I love GOOOOOLD!

Hello friends, remember that infinitely mediocre Austin Powers film "Goldmember"? Goldmember yells "I love GOOOOLD!" throughout the whole film. My brother and I may be the only people who think it's funny.
I bring it up because it's all I could think of at the Grand Palace in Bangkok today. Everything was gold, glittery, or in some way over-the-top gaudy. There were also approximately one million tourists swarming the palace.
I got into Bangkok this morning. I met a German guy who's doing an internship for the UN here. He showed me the guesthouse he's staying at which is not in tourist-central. It's nice. I can even watch movies there! I splurged on the AC room. Have I mentioned it's really hot here? And not heat to be envied. It's also really polluted, so the pollution sticks to your body as you sweat. Ick. Reminds me of Santiago. My sinuses are inflamed!
Tourist central is also known as Khao San Road. It is an abomination. It's a kind of tourist-limbo land. Cheap clothes, cheaper guesthouses, people partying, etc.
I'm feeling ready to go to Nepal, but I don't fly there till Sunday. I have to pick up my Indian visa tomorrow.
Here's my Nepal itinerary for you. Because of my limited time there, I chose to schedule my time with the tour operator:

Annapurna Circuit (Round) Trekking
This route is considered one of the true classic trekking routes of Nepal...rated widely as one of the "Top 20" treks worldwide. The trail offers amazing mountain scenery as it penetrates the Northern Himalayan range and Tibetan plateau.
We pass through villages populated by a wide diversity of people. Gurung, Magars, Chhetris, Thakali and Newars heavily settle the Southern slopes of Manaslu and Annapurna ranges. At higher elevations, human populations thin out and thick forests of rhododendron and fir emerge.
As we enter the Manang valley small fields of millet, wheat and flocks of sheep and goats abound. The Manang people, traditional traders, are Tibetan by origin and Buddhist by religion. As a result, their life style is quite different to those tribes on the Southern slopes.
The Thakali and Mustang tribes control the busy trading and pilgrimage trail along the Kaligandaki and Muktinath Temple and the on through the gap between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna.
Day-to-Day Itinerary:
(Program designed for Lauren)
11 March: Arrival to Kathmandu at 1 Pm by Thai Airlines. Then transfer to Himalayan Humanity / Overnight at Arjun Home.
12 March: Day Sightseeing in Kathmandu (Pashupati, Boudha Nath, Soyambhu and Kathmandu durbar square and inner city of Kathmandu)
13 March: TREKKING Kathmandu to Besi-Sahar (760 m) (175 km/ 7-8 hours): Drive by bus.
14 March: Besi-Sahar to Bahundanda (1310 m.): Trek.
15 March: Bahundanda to Chamje (1430m): Trek.
16 March: Chamje to Dharapani (1860 m.): Trek.
17 March: Dharapani to Chame (2670m): Trek.
18 March: Chame to Pisang: Trek (3200m)
19 March: Pisang to Manang (3540 m):
20 March: Manang (Acclimatization Day in Manang): Rest.
21 March: Manang to Yak Kharka; Trek
22 March: Yak Kharka to Letdar
23 March: Letdar to Thorung Phedi (4450m) / High Camp (4925 m): Trek.
24 March: Thorung Phedi/High Camp to Muktinath (3760 m): Trek. (Early morning pass Thorung la- 5416 m)--this is the highest elevation we'll reach
25 March: Muktinath to Kagbeni; Trek
26 March: Kagbeni to Marpha: Trek.
27 March: Marpha to Ghasa (2010 m), Trek.
28 March: Ghasa to Tatopani (1190 m): Trek.
29 March: Tatopani to Shikha; Trek
30 March: Shikha to Ghorepani (2860 m): Trek
31 March: Ghorepani (2860 m) to Poonhill (3193m) to Tadapani (Poonhill is the excellent view point- Early morning view)
01 April: Tadapani to Ghandruk; Trek
02 April: Ghandruk to Nayapul to Pokhara (Trek & 1 Hour drive by Taxi)/ End of Trek Program
(END OF 21 DAY TREKKING)
03 April: Pokhara Sightseeing / Overnight Hotel in Pokhara.
04 April: Pokhara to Chit wan: Drive by Bus. Day Activities in Royal Chit wan National Park (tigers live here!)
05 April: Chit wan Tour: Early morning takes breakfast. Dugout canoe trip followed by a Nature Walk Program or a visit to the Elephant Breeding Farm. Enjoy an ox-cart ride or a jeep drive back to the resort. After refreshment you can wash the elephants and swim with them in the Rapti river. Lunch. Elephant back safari. Take Dinner and evening and watching Tharu dancing performance.
06 April: Bird watching Tour in morning and day visit in chit wan. .
07 April: Drive to Kathmandu from Chit wan and rest in Kathmandu, Overnight at Arjun Home.
08 April: Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square Sightseeing (Guided Tour) / Souvenirs shopping in Kathmandu / Overnight at Arjun Home.

So, you see lots and lots of trekking. If I'm not in shape now (which I'm not) I certainly will be by day 21 of the Annapurna circuit. I think I'm going to break down and buy trekking poles.
TTFN,
Lauren