Day 5: Ghorepani - Hile (via Poon Hill)

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Why Do Cow’s Chew So Slowly?

Alarm call at 4am! A brisk trek up to Poon Hill to watch the mountains at sunrise. It’s c-c-cold! We descend for breakfast before rejoining the trail through sunny forest glades followed by a 4,000 step descent to Tikhedhunga. Found lodgings in Hile.

It’s raining again! Babu informs us that the monsoon season is due to start tomorrow. I think it’s started already. I’m sat opposite a stable where a cow is sheltering from the rain. Probably the same cow that was eating the contents of the vegetable patch a little earlier. No daal bhaat for us tonight then!

Babu is playing cards with the locals - a game called ‘Break’ - and Cav is entrenched in The Art of Happiness. The Dalai Lama is looking up at me, sporting a fetching pair of Frank Butcher-esque glasses. I wonder what he can see through those specs at this particular moment. I can see the cow’s butt shifting from side-to-side through mine!

Another cow is approaching. He stops beside me, turns his head and greets me with a loud moo before sauntering off to the stable to join his friend. He gazes longingly at me as he chews on his hay. I guess this is what they call love at first sight!

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Photos

Machhapuchhre (6,993m) - at least I think it is!
Dawn breaks and the mountains' colours slowly change

Part of the view from Poon Hill
The sun is still to make an appearance

Another view from Poon Hill
"Mr sun says howdy"

One final view from Poon Hill
Taken in the midst of feeling rather groggy from altitude sickness - it seems the Furlongs are sea level creatures

Buffalo stance...
You know you've lost touch with 'civilisation' when buffalos wandering past seem fairly commonplace

Pile up on the pass!
Rush hour, trekking style. Donkeys have right of way. Bulls are best kept at a distance. Should one come too close, a firm kick to the head with one's trekking boot usually does the trick (at least it did when one inquisitive bull's horns came rather close to Babu who was taking the lead at the time)