Day 8 - Kharpani to Pokhara

Today was our easiest day yet. A "bus" would be arriving at 10am to drive us back to Pokhara - and a shower and a real bed!

While we were relaxing in the hot springs the previous night we got talking to a local (a retired Ghurka) who visits the springs nearly every day from Pokhara - one hour to the springs, one hour in the springs and one hour to get back to Pokhara. He owned a property up on one of the plateaus above Kharpani and he told us that in the morning the views from his place were pretty special. So, when I got up I grabbed two cameras and went up onto the plateau.

There was a pretty good view of Annapurna from up there but neither of the cameras could do it justice. While there it was about the only time in my life that I wished that I smoked. There was an older gentleman, obviously a proud grandfather, sitting on the grass playing with his grandchild. I asked if I could take their picture but all I could do was show him the picture on the camera. It would appear that a cigarette is quite common payment for photos.

While waiting for the bus the boys were playing a form of what we would call pool. (Sorry, I have forgotten what they called it.) It is played on a square table made of laminated wood with holes in each corner. The wood is coated in chalk dust and they use their finger to flick discs at the "balls" - black and white discs. The aim is to use the flicked disc to knock your black (or white) discs into the pockets.

All this action came to a halt when the "bus" arrived. It was actually a Toyota van and the boys set about loading it up. Despite having eaten all our food it still made for an impressive load on the roof.

The road from Kharpani is not in the best of condition (a bit like the "Eco" campground we were in at Kharpani which is also not in the best condition), though I suspect that is the case for any road in Nepal. There were washouts everywhere and even a one-way cutting where we met a large truck coming up the hill. However, the boys in the back didn't seem to care and were drumming and singing quite loudly. In fact, most people we went past had to have a second look to work out where the music was coming from.

We were dropped back at the Fairmount Guest House so we could freshen up because that night was to be a party!

At the end of each of his treks Mukti organises a dinner for the boys as a way of letting the trekkers show their appreciation of their efforts. While out trekking we did not eat with them so this would be the first time we dined as a group. We were driven to Eagle's Nest by Kedar and while the road was not in the best of condition the first time, after the afternoon's downpour the poor little Suzuki had its work cut out to get us there.

We got to meet Mukti's brother who works for Intrepid in Kathmandu. He was taking advantage of the strike the following day and riding his push-bike the 200km to Kathmandu before trekking to Everest Base Camp to take part in the Everest Marathon starting on 29 May. (http://www.everestmarathon.com/ ) Now that's what I call a triathlon - must be one seriously fit young guy.

Even though dinner was for the boys, Hari and his team still cooked all that was offered. (Mukti thought that the boys would be more relaxed at Eagles Nest than eating out at a restaurant.) There was a great range of Nepalese food to be eaten in the Thali style. This involves putting the rice and whichever of the other dishes you fancy onto your plate and mixing them up. The Nepalese use their fingers to do this but we stuck to our knives and forks. The evening was rounded off with the boys drumming and singing - oh, and dancing of course. No need to tell you that we were also coerced into performing so again we became the attraction.

After sufficient beer had been consumed (the boys are not allowed to drink on the trek to ensure that their pay doesn't all get spent on alcohol), and enough singing and dancing carried out, it was time for thank yous. Frank and Stephen both said thanks and Mukti translated a brief summary before Frank and Stephen handed out the envelopes containing our final thank yous.

After much shaking of hands and Dhanybhad all round, Kedar and his brave little Suzuki were called upon to get us back to the Fairmount.