Another lazy day. I’m a bit chesty from cold and smog I suspect. I’m taking it easy for a few days to try and get right before I attempt a trek to Anapurna Base Camp. Anapurna is one of the peaks in Nepal over 8000 meters, from memory 8,050 meters but don’t quote me. One of the most popular hiking trails here for trekkers is the Anapurna circuit but I plan to do just a part of it. Because I’m on my own I’ll hire a guide to take me there. Raju will arrange a good deal for me.
The girls are heading to Pokora soon and it’s possible we will meet again there.
There seem to be more tourist around than when I was first here two weeks ago. Things are looking positive for the tourism industry again, since the earthquake and fuel embargoes shied tourists away. The India-enforced embargo seems to have stopped for now and essential fuel is flowing once again into Nepal. Landlocked Nepal is so reliant on India for fuel, especially during the winter when it’s physically difficult to get fuel from China. Earth tremors are still on people’s minds but for the locals, tremors are part of life. Some experts seem to think the ‘big one’ is yet to come and could happen anytime. Not very comforting. But life goes on here. When I first arrived I woke with a start from my 5th-story room from a crashing noise that seemed to be getting closer and closer. My first thought was a quake approaching but it was just a very rattlely noisey truck going along the road. I’m a bit on edge but where I am staying has survived a fairly big earthquake so I shouldn’t be worried. But being five stories up does make me wonder what I will do if things start to shake.
angusmccoll 