Bajhang, May 15 -- Harish Awasthi of Sunarya Rural Municipality in Baitadi works at the Saipal branch of Everest Bank.

A travel enthusiast, he had long dreamed of reaching the Saipal Base Camp. But despite being posted at Dhalaun, the gateway to Saipal, for nearly two years, he had never managed to fulfil that wish.

"The very day I was posted here, the first thing I thought I would do was visit Saipal Base Camp," Awasthi said. "But work pressure and having only one weekly day off meant I never got the chance."

This time, however, he finally made the trip after getting two consecutive days off. Taking advantage of the three-day break created by Labour Day on May 1, followed by the weekend, he reached the base camp and returned mesmerise...