Forests and fields

Ghandruk in the morning. The roar of the dawn chorus. I can hear owls, cukoos, and spot some iridescent flitting flycatchers. There's a spider the size of my hand above the toilet. I hop from foot to foot until the urge to pee overwhelms fear. The forests are less dense than ours. Ferns, moss, leafy trees and then the surprise of trees we would only see in our gardens - blazing rhododendrums, starry white magnolia, tree orchids and daphne.
We drop down out of the clouds with a final farewell to the sacred fishtail mountain. The forest gives way to fields and farms. There is a festival coming up and a woman rushes past in her best clothes and high heels. A mule driver runs behind his mules in gumboots his legs like sinewy ropes. I'm pretty happy clomping along in my favourite tramping boots and trekking stick.
We meander our way back to nyapul where a taxi is waiting to take us back to pokhara. The dust and pollution in pokhara is suddenly startlingly obvious after the crispness of the mountains.
We take our guide and porter out for dinner. Matt chooses Italian with a hankering for pizza after much dahl baht on the trail. Our young nepalese friends struggle with the menu but we devour our authentic pizza, ravioli and gnocchi.
What a fantastic trek! I've thought of the annapurna trail for years and it was different but just as incredible as I imagined. Easier in some ways with its congenial tea houses- good food, hot showers and good beds. Harder in others with its relentless uphill climbs. And we are all well. No illnesses or injuries although maybe stronger and fitter. And I do love those mountains!
Off to chitwan national park tomorrow so I can start raving about animals instead.

Namaste Sandy