Before lunch we left the MBC in hopes we'll arrive at Deurali for lunch time. We did and went on down into the clouds. We were worrying it might start raining again. Before we arrived at the next lodge place it started raining. Then pouring. So we decided to put on some rain gear and hurried down the forest path to the next "village". Sadly none of the lodge owners wanted to help us call the next village, so we didn't know if they were full or not. In the end we stayed there (it didn't stop raining). We decided to start earlier next day, so we could enjoy most of the sun and headed out early, so we might arrive at Chomrong the next day (about the same distance we had done on the way up). So early in the morning we headed out without breakfast and ate at the next lodge. it was good to do so, no one else was on the trek except a few porters and an elderly lady. She told us she loved treking and did so often alone nowadays. Soon we parted ways and wished each other all the best.
We passed all the spots on the way back. Then the dreaded stairs of Bamboo came. A big group of hikers was infront of us (they were rather slow) and made it hard for us to pass them. Evetually their guide noticed us and allowed us to pass them. Now we could try and speed up a little and get over it quicker. Well... "quicker".
It was not easy and I had flashbacks of the stairs the first days. Traumas of rocks everywhere, higher and higher, making me crawl up. Being pulled down by evil luggage and boots being replaced by cement filled buckets. Sticks clinging to each little pebble and not wanting to reach over the next step, refusing to help, but rather make me stumble.
Ok... it wasn't THAT bad. But yeah. Not easy. As soon as we were up we finally took the time to rest a bit and soon entered the forest the walking down again, which made it again much easier. We passed all the lodges we passed on the way up and then in the forest infront of Sinowa I heard something in the trees. We stopped and saw a bunch of monkeys! Awesome! Of course our two fotographers didn't have their cameras out, so we only could take pictures with our phones (not even me, my phone was in my bag somewhere). One monkey was at the path behind a rock. Peeking past it now and then to see what we were doing. It really amused the others, who were closer to it (I couldn't see it =( ).
But I watched the other monkeys in the trees, mommys with babys hanging onto them and was able to quiet a group of hikers behind us, so the monkeys weren't totally scared and ran off.
We stayed there a few more moments and after the monkeys slowly retreated (they had also been staring at us intensely) we walked into Sinowa. From here we were able to see Chomrong, which is about the same height as Sinowa, and also our path that way. Down to the river and back up again. Great, another 800 meters total down and up again. So we ate another fitness bar and started down. It took quite some time untill we were able to cross the river over the newly built bridge. Then all the way up again. Children passed us, apparently school had just ended, I shuddered at the thought of having this sort of way to school. Everyday walking all these steps. Though I guesss if I grew up here it'd be no trouble at all. Some kids stopped close to us, watching us carefully. A few brave actually spoke to us. We climbed the steps again, these were luckily very well maintained and so we could walk up more or less easily. We were hoping for an ATM in this village, though we had no luck. We checked out at the ACAP bureau (the one we had checked in a few days ago) and then went in search for a lodge to stay in for the night. It had slowly become cloudy, so we stopped there at about 4 pm. We had nice chocolate cake and delicious food! The lodge was famed for its cake and even in some newspaper because of it. We were able to change some euros into rupees, to have some more cash with us. After refreshing showers and a relaxing afternoon we slept very well. We had decided on a path to get to Ghandruk, our next stop.
We passed all the spots on the way back. Then the dreaded stairs of Bamboo came. A big group of hikers was infront of us (they were rather slow) and made it hard for us to pass them. Evetually their guide noticed us and allowed us to pass them. Now we could try and speed up a little and get over it quicker. Well... "quicker".
It was not easy and I had flashbacks of the stairs the first days. Traumas of rocks everywhere, higher and higher, making me crawl up. Being pulled down by evil luggage and boots being replaced by cement filled buckets. Sticks clinging to each little pebble and not wanting to reach over the next step, refusing to help, but rather make me stumble.
Ok... it wasn't THAT bad. But yeah. Not easy. As soon as we were up we finally took the time to rest a bit and soon entered the forest the walking down again, which made it again much easier. We passed all the lodges we passed on the way up and then in the forest infront of Sinowa I heard something in the trees. We stopped and saw a bunch of monkeys! Awesome! Of course our two fotographers didn't have their cameras out, so we only could take pictures with our phones (not even me, my phone was in my bag somewhere). One monkey was at the path behind a rock. Peeking past it now and then to see what we were doing. It really amused the others, who were closer to it (I couldn't see it =( ).
But I watched the other monkeys in the trees, mommys with babys hanging onto them and was able to quiet a group of hikers behind us, so the monkeys weren't totally scared and ran off.
We stayed there a few more moments and after the monkeys slowly retreated (they had also been staring at us intensely) we walked into Sinowa. From here we were able to see Chomrong, which is about the same height as Sinowa, and also our path that way. Down to the river and back up again. Great, another 800 meters total down and up again. So we ate another fitness bar and started down. It took quite some time untill we were able to cross the river over the newly built bridge. Then all the way up again. Children passed us, apparently school had just ended, I shuddered at the thought of having this sort of way to school. Everyday walking all these steps. Though I guesss if I grew up here it'd be no trouble at all. Some kids stopped close to us, watching us carefully. A few brave actually spoke to us. We climbed the steps again, these were luckily very well maintained and so we could walk up more or less easily. We were hoping for an ATM in this village, though we had no luck. We checked out at the ACAP bureau (the one we had checked in a few days ago) and then went in search for a lodge to stay in for the night. It had slowly become cloudy, so we stopped there at about 4 pm. We had nice chocolate cake and delicious food! The lodge was famed for its cake and even in some newspaper because of it. We were able to change some euros into rupees, to have some more cash with us. After refreshing showers and a relaxing afternoon we slept very well. We had decided on a path to get to Ghandruk, our next stop.
The next morning we got ready to move out and left Chomrong early, though this time we had breakfast in the same lodge.
We left other groups behind us and hurried down the tracks. Today many other groups were walking the same path aswell and many many donkeys. Apparently thats a big thing at those places. They let donkeys carry their luggage, the gas canisters and food up the hills. Long donkey trains, if you will.
It was unbelieveable to watch them walking the same way as we were, just steep stairways or not even that. Always loaded with many things on their backs. The first ones had big bells hanging from their necks, so travelers could hear them from far away and make way and let them pass.
Once again our path took us down the valley to cross a river and then back up on the other side. On both we encountered many donkeys. We dreaded if one of them made a wrong step and fell, which probably happens quite often we feared.
We left other groups behind us and hurried down the tracks. Today many other groups were walking the same path aswell and many many donkeys. Apparently thats a big thing at those places. They let donkeys carry their luggage, the gas canisters and food up the hills. Long donkey trains, if you will.
It was unbelieveable to watch them walking the same way as we were, just steep stairways or not even that. Always loaded with many things on their backs. The first ones had big bells hanging from their necks, so travelers could hear them from far away and make way and let them pass.
Once again our path took us down the valley to cross a river and then back up on the other side. On both we encountered many donkeys. We dreaded if one of them made a wrong step and fell, which probably happens quite often we feared.
Donkeys hanging around and probably happy not to have any luggage on ther back!
At the highest point for that day we stopped for lunch. The host had some children with him, who liked playing with hiking sticks, so the mother took away our sticks and put them higher and gave the kid it's own stick to play with.
Recharged we walked towards Ghandruk, our last big walk of this trek. Supposedly it's possible to be picked up by a bus/ jeep from Ghandruk. We were planning to keep on walking untill we reached the highway.
After more donkey trains and few lodges we finally got closer to Ghandruk. Buffalos were feeding outside of the town and a woman saw us coming. She invited us to stay at her lodge, though we had looked up a place with good reviews in Florys guide so we headed for that place instead of following the woman. We arrived at Ghandruk!
Recharged we walked towards Ghandruk, our last big walk of this trek. Supposedly it's possible to be picked up by a bus/ jeep from Ghandruk. We were planning to keep on walking untill we reached the highway.
After more donkey trains and few lodges we finally got closer to Ghandruk. Buffalos were feeding outside of the town and a woman saw us coming. She invited us to stay at her lodge, though we had looked up a place with good reviews in Florys guide so we headed for that place instead of following the woman. We arrived at Ghandruk!
Decorations of the houses of Nepal #1
Decorations on the houses of Nepal #2 (it was really common to see corn hanging all over houses in Nepal!)
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