way. Then in the morning after breakfast we'd pack up then drag our kayaks down and jump straight back into the river! It had an awesome feel of being in the wild. I loved it!
Campsite No. 1
The second day we went through 3 major rapids and lots of smaller ones. I didn't fall out once! I made it through every single one! It felt so amazing. Sam wasn't so lucky but he didn't have a good guide helping him like I did. I reckon that's the only reason I made it through. Well I made it pretty obvious I was terrified the entire time, every single rapid we approached my stomach would tighten and my heart would race. It was terrifying, but so exhilarating as we were actually in the rapids. The white water in your face and rocks everywhere, you can see nasty parts of the rapids you need to avoid or you'll flip and trying so hard to paddle the safe route. It was all so intense and so much fun. Like nothing I've ever experience or attempted before in my life.
We would stop by the side of the river for lunch half way through the day which was always so picturesque. Zom started to teach me the eskimo roll at one lunch stop but we only spent about 5, 10mins on it. I did get the hang of it so far but I reckon more time and I would've had it perfectly!
Me doing the T rescue with Zom - so scary having to capsize yourself!
Day 3 on the river was the craziest by far, we had about 9 major rapids in total! By this stage I'm starting to feel more comfortable in the kayak and I'm starting to understand how to control myself a little. Not completely, and not enough for the kind of rapids we went through but somehow I only capsized twice that day! The first time wasn't even in a rapid haha, it was in a stupid current that I was practicing some skills in and fucking capsized myself lol. Sam came out on one of the really long rapids that had heaps of rocks. He came out right at the start and had to float down the rest of the way, hitting every rock around. Ouch. My second capsize that day was at the very last one which was a crazy massive whirlpool which rocked my kayak so hard I had no chance. Sam and also the Netherlands girl came out there to. The second last rapid was probably the most fun as you had to navigate between this massive rock on your right and then a massive wave on the left which sucked two people in and capsized them but I made it through! It was so cool!!
Me and Zom going through a rapid - look how unco I look! haha (I'm behind him)
So as crazy as the beginner course was, it was one of the best things I have ever challenged myself with. I'm so grateful I stepped out of my comfort zone and experienced something so wild and different! Sam and I want to do more, wherever we can in the world! We hear Queensland has some opportunities, so maybe we'll go there next! :)
Our team at the end - finished! Woo!
So after watching our safety guys in the kayaks during rafting, Sam really wanted to give it a go. I kind of did, but my fear was really strong and I was hesitant. I'm pretty outgoing and I love crazy adventure activities, but the idea of being strapped into a kayak through white water scared the shit out of me. Especially as you could see how easy they tip and I don't like the feeling of being upside down under water - it freaks me out!
Finally after asking my fellow face bookers I was convinced to give it a go. After all, I'm over here to try new things, step out of my comfort zone and experience shit right? So our first day off, we head to the paddle nepal office to pick up our rafting pictures and ask about the kayak clinic. The staff are so damn good at selling things to you, especially when they gave us $40 off the total price because we'd already done canyoning and rafting with them. Right then and there we signed up and paid in full by credit card. This was it. I was really doing it! The fear already starting to bubble in my gut even though we still had 2 more days off.
The clinic was 4days, 1 day on the Fewa lake right here in Pokhara and the other 3 days on the river,camping 2 nights. Each day would be slightly more difficult as we progress with our skills and reach new challenges on the river. Apparently it was the perfect beginner river - getting harder each day.
Day 1 we headed on down to the paddle nepal office at a reasonable time of 9am. We were given a short briefing about kayaks, what they look like, how to fit in them etc before we were each fitted our new kayaks that we would be using for 4days. We then had to carry them 200m around the corner to the lake. Getting in for the first time already felt unnatural. The way you are trapped in this very light and flimsy boat that felt like it could tip any movement you made. We began by paddling across to the other side of the lake, me being way at the back, struggling to get the strokes right and I kept spinning round in 360 circles - it was so frustrating! Sam wasn't doing the best either, he was way ahead because his paddle stroke was stronger but he also kept spinning around haha... I could not stop laughing! The other couple who were with us, from the Netherlands, seemed to have no trouble at all paddling and were way in front. Apparently they were big into canoeing - bastards! lol.
We finally reach this bay on the other side and then the basic skills teaching start. The first one is self rescue where we have to capsize ourselves and detach ourselves from the kayaks underwater upside down and get to the surface. Fuck. It terrified me! Basically you wear these wet suit type skirts that attaches you to the mouth of the kayak so no water goes into your kayak when you capsize in the river. The guys on the river were rafting just rolled themselves back up.It's insane! I was terrified I wouldn't do it right and I'd be stuck under the water. Because these skirt things seriously trapped you to the kayak, the only way you can detach yourself is by pulling this lose tag at the front, but you have to learn forward under the water or you won't find it. We had to do this 3 times. It took me forever just to do the first one as I was so fucking scared. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life. The guide almost came and pushed me under as I was taking so long. Why can I bungy after the countdown without hesitation but I can't capsize myself in a kayak? Being underwater just freaks me out, having to figure stuff out on your own underwater freaks me out. I don't trust myself and I always think I'll do something wrong.
So i finally did it, I wiggled my hips from side to side and capsized myself, leaned forward upside down under the water, found the tag, pulled it, then swam to the surface and tipped my kayak back the right way. 1st time was great.But then I had to do it again. Second time not so great. I didn't lean forward and I couldn't find the tag and I started to panic. Eventually I did and came up gasping for air after choking on water. He said I took too long that time. The third was better again and this time he wanted us to stay under and hold our breath for as long as possible before pulling the tag and releasing ourselves. Stupid me though automatically pulled my tag straight away which of course starts flooding the kayak so I knew I had to come up or my kayak would sink.
We learn t a few more tricks with the kayak before lunch. The T rescue was one which is when you capsize then you bang on the bottom and when you feel the rescue kayak you pull yourself up with it - saves detaching yourself and flooding your kayak every time with the self rescue. This one also freaked me out and it took me awhile to even attempt it. You just feel so heavy and stuck upside down under water and I didn't think I'd be able to pull myself up. It turns out it's all in your hips. You need flexibility. Sam learnt the eskimo roll and nailed it! I never got the chance as we ran out of time - on the river the guide said I'd learn.
Sam learning the eskimo roll
The next 3 days were wild! Being in the river felt completely different to being in the still lake. I struggled even harder to just stay ahead and kept turning in circles - in the rapids to! My first rapid was terrifying. I just didn't feel in control and felt so vulnerable in the kayak, like every single tiny wave felt massive as it hit you and twisted you this way and that. I struggled just to stay upright. At the end of the first rapid I capsized! haha, I made it through the actual rapid but capsized at the end where all the currents crash into each other. I did a self rescue which was easy peasy and then I started to relax a bit realizing it's not so bad when you fall out. I only fell out once on the first day because there was only one major rapid. All the rest of the smaller rapids I managed somehow. Luckily I was at the back with this guy Zom who looked after me so well. He basically baby sat me through every rapid, directing me which way to go and what to do. Not that it's easy in the rapids to control where you go and what you do, but that's all part of learning I guess.
Sam fell out way more then me! He was really good at all the skills we learnt but he wasn't so good at controlling the kayak and paddling correctly. He fell out millions of time lol.
We camped on the side of the river on a sandy bank both nights which was so cool! We'd literally drag our kayaks up on the bank and set up camp then chill out by a fire with a beer which one of the staff managed to get on the way. Then in the morning after breakfast we'd pack up then drag our kayaks down and jump straight back into the river! It had an awesome feel of being in the wild. I loved it!
Campsite No. 1
The second day we went through 3 major rapids and lots of smaller ones. I didn't fall out once! I made it through every single one! It felt so amazing. Sam wasn't so lucky but he didn't have a good guide helping him like I did. I reckon that's the only reason I made it through. Well I made it pretty obvious I was terrified the entire time, every single rapid we approached my stomach would tighten and my heart would race. It was terrifying, but so exhilarating as we were actually in the rapids. The white water in your face and rocks everywhere, you can see nasty parts of the rapids you need to avoid or you'll flip and trying so hard to paddle the safe route. It was all so intense and so much fun. Like nothing I've ever experience or attempted before in my life.
We would stop by the side of the river for lunch half way through the day which was always so picturesque. Zom started to teach me the eskimo roll at one lunch stop but we only spent about 5, 10mins on it. I did get the hang of it so far but I reckon more time and I would've had it perfectly!
Me doing the T rescue with Zom - so scary having to capsize yourself!
Day 3 on the river was the craziest by far, we had about 9 major rapids in total! By this stage I'm starting to feel more comfortable in the kayak and I'm starting to understand how to control myself a little. Not completely, and not enough for the kind of rapids we went through but somehow I only capsized twice that day! The first time wasn't even in a rapid haha, it was in a stupid current that I was practicing some skills in and fucking capsized myself lol. Sam came out on one of the really long rapids that had heaps of rocks. He came out right at the start and had to float down the rest of the way, hitting every rock around. Ouch. My second capsize that day was at the very last one which was a crazy massive whirlpool which rocked my kayak so hard I had no chance. Sam and also the Netherlands girl came out there to. The second last rapid was probably the most fun as you had to navigate between this massive rock on your right and then a massive wave on the left which sucked two people in and capsized them but I made it through! It was so cool!!
Me and Zom going through a rapid - look how unco I look! haha (I'm behind him)
So as crazy as the beginner course was, it was one of the best things I have ever challenged myself with. I'm so grateful I stepped out of my comfort zone and experienced something so wild and different! Sam and I want to do more, wherever we can in the world! We hear Queensland has some opportunities, so maybe we'll go there next! :)
Our team at the end - finished! Woo!
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