Mineral water trekking is apparently the polite term for
“absolutely wussy little strolls in the forest”.
We were persuaded to stroll from Nargakot to Dhulikhel. It’s
about 30klms by road but “only” about 10 if you walk and “it’s all down hill”.
OK..I’m up for the challenge. Nargakot is just a hill town. It’s only
2,142metres high. In comparison…dear old Oz’s Mt Kosciuzko is all of 200 metres
higher. Apparently there have been no leopard sightings for some time…excellent
news that.
James, Ash, Ram and I
set off at a cracking pace…down a narrow but well used mountain track through a
pine forest. Very cool and calm compared to the roads we would normally be
travelling.
We looked at a couple of small caves where the locals dig
out the clay to use as daub for their houses. Apparently this is a woman’s job.
I couldn’t ascertain if this was because of their deft touch in digging clay or
because the caves sometimes collapse on them. Possibly it’s because the menfolk
get claustrophobia.
Down through the terraced mountainside and through villages.
The locals were very taken by Ash’s nose ring. Apparently it signifies a high
caste and marriage. James tried to swap his sister for a goat but it turns out
that the whole transaction was a little more complicated so Ash survived to
return home for her 17th birthday.
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