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TRAVEL BLOG ENTRY
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“Last day of trekking!” |
Time taken: 5 hours (incl. breaks)
Distance: Today: ~13 kms Total to date: ~80 kms
Altitude: Namche Bazar - 3450m, Lukla - 2850m, Descent: ~600m, with a ~350m ascent at the very end
(Note: More pictures in the archives - click on any picture to see the others!)
Felt amazing to wake up this morning, though my knees were a little weak from the long day of trekking yesterday. I think I may have injured them on the Inca Trail in Peru 4 years ago, since every trek that I have done since them incites a little pain. However, they held up really well to this point on the trek, so I am very happy.
We set off down the trail and made very good time at the start. Only took 1 1/4 hours to get down from Namche Bazar to the river valley from the second day (as opposed to 3 hours that day). At one point Keisha stopped to have a cigarette and told me to go ahead, that he would catch up. I think he may have underestimated my speed, since he only caught up to me a half hour later, at a point where I was waiting for him for ~10-15 mins...
Stopped back at the first teahouse in Phakding to have a little lunch. It was a nice chance to see the family again, and take some photos of them and the little girl that I played with on the first day.
I forgot how much of a descent we had done the first day from Lukla, but the very tough descent on the way back there reminded me. The last hour of the day's trek was a constant ascent, and it was really hard given my weakening knees, body, and willpower. However, we did manage to make it back up, in even less time than the first day going down (2 1/2 hrs vs. 3 hrs!). Was great to finally have completed the trek...
We stayed in the same teahouse that we stopped into for breakfast the first day in Lukla. Nice place and nice family running it. Plus, I had a double bed to sleep in! Had a nice relaxing afternoon nap, and then went to get some Pringles (mmm... Western food!) and did some journal writing.
Keisha joined me out on the veranda at the teahouse later that afternoon, and we had an interesting discussion about the military. Apparently the military here is decent paying, but nothing compared to what India or Britain pays. Apparently the Brits take several hundred Nepalese a year to do test training, and keep the top 100 for service in the British military. From what Keisha said, I think they underpay the Nepalese (~US$25K per year), but it is much more than what India and Nepal pay, so it is highly sought after. Next in line is India, and then Nepal is the last choice for the aspiring military man... Interesting...
Also saw a funny sight at the airport. Despite all the tough security, there was a dog sitting on the runway in the middle of the airport... That's another new one..
Planned on watching the World Cup that evening, but the electricity was really unstable that night, preventing us from enjoying the spectacle. Instead, I ended up reading and writing, and chatting a little more with Keisha and the host family.
Rather early in the evening, the parents of the host family went to bed, and then I was asked to go up to my room by Keisha, since the kids were about to go to sleep in the restaurant portion of the teahouse. Very weird that they sleep there, especially since there are so many guest rooms in the house laying empty due to low season... Maybe they are to keep all the rooms clean on the off chance that people come?
previous travel blog entry
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