A small trek up and long one down!

Dec 7th and it was an early start to the day when we were picked up by Bipin at 6 am.

We had been warned the previous day that the first part of the trek was going to be five hours up hill!  Did this put me off? NO but it made me tell them that I am very slow going up hill!  We stopped off at a little cafe on the way to have breakfast and then we met up with Tilok who was to be our porter.  We were lucky to have Bipin with us as he was very encouraging and informative all the way through this trek.  After a meal of Dal Bhat (the serving spoon was given to me to use and it had dished up the very spicy pickle) we were on our way up the hill.  They weren't joking about it being up hill all the way.  Thankfully we walked at my pace and we did the 5 hour up hill in just over 8 hours.  This meant we arrived in the dark.  Torches on and we walked slowly down the clay road to our home-stay.  The views of the valleys on the way were incredible.  The plants and insects were beautiful.  The company was amazing and I couldn't have done it without their support.

 Wayne and Tilok ensuring the sleeping bags are attached.  We left Hugdi to trek to Hattibang.

 Looking down onto one of the valleys.

 The school came out to watch us walk through their grounds.

 Bugs astound and amaze me with tier colours.

We stayed the first night with a lovely family who gave up their bedroom us. dinner was Dal Bhat and again I could only eat a little of it.  The lentil soup was yummy but most of the rest of the meal was too spicy for me and there is only so much rice I can eat!  We bedded down in our warm sleeping bags and nodded off for a well deserved sleep.  Wayne had to sleep diagonally across his and my bed as the bed was rather short!

 Looking down the road that we had walked on.  The building in the front right is the toilet - across the road and housed many big black spiders.

The family waving us on to the next part of our trek.

Dec  8th

We were up in time to see the sunrise over the hills around us.  Wisely we had decided not to make the 2 hour (Nepali time, probably 4 hours my time) up a steep hill to see the sunrise over the valley.  Tilok took us through a a short cut but he neglected to tell me that I had to be a mountain goat and scale a cliff face.  All right it wasn't s sheer face but there wasn't much to hold onto to go up over the rocks.  I was pleased we were going up it and not down it.  We were told it would be a little bit up and a little bit down...they were right but they neglected to say that there were many of these little ups and downs. This is what they call Nepali Flat but we call hills!  Again it was a long day but lots to see along the way.  There were many times to stop and take a breather and take photos.  Night time came and we were still walking and the stars were again out to help the torches shine our way.  Finally we arrived at our home stay only to be told we need to walk another 15 minutes.  It was going to be a bit of wait for dinner so I curled up into my sleeping bag and slept through it.

 Clay houses are the norm and they have an amazing colour.

 Lady birds are startlingly beautiful.

Dew caught on a spider web in a leaf.

Bipin out guide enjoying his snack on the rock.

We left Hattibang to trek to Upardhangadi.

9th Dec - last day of our trek. Upardhangadi to Shakatur

Breakfast was omelette, millet bread, yummy honey and tea along with a tuberous white vegetable that I just couldn't eat.  Our hosts packed a lunch for us and we were off.  Mostly downhill today and it should take us 4 hours...their time!  The path was very steep and shingley in places.  Both Wayne and I kept slipping, the locals didn't. I grazed my knee but unfortunately Wayne did a bit more damage and we were both pleased when we finally reached the bottom and the 'bus' was waiting for us.

 Sun rising behind us at the fort the went to watch the sunrise from.

 Two gorgeous girls posing for their photo.  The smiles on their faces when I showed them their photo was incredible.

 Just started the lasst day of our trek and looking back at our home-stay and on the hill top is the local school.

Millet drying in the sun.

We were very lucky to meet some locals walking up the tack we had come down and they agreed to pose for some photos.

 They were on their way to a wedding and were carrying huge bags of rice.  Here we have an uncle to nephews.

 Bipin is posing with the parents of the groom.  They were also carrying hige bags of food items.

 These young girls were part of the family and were lovely young ladies.  They are beautiful and were carrying various items that they took turns carrying.

One of the items were chickens in this bag.  They just sat their quietly as if knowing what their fate was going to be.

We had on tramping boots and they wore jandels/flip flops/thongs.  The muscles in their legs were incredible.

finally we arrived at the base and the 'bus' was waiting for us so we didn't have to walk along the road to meet up with them.  We were now on our way to Chitwan.

Nepal - Kathmandu

Dec 4^th and we set off for another adventure.  Nepal here we come.  We were excited about this trip as it had been a dream of Wayne’s to go to Nepal.  Ultimately he wanted to see Everest but not this time.  it means we will have to go back and do it all again.  Well not quite the same but am sure we could fill in many days there doing many different things.

We rang for a taxi to take us and we waited and waited at the lobby only to find that the condo had changed the rules for taxi pick-ups and we weren't aware.  Finally we met the taxi at the gate and quickly drove us to LCCT.  We were the last ones onto the plane as we had spent time in the bookshop looking for a camera magazine to take with us.

It was a 4 hour flight and we were going to arrive mid-afternoon in Kathmandu.  Just as we were getting ready to land we could see the ranges out the windows.   Exciting!

We were met at the airport and welcomed to Nepal.  The drive to our hotel was interesting.  They are widening the roads and it seems like it is all being done by hand but they stop work for the many festivals.  Dust was everywhere.  Roads were very bumpy but we too excited.

Holy Himalaya Hotel was down a little alleyway.  One way traffic! but cars were going in both directions.  We checked in and decided to go for a quick walk before being met for dinner.  Bipin, our main contact at Social Tours, met us and took us for a traditional dinner at a local restaurant where they also had some traditional dancing and music playing.  It was both fascinating and amazing.  We had our first taste of raksi and wine made with strawberries, both had interesting flavours.

Dec 5th - My birthday and we were celebrating in Nepal.  Wow!  After a lovely breakfast we met up with Bipin and our guide who was taking us fro a stroll around the streets of Kathmandu, primarily the Kumari Trail.  He had a lot of little anecdotes and lots of information about the area and we just lapped it up.  We wanted to get off the beaten track and we sure did.  We were led through doors that I had to bend to fit under into courtyards that were surrounded by buildings.  Some courtyards were big some were quite small.

We entered this courtyard only to find that we had 7 more similar doors to exit before we were back on the same street a few doors down. Most doorways were tiny.  I would have to bend to fit under them.  From here we were led to Durbar Square which is the plaza in front of the old royal palace of Kathmandu Kingdom.  

On the way we passed many local markets and stalls selling everything you could need.  The fruit and vegetables looked delicious and fresh.

We also visited the place where the Kumari Devi (living goddess) lives.  A pre-pubescent child that is worshipped until she reaches puberty.We were fascinated by how they pick the child and what happens to her afterwards.  Such an honour for her family!

Wandering around these streets we were continually being entranced by all that we saw.  December is traditionally the wedding month and we meandered through many little alley ways and stalls selling beautiful jewellery and materials.

Along the way were many temples.  Below is a picture of the Demon God "Kaal Bhairava".  

The Seeing Eye door.  We had read about this and wanted to see it and luckily found it with our guide.  Such an historic part of Kathmandu.

When our tour with this guide was over, he arranged to meet us and take us to Bhakatpur and then meet up with us at 6.30 for a walk through this historic heritage town while it was waking up.  My birthday dinner was spent in a lovely restaurant beside the Barking Dogs Temple.  We stayed in Bhadgaon Guest house which had a roof top restaurant with a lovely view of Durbar Square.

6th Dec

An early start to the day but wow, it was worth it.  We wandered down narrow lanes and alleyways watching and taking in all that was happening around us.  Below are selectionof photos all taken before breakfast!

Finally back at our guest house for breakfast of fresh yoghurt and cereal and eggs and bacon.  Our guide arranged to meet us after an hour to walk to meet our car to take us to Patan.  This walk took us past the palace, the Golden gate, through Potters Square where they were firing in an old natural oven,  through Durbar Square and many other wonderful sights. 

We met up with our driver who dropped us off at Patan Market.  Again you can buy everything you want here without visiting a mall or store.  Every umbrella sells something different.  People were everywhere as were noises, colours and smells.

Slippers of every colour and size.

 Spices of every colour and flavour.

Before walking thorugh Patan Durbar Square we were treated to lunch on a rooftop of their famous momo's - dumplings - and yes they were delicous!  the view we had while eating these tasty morsels.

 Looking down from a vantage point onto Durbar Square.

 Our guide insisted on taking our photo witht he square behind us.

 water fountains were everywhere we went.  People old and young gathered around to gather water or to chat.

I  love the reflections in the water here.  There was no way you would swim or drink this water but the view they gave us was so worthwhile.

Then it was back to Hotel Holy Himalaya for a night before we took off for a trek in the foothills.