Private hike from Godavari

Arranged a 2 day hike through Social Tours. We walked through villages and fields, a very interesting route, and my guide, Nima, was an excellent companion, explaining all the things we saw, and talking to the villagers as we passed by. We passed through an area where they were digging out clay and moulding it into bricks, which were drying in the sun, before firing.

 

Unfortunately, when the clay is all extracted, the ground is barren, as it has no topsoil. The pollution from the brickworks chimneys which dot the Kathmandu valley is also a concern, under discussion presently. The pollution is very evident when you look down on the valley as we did on this occasion. Clouds might obscure the high peaks at first but below you can see the haze of pollution over Kathmandu, which gradually rises later in the day. The country is at a standstill as it has been trying for two years to form a government without success. The Maoists have a slim majority in parliament but not a working majority; there's an uneasy truce between them and the government and everything is a matter for discussion and argument. At least there is a truce and the rural areas are now considered safe, though there is a legacy of orphans left by the uprising.

Mrs. shakes

 

In another village, I admired a house and Nima asked if we might take a closer look. I took photos and we asked if we could buy some oranges from their trees. This was not easy, involving a long stick to shake them off the branches and Nima sprinting down the hill to collect them where they fell. We paid 30p for 6, which was foreigners' price, I suspect.

Nima collects

The walk ended with an hour's very stiff uphill climb, arriving at a lovely lodge on the top of a hill. 

Stiff climb

I was disappointed that it was only 1 pm, so after a shower and a rest, we went out again to climb to another viewpoint from where we were able to look down on our lodge. The lodge actually has electricity feed from the valley with solar backup for the inevitable power cuts. And, joy of joys, it had electric blankets!!!

Summit Village lodge from viewpoint