It's cold this morning with hail still on the ground. Today was long and hard-on-the-knees with 95% downhill, steep descent from 12,008 feet to 6,529 feet through a beautiful wooded forest and jungle. If I wanted to take in the sights I had to stop. Amrit instructed, "Lead with your heels." A few of us slipped on our bum here and there, but no head-over-heel tumbles. Accidents could happen in this terrain. Falling an hitting your head on a rock could have a serious outcome. Although people I've known have tripped and fallen in their driveway, or fall in their bathtub resulting in serious injuries.
As we approached our village destination a young child, two or three years old, stood perilously close to a cliff. Her mother nonchalantly looked on. I suppose children growing up in this terrain must learn early on the dangers that come with not being alert and sure-footed.
We noticed villagers returning home and each carried something - food, stone, wood, grass, grains. We learn the Nepali government is paying locals to blaze a 20-mile trail, and covered with stone.
Nanchang was one of the smallest villages. With the smallest rooms. The shell of a building was partitioned off with plywood, and a door. Eight feet above the wall was open. Donna and Lin had some giggles as we could hear everyone else moving about - especially Mike next door.
During the day our precious chef Kagi collected wild fiddle head ferns and wild gralic scented leaves. For our meal tonight he chopped them together with potatoes. Yum. Lentils and rice, as well. Tonight we had canned fruit, which was unusual since it was usually fresh bananas or apples.
I rarely have body pain but tonight my knees, ankles and thighs were sore. Now both Sukey and Del are sick and to make it worse the outdoor squatty potties were down extremely steep steps.
As we approached our village destination a young child, two or three years old, stood perilously close to a cliff. Her mother nonchalantly looked on. I suppose children growing up in this terrain must learn early on the dangers that come with not being alert and sure-footed.
We noticed villagers returning home and each carried something - food, stone, wood, grass, grains. We learn the Nepali government is paying locals to blaze a 20-mile trail, and covered with stone.
Nanchang was one of the smallest villages. With the smallest rooms. The shell of a building was partitioned off with plywood, and a door. Eight feet above the wall was open. Donna and Lin had some giggles as we could hear everyone else moving about - especially Mike next door.
During the day our precious chef Kagi collected wild fiddle head ferns and wild gralic scented leaves. For our meal tonight he chopped them together with potatoes. Yum. Lentils and rice, as well. Tonight we had canned fruit, which was unusual since it was usually fresh bananas or apples.
I rarely have body pain but tonight my knees, ankles and thighs were sore. Now both Sukey and Del are sick and to make it worse the outdoor squatty potties were down extremely steep steps.