Rolling down the Himalayan Mountains

Trip Start Jan 28, 2007
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Trip End Mar 31, 2007


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Sunday, March 4, 2007

We decided to set off at 8am aiming for Larjung. We saw the American couple from last night at breakfast. The guy had a history of bad back and when he saw Rob was struggling he insisted on giving him his elastic back brace that he'd brought with him for "in case" and hadnt needed. In return he said hed be happy for Rob to keep it (we were going to post it back to the US) if we instead sent him a cd copy of our pictures as he was doing the same trek but in reverse.
We took off in absolutely perfect weather. The sun was shining, blue skies and all the enormous snowcapped mountain peaks clear as day. A great hour or so walk and then we stopped at Tukuche for of course "some tea" and the guest house was owned by a dutch guy married to a Nepalese... Rame was fascinated as to how any one from another country could land themselves in the middle of nowhere int he himalyan moutains... anyway they had a sign saying burn your memory cards - yipee!.... 350 rupees (usually 150 in KTM) but I was happy to free up the 50 photos on the card as it was my only one left 01 Along the Track - Carrying this uphill?!!
01 Along the Track - Carrying this uphill?!!
 . (shame Id had a major cull of my photos last night to make room... should have kept them!.. oh well...

It was actually turning out a warm day (who'd of thought!) and we arrived in Larjung by 12.00 so we had lunch and decided to go on. Made it to Kalopani at 3.30 and the views from this village are magnicant. Surrounded on 3 sides by huge snow capped mountains that look so close. We stayed at Hotel Magic Mountain Tea House and were the only ones there which is amazing as this is a major town on the trek and this is the high season for this time of year.. numbers are drastically down...
It's freezing at night and I mean freezing - below .... Sure takes the fun out of arriving. Wed had visions of walking into a village each day after lunch and sitting in the sun reading and drinking tea..... oh well... again ...heee. We played 'twins' cards with Rame until 9pm which meant we went to be late!

Tomorrow onto Dana....

We set off in sunny weather. Everyday the scenery cahnges quickly as we walk which makes it fun setting off each day. Although wed planned on stopping at Ghasa we made easy time so just stopped there for a rest and headed on.....just passed Ghasa a loooooooooong.. 01 On the way to Kalapani
01 On the way to Kalapani
 . did I say loooooooooooooong? decent of rocky uneven steps took us doooown... this was ok with our trekking poles until I took my eye off the ball (or rock in this case) and decided to try rolling down the himilayan mountains instead of trekking them.... found it wasnt faster.... Lucky I didnt go right over the side as it was a really steep hill. Ended up with bad grazes to both arms and a gi-normous bruise on one elbow/arm (must of hit a rock on the way down) After seeing the bruise come out I think I was lucky not to break my elbow.... anyway Rame was lovely and whipped out his medical kit and sprayed me with spray skin.. very impressive.. must buy some when I get home. Now poor Rame is a nervous wreck and keeps telling me to be careful..hee hee.. he gets quite frustrated cos I just laugh or make a comment and hes told me I have to walking is serious...hee hee

Must stop and make a comment on the mules for my memory......They are the most magical part of the trek for me.. We pass what must be hundreds of them everyday.. they start our day when were still in bed.. ... the clinking of the bells around the neck as they head off for the day and all during the course of the day we pass them (or they pass us!) all carrying their heavy loads. Many of them really struggling on the hills. As we walk you can hear the distant clinking of their bells and know they are coming.... 01 Rob and Rame crossing the Bridge
01 Rob and Rame crossing the Bridge
 . we have to quickly find a gap to stand on the inside of the path as there is the danger of being kicked or if you end up on the wrong side of the path - being nudged over the side of a cliff. I found it a welcome stop everytime a mule train came as they were always dressed in different coloured head gear and sometimes feathers (the leaders) and brightly coloured saddled cloths. Their little faces are all different (like our puppies....oooohhhhh) hee ... and usually there would be one or two young ones trotting almongst them with no loads (must be in training building up their leg muscles on the hills).... and I must not forget the smell ... because of course there is donkey poor continuously along the track.... and its not an unclean smell, infact I became a bit impartial to it..hee hee.. and every time I smell animal manure from now on I will think of Nepal....hehehehehe

.... anyway......arrived Dana which was a bit of a hole compared to Ghasa which had been the planned stop but itll be a shorter day tomorrow for Rob which I think is a better idea.

..... tomorrow the lovely hot spring town of Tatopani....
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