We leave Shinawa around 8am and make our way across the river valley up into beautiful Chhomrong. We follow some school children. From Chhomrong we divert onto a new path aiming for Jhinu. There is a lot of steep downhill, all the time passing through people’s back yards. All these little places have set themselves up for Trekkers offering chocolates, fruit and drinks. We stop at one such place where a disabled man is running a small shop. We chat with his mother who is stressed by a plague of hairy caterpillars that seem to be tormenting this whole region. They crawl all over and through the buildings causing irritations when making contact. It’s a bizarre thing but it has happened before. I buy some apples.
We reach jinhu around lunch time and organise our lodgings. I meet Chris there. He is a knock-about Aussie from Perth trekking alone with a guide like me. Jinhu is famous for its hot springs and that’s why we are here. The springs are a decent steep walk down. Ganesh shows me the way. Beautiful hot water comes out of the ground just on the edge of the Modi River with its glacial waters. There are three pools, each a slightly different temperature but all at a deliciously warm temperature. There are others here but not too many. It means stripping down to jocks, washing first under a pipe of warm water, then jumping into one of the pools. Chris is there with others from around the world, some I’ve already met on the trek. Some are doing this at the start of the trek. Our way of doing this at the end of our trek is much smarter. I spend over an hour here, poor Ganesh waits. I can’t convince him to join because he is on duty.
There’s plent of banter as trekkers trade stories. A young German guy decides to leave the warm pool and jump into the icey waters of the Modi River. Crazy! Then an Australian guy follows and so does Chris. I feel a little compelled, so now it’s my turn. If you think wisdom comes with age, I’m proof it doesn’t. I creep in and completely submerge and thrash about for what seems like ages but is probably two seconds. It’s so cold. I get out with skin as red as being dunked in boiling water. And stinging all over. It’s surprisingly invigorating. I have an audience cheering me on from the warmth of their pool.
I spend over an hour here. It’s totally relaxing and even mesmerizing viewing the tree covered mountains with the babbling sound of the river, from the warmth of a heated pool.
I join Chris over a few beers that night. He’s easy to talk to and at 31, has great knowledge and insight into things. He’s well travelled and we talk deeply about many things. He leaves Nepal for India to catch a friends wedding before watching some World Cup 20-20 cricket in Mumbai. How exciting would that be.
angusmccoll 