The 7.9 earthquake that struck Nepal on the 25^th April brought our Himalayan adventure to an abrupt end. The idea of pushing ahead with our plans and trekking to EBC where so many had just lost their lives seemed like a tasteless option. Unable to offer the skills to help with the initial disaster relief effort, we were left wondering what to do for the best. But with constant tremors, predictions of earthquakes of a bigger magnitude, the threat of disease spreading and supplies running low, we reluctantly made the difficult decision to leave behind a crumbing Country which had captured our minds and stolen our hearts.

Abandoning the picturesque lakeside village of Pokhara, we set off on a four hour journey through winding lush green valleys to the devastation and chaos of Kathmandu. It was to be the most sobering journey of our lives.

Desperate locals taking to the roofs of buses to flee Kathmandu

Passing by villages that were now nothing more than a pile of rubble; houses which balanced preciously on their side like tumbling dominoes, and squadrons of soldiers bearing shovels, we realised how sheltered we had been in the largely unaffected area of Pokhara.

Arriving safely at Kathmandu Airport we had a long wait amongst the hordes of fleeing tourists and Government Officials until our delayed flight would leave the ground. Sat on the floor, I thought over what I had just seen and our privileged decision to leave. I felt sick to the stomach. These beautiful people had lost everything. Their homes, their livelihoods, their loved ones. Everything! And we were deserting them in their hour of need to look after ourselves. I had never felt more selfish.

Later that evening, teary eyed and exhausted we flew out of Nepal just ten days after the biggest quake to hit the Himalayas in over 80 years.

And so began the next chapter of our travelling adventure.