The Purpose Of It All

The trekking route through the World Heritage location of the Kathmandu Valley began in a small town called Sundarijal, which is about one hour's drive east of Kathmandu - one hour travelling at 45kph, that is. The valley is inhabited by the Newa people, about the sixth largest ethnic group in Nepal.

The trail snakes up and around the Shivapuri Hill through the Shivapuri National Park, leading from one Newa Village to another. The scenery and gentleness of the small villages and people is a rich reward after many hours of tough going up and up. It was that tough that arriving for lunch was like arriving in Heaven, although significantly less luxurious.

After lunch, consisting of my first genuine Daal Bhat, it began raining and the clouds descended. The most indispensable item to have whilst on a rainy trek is an umbrella... Even if at the end of three days the umbrella is certainly the one to come off second best. They can always be replaced.
 
Nevertheless, although disappointed at the minimal views, I convinced myself that rain was better than a clear sky for trekking because it assists nicely with personal climate control. And the atmospheric scenes created from clouds and mountains can be wonderful.
 
Until I saw a leech crawling not-so-aimlessly along the ground towards me. Then I couldn't stop spotting them, all frantically rushing towards the source of heat. The trek had become a paranoiac "10 billion leeches trek" rather than the Kathmandu Valley trek.
 

My dad held the group record of about 10 leech bites including one behind his ear. Perhaps it was all those jokes he made about them earlier, having mole-like abilities to drill through the sole of your boot to bite you?

Seven hours later, our accommodation mysteriously appeared out of the fog and sighs of relief echoed through the valley. Mind you, inside the hotel was not a great improvement from outside - electricity supplied only in the dining room and the beds were damp. Oh and mind your head, step and balance when on the stairs - they easily fit the 'death trap' category particularly in the dark. (It's the middle tea-house, of three.)