My travel diaries
Sunday 10 June, 2007 - Kathmandu, Nepal
We're away at 7.30 and have a very short walk through Shivapuri Wildlife Reserve. It's raining again, and we are walking so briskly the only wildlife we see are leeches and giant slugs; disgusting for some people, but fascinating to others. At one point I see a giant yellow slug which is so big I mistake it for a banana.
As we reach the end of the reserve we get panoramic views out over the Kathmandu Valley, and after just 3 hours of walking we descend a long series of concrete steps to reach the roadhead at Sundarijal, where we pay our 50 rupees and catch the local bus back to Kathmandu. As I'm leaving the bus at Boudnath, a big fat leech drops off me, looking like it's had a good meal. Thankfully it's the last leech I see, and I don't think I'll miss them. We say our goodbyes to Maila, and Siling and I hop in a taxi back to his house at Swayambhu, our brief but enjoyable trek at an end.
We've ascended and re-descended over 9000m in total, slightly more than the height of Everest, in just 11 days. This is a rate of ascent that would be ludicrous were I not already acclimatised after my time in Tibet. It's been fun trying to keep up with the mountain boys Siling and Maila, and I think I've managed it pretty well, except on the rougher downhill sections, when binoculars might've been helpful to watch them disappearing into the distance.
All things told, a great trip.
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