But They Have Communist Boyfriends?
Today I learned the hard way that sleep is essential for trekking. For unknown reasons the past three nights have been sleepless, leaving me to struggle behind the others. I felt as though I couldn't move my body much less my feet and as they were dragging along I managed to fall (yet again) but this time I really took a tumble. Mark did his best to catch me but to no avail, I still crashed to the ground. The end result was a sorely rolled ankle, a bruised, battered, and bleeding shin, along with a shattered hematite ring with the cuts on my finger to prove it. I struggled to pick myself up but was embarrassed and in pain. Of course the next stretch would be another uphill battle, it's a good thing I'm stubborn, because I managed to hobble through it. I was so upset at myself and exhausted that I couldn't help but cry. I tried to do it silently to spare myself more embarrassment but that's hard to do on a popular trail especially when you're constantly blowing your snotty, runny nose into your skirt and can barely see from swollen eyes and fat tears rolling down your face. Of course we continued on but it was mentally frusterating to feel like the weakest link.
Reb and I also learned another lesson...."Hysterical laughter wastes your energy", a quote from Mark. Apparently nearly everyday, around 4 or 5 in the evening, Reb and I go into hysterics. It takes absolutely nothing to put us into this phase, usually a look or saying from Mark will do the trick. However, by the end of our trek we only had to make eye contact and would be laughing so hard our abs and sides were in pain, tears came rolling from our eyes, and we were doubled over. Today was the first of our daily regime. We were hiking (yep you guess it) uphill and were really getting exhausted. Halfway up the hill we started to laugh uncontrollably. It was one of those laughters that comes from so deep within you that no sound emits and we couldn't move another step. I honestly believe it's because we were so tired and stressed with the hopes that each mountain we climbed would be the last, only to be let down by another mountain to overcome. For us the hysterics were a great way to relieve our stress but unfortunately an energy drainer. We eventually gathered ourselves together and made it to the top but only to be greeted by a slightly frusterated Mark. He became quite the parental figure as he told us laughing only wastes our energy which we could be using for hiking. After our reprimand we were then separated. Reb in the front, me in the back, and Mark in the middle. Our new line-up worked but lasted only briefly. Eventually Mark skipped way ahead of us and left me and Reb giggling (no hysterics) in the background.
We eventually caught up to him but that's because he was stopped by the Maoists. I'm not certain how you would properly describe them and I won't get into details but they represent the Communist Party of Nepal and have been waging a "People's War". There has been Maoist violence and warnings issued that, "the assuming traveller can be caught between the crossfire of the contending armies." Fortunately (or unfortunately) the most common form of interaction with tourists (usually trekkers) and the Maoists is from the extortion of "donations". It was at one of these "donation" stops, before Tal, that we met up with Mark plus the Maoist. The going charge rate was grand total of 2,000 per day, an amount of money I couldn't afford to part with unless absolutely necessary. Upon our arrival I began to interact with some of the 'soldiers' or commerads as they refer to themselves. Fortunately they didn't bear any arms and most of them were under the age of twenty. The leader asked if I was Nepalese and being me I replied with an honest No. I did tell him I was a student (a lie I know but my budget is representative of one) with the hope that he would show us lenancy and it appeared as if he was when a large group appeared. They too began to protest the charges and in the end the leader waived everyone through but with the warning that we will again encounter the Maoist and be charged four times what we would pay at this check post. Since we did not have receipts (yes they give you a receipt for the extortion, ummmm I mean donation). As Reb and I were climbing the seemingly large and last hill before reaching Tal, I noticed behind us that the red communist flay was rapidly approaching us! Great, I thought, they've changed their minds and are after our money. Run Reb Run came out of my mouth and we quickly scampered as best we could to the top. However, we were no match and they quickly caught up with us. To our surprise they had just closed shop and were on their way home which jsut so happened to be in Tal. It was funny to think that taking money from travellers was another ordinary day in the office. Once at the top they asked for a photo so we willingly obliged. Comrad Susan, Comrad Milan, and Comrad Roshan and me holding the flay. In the end I walked with them down into town and we tried conversing me in broken English. There were a few Yes and No's and lots of Ummm's and What. The conversation ended with a question that I thought was "We are friends?" which I naturally replied with a Yes. Smiles were exchanged all around and I was then gifted with a small cut out photo of my new friend plus his phone number. I only later learned that the word I thought to mean friend is actually girlfriend! I can now say that I have a seventeen year old 'boyfriend' who's involved in the military unit of the communist party...I wonder how many trekkers can claim that one?
