Day 48 – Hers.
A message from Rob: I am in Namche Bazaar and I
have found a little internet store and am spending a few rupees just to let you
know the plane didn't crash we made it to the main stop off point and I had to
cross a suspension bridge 300meters up - it swayed a meter backwards and
forwards as i crossed - to be honest i was terrified. But i made it - In all
honesty the walking has been easier than the inca trail - i am pretty sure you
could have done it....
Hmm... that was just the first day –
On my less arduous journey, we set off in a
minibus for what should have been a beautiful, if slightly hairy, 6 hour drive
over the ridge to Pokhara. In fact,
because it had rained all night and continued to rain, we had to negotiate two
landslides, a lorry half over the cliff and a flood – in addition to the
overloaded lorries, buses and tourist coaches (all brightly painted with
streamers and tinsel for good luck...) so it took closer to 9 hours including
two stops for local food, clean (but primitive) loos and tea.
The valleys are not what I expected – they are
decidedly tropical – terraced rice paddies, banana trees and all – I wonder if
I am going to need all the cold weather gear I brought after all!
Today was the Hindu festival of Women. Nearly all the women we passed were wearing
elaborate red saris, embroidered with gold – often over a bright green undershirt. Every village had a fete – with music and
dancing competitions. When we reached
Pokhara, Tien and I watched one competition.
The older women sat on steps, singing, clapping and passing judgment on
the dancing of one young woman standing in front of them. It was quite curious, but they seemed to be
having a good time.
Pokhara is a very touristy town – but so much
calmer, quieter, cleaner and more pleasant than Kathmandu. The lake is beautiful – when we return from
our trek and rafting in 5 days time, we have the chance to take a boat
out. Today, we had to settle for a walk
along the shore, applauding the fishermen who were catching fish from the lake
using bread as bait.
Yes, I found the suspension bridges to be somewhat terrifying, built for people with the planks arranged longitudinally along the bridge, rather than the more stable and useful transverse arrangement that we might be used to. Some of the bridges are clearly ancient and ready to break up into the Dudh Kosi to be washed out onto the Ganges Plain at the sight of the slightest breeze. All of this is made all the worse when you see a Yak herder sending his flock across the bridge just before you get to it!!
ReplyDeleteWell, that said, have fun.
Dave