May 14, 2003
I was awake at 4:00 this morning. The workers were up at 4:30 making noise so I couldn't go back to sleep. Laurie got up at 6:00 to take pictures so I decided to get up.
After breakfast we said our goodbyes to Natasa. Danesh was still sleeping. We are hoping to meet up with them in Pokham in a couple of days.
We were on the trail by 7:15. It got warm very quick. The last two days have been hot and humid. The sweat poured off head and face. It was a pleasant walk. First we went down all the way to the river. On the way we passed the village of Jhinu Danda. That was the village we hoped to get to yesterday. It was a nice little village. There were vendors selling Tibetan and Nepalan souveniers. I picked up a few things.
We got to Landrung. At first the village wasn't very appealing and either were the hotels. We ended up going further up the hill and found a nice one called the Hotel Hungry Eye.
Last night Danesh came into our room with some anti leech oil and asked if I wanted it. I hadn't heard about leeches being here so I said no. Nar was in the room. He took the oil. He said there are leeches, but didn't seem too concerned.
When Laurie and I got to our room I noticed that there was blood on the bottoms of my pants. I didn't remember hurting myself. I took off my socks and saw where it was bleeding. I couldn't tell what caused it. It looked big and round like a bite. It wouldn't stop bleeding. I then took off my other boot and sock and noticed the same thing. LEECHES had gotten me. I don't know when. I am glad they weren't still attached to my leg. I would have really freaked out then. I just couldn't believe that they got up under my pants and through my socks so easily. It was also amazing how much it bled. I kept putting tissue on it and it would just get saturated with blood. It finally stopped and I still have enough blood to survive.
Laurie and I picked out our lunch. She was going to get chicken curry and I was going to try it. Nar came back and said that we couldn't have chicken curry for lunch because they hadn't killed the chicken. We had to wait for dinner to have it. Now I call that fresh.
I played the Nepali card game with Nar and the boys. They normally have enough Nepalese to play with, but this time they didn't so they let me play with them. We had another big storm today, but it stopped after awhile. We have a nice view from our hotel. We can see all the villages across to the other side of the mountain.
May 15, 2003.
Couldn't sleep well this morning. That is what happens when you go to bed at 7:30 at night. While Laurie and I were having breakfast, outside on the terrace, a man walks in (the only way to get there) with one basket on each end of a strong piece of wood that he carries over his shoulders. He has all kinds of vegetables in these baskets. He stops at the guest house to sell vegetables to the owner. The owner picks out what she wants and the man weighs them on a balance scale that he also carries. Nar told us that the Indian people carry their loads like that. We saw three yesterday and they were going down steep narrow steps. It is very hard to maneuver with these baskets on the pole. It is quite amazing.
Nar and the boys were trying to pick the basket up. Now these are strong capable men and they thought it was quite difficult. Not because of the weight, but the awkwardness of it.
We were hiking by 7:45 and by 8:30 my hair and face were soaked with sweat. It was hot and the trail was steep.
We were only suppose to go to Pothana, but since we got there about 11:30 we decided to go all the way and end the trek.
We stopped for lunch about noon in Dhampus. While we were eating it started to rain. We only had an hour left to hike, so I didn't mind if I got wet. Especially knowing that we would get into town.
When we started hiking again the rain had stopped, but the sky was dark and we heard lots of rumbling above. It did rain, but not torential until we actually got to the end and we were under cover.
From here we had to get transportation to Pokhara. Nar talked to the taxis to negotiate price. We were going to need two taxis because we had 5 people and packs and these cars were like Toyota match boxes. The taxi drivers didn't want to give in so we waited for a bus. A bus came and Nar talked and negotiated a fare for all of us.
The ride was about an hour, but seemed longer. We were on with all the locals. The bus dropped us off and then we had to get a taxi to our hotel. We were going to go to the hotel that Danesh and Natasa suggested and were hopefully staying at. The taxi driver didn't know where it was and we had to stop and ask directions about 5 times. Can you believe that a taxi driver and male at that was willing to stop and ask directions?
We found the hotel. The taxi driver had to go back and pick up the boys because we didn't have room for them. We checked in. The place was good, actually not four stars, but what do you want for four bucks a night.
We showered and changed. I was hoping for a nap, but didn't have time. We ran into Danesh and Natasa so we went to their room and visited.
This was the first time Pratik and Singa have been in Pokhara. It stopped raining and it was nice out. We all went for a walk around Pokhara. Lots and lots of stores. We are saving the shopping for tomorrow. Laurie and I then took them out to dinner. I wanted them to be able to eat something other than dall bhat.
