Day 23 - Chitwan National Park, Nepal
It's stinking hot and my cold is worsening. It's horrible feeling like this in the heat. A seven hour drive finds us returning to the National Park for a two day stay over before returning to Kathmandu before flying home.
K has contemplated her last three days so her story follows:
My story of the 3 day trek from the foothills of the Himalayas. Day 1 was so hot with the sun beating down and the humidity unbearable. I had lathered myself in sunscreen and aeroguard. About 1/2 hour into the trek, I was sweating like a pig and began crying as the creams had dribbled into my eyes and they were stinging, I already had regrets and wondered how I was going to continue. My eyes were killing me and I hadn't mentally prepared for this 4 out of 5 level of difficulty trek. With each step I took, it was so hard and we had an 8 hr walk ahead of us. I took all my emotions out on Michael and apologized later for my tantrum. Each time I looked up, I could only see more stairs, rocks and no reprieve for flat ground. We walked across flowing rivers, landslides and I felt like I was 3 years old again, stepping in large puddles rather than avoiding them. We stopped a few times on our way up for a toilet and drink break and to sit for a moment was heaven. The scenery is amazing, just like the National geographic books show us. As we continue walking up hill, we pass through villages and children yell out 'namesta', everyone is so friendly. Just after lunch, Finn complained of cramping abdo pain and I felt like vomiting, our guides, porters and CEO were concerned about us and went into overdrive when I eventually could go no further. I said " this is it, no more, I could feel my heart beat in my ears and my naughty lifestyle in my younger years had done me no favours in the fitness arena!!. So, I signed a declaration to say, I was leaving the group and would take a different route and spend the first night elsewhere with my porter 'sudo'. Michael quickly took some of his belongings out of the duffel bag, we kissed and went our separate ways. Finn continued with Michael and tilly had no idea i was leaving as she was too far ahead. Sudo had limited English but I managed to communicate my needs. I felt no shame when I left the group, I had done my very best and could climb no further up. Sudo and I continued on our own journey for approximately the next 3-4 hours. We took a break for 15 minutes after 2 hrs and I layed down on my tummy on a bench seat and fell asleep, I was awoken by Sudo calling "jum jum" come on. That small nap was heaven. I threw my back pack over my shoulders and Sudo put my duffel bag on his back and we continued on the journey. Along the way, Sudo would hold out his hand to help me with the difficult areas, he is such a gentle and beautiful soul. He would often point me in the easier walking direction but I still felt every step was difficult. , I wished I had left my watch at home as I would look down to read we had only walked 10 minutes, rather than the hour I had wished for. Sudo picked fresh beans and we ate them together. I asked Sudo "how much further" he replied "only 2 hours". We walked through many villages and sometimes a cow or dog would follow in our footsteps for a while, the Nepalese are such beautiful happy people, always smiling and greeting us along the way. We finally arrived at our village accommodation, where I plonked myself on a chair, removed my shoes and began massaging my feet, I planned to stay put in that chair as Sudo brought me over a milk coffee. As I took a sip, the heavens opened up and it bucketed down. The mountains, plants and wild life deserved a drink whilst I sat and couldn't move. I told Sudo " I loved him" he giggled. I wondered what he thought as we had broken from the group and there seemed to be only us 2 at the homestay. Just then, a couple from England walked over, they too had just arrived. They had been treking for the past 6 days from Base camp, and had not showered, I did not raise an eyebrow as I too was not going to shower. They are young doctors, so we shared over dinner all our hospital stories and the differences in our medical systems. I finally went to bed at 8pm. I asked Sudo to knock on my door at 6.30 to be ready for breakfast at 7 and we would then leave at 7.30am for our 2 hour walk upwards to meet the rest of the group later in the day.
