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DAY 2
Tikhedhunga (1525m) to Ghorapani (2750m)
We wake up naturally at 5am, a symptom of an early night. Through the plywood walls that separate us from the other guest's we listen to the South Koreans chatting too loudly for this time of the morning.
We decide to get up at 6 and pack up our bags. Opening our bedroom door onto the hostels courtyard, the hostel owner smiles at us and our breakfast is ready. In rural Nepal all food should be ordered together and at least an hour in advance. Sometimes so they can source the ingredients from friends, neighbours & their garden. But usually because of the energy issue. Cooking requires fire wood, which is a limited and expensive resource, so if everyone eats together then all the food gets cooked together and the hostel helps the environment.
We get a breakfast sitting at 6:30 which is a chapati, 2 fried eggs, fried potatoes and weak black tea, the meal I most look forward to in the day. We set off North, heading to our final destination, Ghorapani. The path follows the river and we cross more suspension bridges decorated with Tibetan prayer flats that flutter in the breeze. The flag idea is so that the prayers are released when the wind moves them. The river is decorated with plastic bottles and crisp packets.
Finally at the top of the steps we enter a forest and a delivery truck passes us, its driver using a whip to accelerate and a whistle to brake. The eight of so mules carry big sacks of grain and rice for villagers, cigarettes and beer for the trekkers. Through a large rhododendron forest we continue to climb until we have ascended around 1300m today. The views of the valleys are incredible, like the Shire in Lord of the rings. When you are walking its best to stare down at the rocky ground, picking out your next step. A broken ankle in Nepal does get you a free ride in a helicopter, but also a six figure hospital bill. Looking up and walking at the same time is for people who's middle name in danger. Thunder rumbles again but we have arrived at Ghorapani!
On the steps of a teahouse, our welcome party is waving at us offering refreshments. They are boys, aged about 3 & 4. One of the boys is waving and smiling at us while the other is offering a small piece of pancake. The remaining pancake has been scrunched up into a ball in his other fist. I look at his muddy brown hand and think that hand has never seen soap. We accept the offer and eat the pancake, which tastes good. They find it all hilarious to feed the tourists and a game ensues where they tease us by offering more pancake but not letting us take it.
They know all the useful English words, money, sweets, pen. The consensus is not too give as it encourages begging so we smile, say no, and when they offer an outstretched hand we give then 5. They don't really care, they are happy to have a new toy to play with, from what we have seen, toys here consist of sticks and stones and throwing them at the donkeys.
The last surprise of the day greets us in the water. We normally fill up our water bottles at random taps along the path and then treat the water with a pill. I normally inspect the water to see if there is soil sediment floating around and today we watch in horror as something is swimming in our bottle. Its about 3mm long, with a small head and a tail. We consult the health section in our guide book looking for an answer. Its never a good idea to read the health chapter: an endless list of possible health problems face us in Nepal. It would seem the longer the name the more nasty the symptoms - meningeal meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, giardiasis, amoebiasis, cyclospora, cryptosporidium, the list goes on. We pour the water away, close the book, and have a cup of tea.
Early to bed again as its up at 4am tomorrow, to climb Poon hill for the sunrise.
Cooper Out
Love Dan & Kat
Tikhedhunga (1525m) to Ghorapani (2750m)
We wake up naturally at 5am, a symptom of an early night. Through the plywood walls that separate us from the other guest's we listen to the South Koreans chatting too loudly for this time of the morning.
We decide to get up at 6 and pack up our bags. Opening our bedroom door onto the hostels courtyard, the hostel owner smiles at us and our breakfast is ready. In rural Nepal all food should be ordered together and at least an hour in advance. Sometimes so they can source the ingredients from friends, neighbours & their garden. But usually because of the energy issue. Cooking requires fire wood, which is a limited and expensive resource, so if everyone eats together then all the food gets cooked together and the hostel helps the environment.
We get a breakfast sitting at 6:30 which is a chapati, 2 fried eggs, fried potatoes and weak black tea, the meal I most look forward to in the day. We set off North, heading to our final destination, Ghorapani. The path follows the river and we cross more suspension bridges decorated with Tibetan prayer flats that flutter in the breeze. The flag idea is so that the prayers are released when the wind moves them. The river is decorated with plastic bottles and crisp packets.
Finally at the top of the steps we enter a forest and a delivery truck passes us, its driver using a whip to accelerate and a whistle to brake. The eight of so mules carry big sacks of grain and rice for villagers, cigarettes and beer for the trekkers. Through a large rhododendron forest we continue to climb until we have ascended around 1300m today. The views of the valleys are incredible, like the Shire in Lord of the rings. When you are walking its best to stare down at the rocky ground, picking out your next step. A broken ankle in Nepal does get you a free ride in a helicopter, but also a six figure hospital bill. Looking up and walking at the same time is for people who's middle name in danger. Thunder rumbles again but we have arrived at Ghorapani!
On the steps of a teahouse, our welcome party is waving at us offering refreshments. They are boys, aged about 3 & 4. One of the boys is waving and smiling at us while the other is offering a small piece of pancake. The remaining pancake has been scrunched up into a ball in his other fist. I look at his muddy brown hand and think that hand has never seen soap. We accept the offer and eat the pancake, which tastes good. They find it all hilarious to feed the tourists and a game ensues where they tease us by offering more pancake but not letting us take it.
They know all the useful English words, money, sweets, pen. The consensus is not too give as it encourages begging so we smile, say no, and when they offer an outstretched hand we give then 5. They don't really care, they are happy to have a new toy to play with, from what we have seen, toys here consist of sticks and stones and throwing them at the donkeys.
The last surprise of the day greets us in the water. We normally fill up our water bottles at random taps along the path and then treat the water with a pill. I normally inspect the water to see if there is soil sediment floating around and today we watch in horror as something is swimming in our bottle. Its about 3mm long, with a small head and a tail. We consult the health section in our guide book looking for an answer. Its never a good idea to read the health chapter: an endless list of possible health problems face us in Nepal. It would seem the longer the name the more nasty the symptoms - meningeal meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, giardiasis, amoebiasis, cyclospora, cryptosporidium, the list goes on. We pour the water away, close the book, and have a cup of tea.
Early to bed again as its up at 4am tomorrow, to climb Poon hill for the sunrise.
Cooper Out
Love Dan & Kat
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