We both slept really well lastnight until about 5am when we were both bursting for the toilet again. After that I didn't really go back into a proper sleep and listened to the birds and insects outside for a while and the sounds of people starting to wake up upstairs. Even if I had fully woken up at 5 we still would have had 7.5 hours sleep so it was fine. Liam sleeps through everything!I dreamed about food again lastnight...it was some post apocalypse world and people had to try and avoid the police to take more food because everything was rationed. I got caught stealing one of the massive bars of Cadbury fruit and nut chocolate that you can get at Easter or Christmas, managed to throw the small bars over the polices heads to my friends so they could escape with some chocolate. One of the policemen was mel Gibson with a tash and beard with big round glasses on....bizarre!
We had the standard breakfast, me feeling a little worse for wear and trying to block out the sounds of extremely noisy eating from all directions. I gulped the water down as fast a I could knowing I needed it but trying to block out the metallic taste from the cups! After having showers and getting sorted we set off for the 1.5 hour climb down to trishuli. I was knackered by about 10 minutes in, Liam seems to be managing better but god knows how we will cope on the trek with our bags as well! We stopped off at the English teachers house on the way past and were greeted by the family and given some water before heading off for the rest of the walk. We encountered the usual staring faces that have become the norm, often accompanied by shouts of hello or namaste.
When we got to trishuli we had a drink before beginning the long, tiring search for the wireless mice Liam had promised the school. Everywhere we went if they had any they were clearly adding on extra because we're foreign. Despite being told my Robbi, one of the boys we walked down with, that a good price was 500-600 Liam still bought two for 700 each plus more for batteries....it's caused a slight disagreement between us resulting in us giving each other the silent treatment for the last hour, me looking like I dont care about poor school children and full responsibility for all money being thrown at me by Liam so I'll just leave it there! I looked everywhere for some hand gel that I promised the medical centre but absolutely nowhere had any which I find unbelievable. Ive had to say I will buy some in Kathmandu and make sure it gets back to gherku. Liam had a cut throat shave, after going to 3 different ones to find the right price. Bibas had told us before hand that it would cost 30, then upped it to 40. When we got to the barber that he took to we were told it would be 50. When bibas asked how much I clearly saw the barber ask how much for him or for Liam. We said no and walked away, bibas went to run an errand and we asked alone at one who said 40. We then bumped in to Robbi who came along with us...the barber said 30, and when we said we had been asked for more along the way he stated to Robbi that all of them are the same at 30, they were just trying to get more from us. Which got my back up again because 1, it happens a lot where we are overcharged for things because we are white, and 2, bibas is a local and knows exactly what is happening but seems to play along. Liam thinks I'm being overly annoyed because at the end of it all it's not that big a deal but it's the principle of it for me. I'd like to go somewhere in the world where nobody is trying to take advantage of me in some way, I'm beginning to doubt whether such a place on earth exists and it's a very sad thought. Anyway the shave was good, they washed his face, lathered him up really well and shaved, followed by another lather and shave. Then used some kind of big rock of moisturising soap and rubbed it all over followed by some aftershave. All in all pretty good for 30 rupee.
We spent an hour in the Internet cafe catching up on various things before going for a plate of momo each. I found myself craving meat so went for the chicken. Liam bought a bottle of beer for us to share before we went on the lookout for some dairy milk chocolate. We were successful and began the slow and agonising walk back up to gherku. On the way we saw some farmers attempting to mate 2 buffalo which was an odd thing to see. Apparently you pay 600 rupee for a farmer with a male buffalo to come and do the dirty with your female one a many times as it takes to get her pregnant. If you get a male baby buffalo you can either sell it on or use it as a source of income doing the same thing. It costs 50 rupee to do the same with goats.
We stopped at the holy trees for rests, eating banana and drinking our purified water that worked a bit better this time round. We finally reached the flats where they play football, I sat on the wall whilst the boys went down to play and Liam went down for a closer view. It was a wonderful15 minutes where I could see and hear them but they were far enough away for me to be classed as being alone. There was a nice breeze to cool me down and lovely views of the valley as the sun began to get lower in the sky...i actually felt relaxed! The only thing that ruined it was knowing there was still a good 15 minutes of climbing left!
We finally got back and it was dark, it goes dark quite early here- about 6pm. After showering (Liam screaming because of the big spider he found in there half way through) we had dinner. I'm now lying in bed listening to the very loud animal sounds outside, eating some chocolate and feeling good for it despite liam still silent treating me.It's a good old twix not some weird Nepali replacement treat so nothing can bring me down right now! Last day at our placements tomorrow along with some packing and some odd bits of washing to do before the trek so I had best go
Liam: 14 bites
Me: 15 bites
