Nepal 55, The Trek Day Two, The Tower

Waking up to the most wonderful sunrise and views of the mountains was amazing as always! Clare wasn’t feeling too bad after her fall although the bruising was starting to really show.

We had breakfast on the balcony (it’s not very cold which is odd) then we started what was to become our routine for the next four days. Clare sorting her stuff for Sabin to carry, me topping up our water with my filter and Sabin waiting patiently outside for the rucksack.

We set off, heading towards Dhulikhel. We were walking on roads and tracks with the odd diversion onto foot tracks. If the going was a little rough or slippery (mostly due to dust) then the boys would hold Clare’s hand, they were so genuinely thoughtful. Clare’s nursing and toilet humour went down really well with them, half the time I didn’t understand because it was said in French. Clare was willing to tell me but, the boys didn’t want her to. It was so funny, clearly not for my ears (I’m such an innocent!) They called us both Mum and it was very companionable.

We established in Nepali language that Clare is a very dangerous animal and resembles a porcupine with her walking poles. Several times she either nearly tripped us, put the end of a pole in a nostril or very nearly ‘clothelined’ me when she decided to suddenly point at something.

We walked up to a veiw point with a rickety looking tower. I went up the metal ladder then much to my surprise, Clare climbed up the ladder too (she’s nervous of heights). The views were spectacular although I think Clare found getting down a bit nerve wracking.

Continuing on, more and more paddy fields came into view as we walked. It’s winter and dry now so the fields are all brown. I expect it’s spectacular in the spring but it’s still quite mesmerising.

On the way we saw a gang of White Throated Laughing Thrushes hanging off the bushes, I’m chuffed I managed to identify them, they are a bit like our Jay I think (no blue though). To Sabin and Rajkumar they are just birds. https://ebird.org/species/whtlau1

We walked down to a main road where we were to catch a bus into Banepa (a fairly sizeable dusty town) for lunch. We went to sit outside a shop to wait for the bus and we bought sweets and lollipops. We had discovered that both boys have a sweet tooth, especially Sabin who told me he didn’t like KitKat and managed to eat about four packs!

There were couple of ladies outside the shop and we offered them lollies too, which they accepted. One very small old lady sat next to me was rubbing her knees and Clare gave her Ibuprofen. After Rajkumar gave her instructions on how to take it, she squirrelled it away in her pocket. This old lady asked us if we had to fly to England, Sabin translated and I understood his reply, he said we would fly on a plane. I interrupted and said “no we wouldn’t, we would flap our arms”. They all fell about laughing and the lady next to me said something like we all have the same sense of humour. It was very sweet.

Then Rajkumar indicated the bus was coming and as Clare got up she managed to knock over the very heavy bench they were all sitting on and in the kerfuffle we missed the bus!!!!

We all started walking along the road which was a bit demoralising but, we eventually caught another bus. The rather full interior was the usual scrum and Clare’s first experience on a Nepali bus. She sat at the front over the gear box I think! A chap let me have his seat and he stood but, because he stood where my feet would go, I had to sit sideways. I think Clare’s feet were in huge tyre plonked on the floor. Anyway everyone was very friendly and we got to into town for our lunch.

After lunch, another bus ride and shorter walk before we arrived at our next hotel at Dhulikhell. Again we had superb views of the mountains from our balcony.

This hotel had a huge roaring fire in the dining area which was wonderful as the temperature was dropping. After dinner Clare was waning rapidly so we left our guides and went to bed early.

Next …..staying in a Monastery!