14th November. Well we arrived safely in Kathmandu after good flights and being met at the airport by dawa and a motley crew of porters who needed tipping. First garlands were hung round necks. Minibus ride in was usual weaving though traffic, pedestrians and cows. Saw the squalor, funeral pyres and monkeys, so reminded me that it is a place to see once! H0tel Manaslu comfortable but Dawa presented another change to program – no direct flights to suketar so via birat at 8 in the morning! Able to hand over$536 each for all the flights. Walked into thamel to look around and eat at a restaurant with dancing. The bill at the end NR1000 each – exchange rate 127 to pound!
Taxi back organised for hopalong then mit and I lost the rest of them who had just set off to walk back. Annoying questions seem to be diminishing so I may start being less of a tour guide soon.
20th Lots of catching up to do due to lack of internet and power for much of the eastern end of trip. Many of the party now sympathise with Prince Philip as they tagged along with a series of occasions where ‘Dr Tim Sahib’ was the star attraction as well the very special health post opening and a school opening. Two plaques to unveil and then a succession of banners across roads welcoming dr Tim and his party. These were followed by much garlanding and clapping, dancing and singing and then requests for support for their particular project. We were really representing PTN for much of the time so just made speeches that didn’t commit anyone to anything!.
Met lots of old friends in the high villages as well as back in Dharan and Bedetar which is just up into the hills. Jerry and I went to the proposed site of a Gurkha Memorial Park high above Dharan. A new road is supposed to be being created but it was a real 4 wheel drive landrover track for about 50 mins each way. Over a dry river bed an dup the other side. Beautiful place and a great project to support in some way. We also checked out the old BMH Dharan, not sure what the others thought about walking through A+E and various wards on our guided tour.
Evening meal on a roof top with Dharan Gopa Rotary club – 80% doctors so talking shop most of the night. Good food and hospitality. Flight to KTM yesterday afternoon with time for quick check in and off to Rum Doodle Bar. Filled in a Yeti Footprint with our details, seemed to be the only Rotary rondel in the place. Have already booked there for our last night
Up at 6am (everyone getting used to that) for breakfast and 8pm flight to Pokhara. Early morning fog meant a delay to 9.30 but all forgiven as we had fabulous views of the mountains. Pokhara beautiful in the sun with the lake, fishtail mountain and the Annapurnas. Free time (at last said some) to wander, shop and sightsee. Some have been on the lake and riding bikes. Some planning paragliding from high up back down to the lakeside. Photos to die for I imagine.
Peter, Geoff, Keith and Jerry are preparing for the trek to Singdi school tomorrow and the rest of us will head for the hot springs. Basic accommodation there so only one night before coming back to Pokhara for my room with a bath (first since Bristol) and mountains an lakes out of the window!
