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Girl on the Steps
A young woman was well ahead of us on the walking path between Dhulikhel and Nagarkot in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, but I think her curiosity got the better of her, so she stopped walking until we reached her. It was still low season, so trekkers like us were still rare, and worth checking out!
The dramatic landscapes of Nepal are stunning.
Even so, it is the people that make Nepalese trekking such a joy! Everywhere I have been in the country, people have have been friendly and welcoming, and most amenable to having their pictures taken.
A friend and I were hiking around the Eastern Rim of the Kathmandu Valley under the watchful eye of local guide, Angfula Sherpa. We were in Nepal ahead of a photo-workshop with photographers Gavin Gough and Jack Kurtz, so this was our chance to acclimatise to the country.
Even though the four day trek is rated as “easy”, thanks to ageing joints and atrophying muscles, I was finding it – especially the up-hills (of which there are many!) – hard work. On our third morning, I was still tired from the hills and steps from the day before (see: A Thousand Steps). Plus, I had a glorious view from my Dhulikhel Lodge Resort balcony and was enjoying watching the sunrise over the surrounding mountains.
So, it was with some real reluctance that I packed my bags and set off again – uphill.
For every path in Nepal seems to be uphill!
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Morning over the Mountains at Dhulikhel
The sun rose gently over the mists and mountains that surround Dhulikhel. Thanks to the weather, we didn’t have the clearest view of the soaring surrounding Himalayan peaks, but it was still a lovely spot.
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Woman and a Goat
As the road – and then dusty walking track – led us up and out of Dhulikhel towards Opi, the people along the route were a welcome distraction, and a good excuse to stop for rest.
Hindu Shrine
At the top of one rise, we came across a small Hindu shrine, …
Hindu Schoolboys
… with its own small group of student/novice priests.
Paths into the Hills
We leave the temple behind us and follow the dirt path …
Terraced Hills
… as it leads off and around the foothills.
Woman in a Blanket
All along the trails, we can see the effects of the 2015 earthquake. A woman in a blanket sits in the shade of a pile of new bricks, while behind her we can see the reinforcing steel rebar that is now placed much more closely to protect new buildings from further earthquakes.
Woman in Pink
I love the gentle wisdom in people’s faces – and their willingness to engage with us and to be photographed.
Family Upstairs
A mother and her children come out of their house to greet us and watch our passing.
Double-Story House
These double-story brick homes, where the upstairs is mostly grain and food storage, accessible by an internal ladder or staircase, are pretty typical in the Kathmandu Valley and foothills.
Terraced Hills
The terraced hills seem to go on forever.
Women on the Hill
Girl in a Cardboard Hat
I’m pretty she this young girl wasn’t meant to look like a chivalrous Knight of the Round Table; just a coincidence of the colours of her dress, and the shape of her cardboard hat …
She did remind me, however, how creative and imaginative children can be even when they have very few toys and/or resources.
Smiling Girl in Pink
Two Young Friends
Grannie in her Garden
Tin Shed on a Hill
Too many people are still managing with make-shift houses, in spite of the weather extremes in Nepal’s mountains and hills.
Young Woman
Scarlet lips and lined eyes – makeup is an every-day thing among young Nepali women.
Terraced Hills
After three hours walking, the terraced hills still stretch out in all directions.
On the Ridge
We seem to have left all the small settlements behind as we finally start making our way downhill …
Angfula on the Ridge
… with our guide striding out in front.
Path into the Distance
The dirt track seems to go on forever …
Through the Trees
… as we wind through pine forests and past more terraced hills.
Nepali Set Meal
It was late when we finally sat down to eat – but dinner was well worth waiting for! Our dal bhat (spicy lentil soup and rice), roti, curried vegetables and a seasoned mushroom dish, was topped off with an elaborate bird carved from apple.
It was a long day, but an enjoyable one. I felt like I was finally getting into my stride!
As the sun fell, the temperature turned cold. We got the guesthouse to rustle up some hot-water bottles, and I slept soundly, dreaming of terraced hills.
Until next time,
Namaste!
Pictures: 8March2017
[…] Dhulikhel (1550 m – 5085 ft) to Nagarkot (2175 m – 7136 ft) the day before (see: Kathmandu Valley Part 4). The altitude gain of over 600 meters (much more if you count the ups-and-downs) had […]