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Spandan

@span_dan_

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When Annapurna calls, how fast do you rush to her towering glory? There I was, negative 5 C, delirious and unsteady from mountain sickness, while snow and wind struck me, with a blurry vision barely able to focus my camera and repeatedly raging cause of it, as my vision betrayed me, battered with frostbitten fingers, awestruck by the glory of the mountains from 4-8 AM on the third day of the year. Absolutely worth the majestic glow of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli (White Peak), Machhapuchchhre (Fishtail) under the rising warm sun.

Through the sufferings I subjected myself to for these photos, I would do it a thousand times over to achieve the iconic mesmerising display of Mother Nature’s glorious art frozen into frames.

All these photos are either unedited or barely edited to respect my multitudes of struggles when taking these photos. Yes, I was extra empowered by “Reflection” by Tool’s lyrics, even though they aren’t related to mountains..

(Annapurna South is the widest peak, “small” peak separated by a col from it is Hiunchuli, Fishtail shaped mountain is literally Fishtail mountain :)) )

#mardi #mardihimal #annapurna #himalayas #népal taken in High Camp Mardi Himal by @span_dan_

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7 months ago

16 stages of my Mardi Himal adventure (end to start). Despite not making it to the final viewpoint/base camp, I am really happy with my learnings throughout the journey, and not the destination. It affirmed what I am capable of, and what I am not, despite my many physical nerfs such as IBS and dysautonomia.

Yeah altitude sickness gives you face edema/swelling😭

I survived tragic food poisoning and bad, nearly lethal acute mountain sickness (67-72% sleep spO2) and came down on my own legs, carrying not only my body, but also almost all of my items through my backpack. I knew my willpower is strong, yet easily able to suppress my ego and call off the ascent. Through my daily special mental training to imagine negative situations AND overcome it, I was able to keep my strength, just like how I utilise it in the gym, research life, enduring any and all illnesses instead of ever letting myself be bedridden or dependent on others even in the harshest of situations.

I was in silent tears out in the snow for calling off my ascent, and I processed the defeat. But I am really lucky, and grateful, for being able to see the Annapurna massif mountains covered with heavy snow, and be graced by the dark beauty of snowy trails burying the rocks and few plants that grow so high up. And I am grateful to have the support of my guide and the teahouse cooks nourishing me with ginger tea, black tea and etc throughout the expedition.

This is the best possible outcome and I still love my adventures.

📸: my guide bro (hes on tiktok, not ig😭) taken in High Camp Mardi Himal by @span_dan_

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7 months ago

Come walk through Mardi Himal through my eyes! Starts with the lovely guest house dog (from New Laligurans, Deurali) guiding me around in the evening around camp, then glorious starfields at night, then back to adventure through wintering rhododendron forests, alpine rocky mountain terrain, fog blanketing my vision and finally mild snowy terrain on the steep way down, swipe to end for magical horse in the woods :))

Photos are barely edited mostly, almost all are phone shots instead of cam for this post! taken in Mardi Himal Trek by @span_dan_

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7 months ago

Is this cute critter an anoplodesmus saussurii or asiomorpha coarctata/long-flanged millipede? help identify please zoologists🥹 found in Dhaka, Bangladesh by @span_dan_

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a day ago

2.5 years of progress and irritation summed up in a reel. Yeah, for 1.4 km, I zercher-carried clothes in a fully stuffed 70+ litre IKEA bag and a fully stuffed 60/70 litre backpack on my back. Those obsessing and fear mongering with “neutral spine”, and never pushing themselves and listening to their paid drones “personal trainers” will never bring themselves to do such things.

The whole reason I have so much clothes to recycle is because I progressed from very skinny and weak 54 kg XS-S to currently wearing oversized M-L 73 kg. Throughout this journey, I somewhat hid my frustration anytime someone told me “oh you are doing too much”, “stop doing bullshit”, “youll hurt yourself”, “youll injure your back” while I just told myself “ill prove them wrong”. In a way I did, I got physically and mentally stronger than they ever will be in their self-limited lives.

And beyond the first few months, I never trained for aesthetics or chased abs. Since I never leaned down, people didnt see muscle definition easily for first 2 years, while ofc i got stronger. “Why dont you train like that person they have muscles”, no f*ck your leanness, f*ck your hormonally deprived six pack, real sh*t is getting as strong and durable as possible and chasing human limits.

Anyways, strength training and endurance development is a lifetime thing, rage a war against osteoporosis and joint pain. Do the weird for the weird. by @span_dan_

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16 days ago

Zercher-focused leg day with sore quads and hips, ended up increasing my Jefferson Curls and zercher squat numbers. Can’t relate to dumbass glassbacks in 2026 afraid of flexing their spine when lifting. “Ohhh youll injure yourself or break stuff”, no, just get stronger and manage your sleep and recovery. I just love maximising strength and challenging myself.

Was listening to calming yet invigorating Ancient Greek music by Daemonia Nymphe throughout the session. by @span_dan_

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a month ago

“for the difficult”, inspired by @kapakoulak workouts, yes rows and pulls are nice but this is so fun to do specially after heavy shrugs, requires back-leg coordination and explosive power production, without using hands. Yes, you’ll really feel your whole back, and yes it will adapt to whatever you throw at it, as long as you program it smartly and recover well. No, I wont call it “functional”, thats made up bs, having strength and being able to use it is all it is about. by @span_dan_

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2 months ago

Cheryl: we are quite close to Genting you know (at Zoo Negara)
Spandan: yesss we areee lets go
Aditi: for real???
*Aditi wakes up at Genting*

you gotta keep swiping for gems in this carousel, i bet you swipe more in other apps.

the best random day by @span_dan_

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2 months ago

Pulling 170 kg unequipped was surprisingly easy considering i walked 20.9k steps the day before and have a sprained wrist!

Tried 180 kg out of curiosity, sticking point at knee with fail to lockout, I was surprised, road to 200kg looks shorter now than I imagined before. And no my back is fine afterwards, it’s used to a variety of loads and movements! by @span_dan_

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2 months ago

flow whimsically
every fit is functional
if you are dysfunctional
contort to not conform
sweat when you feel warm

what is this even by @span_dan_

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2 months ago

no run clubs, lemme nap on a rock by @span_dan_

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2 months ago

hop hop hop during peak hour between assignment work by @span_dan_

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2 months ago