Angelina Hue

We hiked in the mountains of Nepal for over a week to reach Annapurna Base Camp.

Each day followed a similar routine. We woke up, ate breakfast, trekked, took a lunch break, and continued walking until we reached the next teahouse for the night. Showers were not an option. Instead, we used talc for an occasional “powder bath” to smell nicer. Dinner was often dhal bhat, which we devoured with extra helpings of rice. After that, it was time for sleep. There was little distraction in the mountains.

Mornings were my favourite part of the day. I looked forward to breakfast for the “Tibetan bread”. Golden discs of fried, puffy bread that I would greedily tear apart and dip in sugar or jam. Then wash it down with hot black tea in steel mugs. Sometimes the Tibetan bread came with a fried egg or omelette, reminding me of roti prata in Singapore.

We had no mobile phones. I took photos with an Olympus point-and-shoot, my first camera. I didn’t photograph food, as every frame of the 35mm film was precious.

That’s why I have no photo of those satisfying plates of Tibetan bread. Except for this snippet from one of those mornings in the mountains. With my unstylish short bob and glasses, and enjoying a great start to the day.