Rafting and trekking

The Rafting (20-21 March)

After spending 2 days in the polluted city of Kathmandu, we decided to go on a 2 day white water rafting trip on the famous Bhote Kosi River. Needless to say, we were all relieved to get out of the pollution and crowded streets, and looked forward to a breath of fresh air (literally!!!).

The country side of Nepal is a vast contrast to the bustling city. The hillsides are sculpted into fields growing a variety of vegetables and grain; the preparation and maintenance which must have taken generations of hard labour. The overall effect makes the hillsides look like stairways to the sky for giants.

However, despite the fact that we were miles from the city, there were three things we could not escape from: firstly, the pollution which was only marginally better after a 3 hour bus ride; secondly, the scary driving, our bus spent an equal amount of time on both sides of the road; finally, the water bombs, the kids in the villages are no different from the kids in the city (we later found out that Good Friday was also holy day in Nepal, and not surprisingly throwing water bombs filled with coloured water is a part of the celebration). During the ride out to the start of our rafting, three of our guides made the mistake of sitting on the roof of the bus (seeing 10-20 people/animals sitting on top of the bus was a common sight out in the country) where they got absolutely drenched as we drove (slowly) through countless villages.

The first day of the rafting was an introduction to basic rafting techniques and safety tips, which also included lots and lots of water fights. In hindsight, the water fights probably weren’t the best idea, since it might have been the cause of the gastrointestinal upsets (both ends) most of us experienced in the days to come (since all the villages’ waste water goes straight into the river).

On the second day we were guided down a more technical section of the river, it was much more exciting and fun was had by all. The highlight of the trip (besides the amazing food the guides provided) was when one of the rafts (mine!!!) folded and flipped between two rocks and one member (ME!!!) got swept downstream whilst the rest of the crew (somehow) managed to cling on.


Trekking (22nd March, 2008)



On Saturday we left Kathmandu on a small twin engine plane and flew to Lukla (where the runway was merely 200m long… and uphill). Almost immediately we felt the temperature drop as the crew began piling on 2-3 more layers of their winter coats (this process was reversed within 5 minutes into the trek).



The scenery from Lukla to the rest of the trek was mind blowing, around every corner there’s another impressive peak which reaches up to heights near impossible to comprehend. We found ourselves constantly pausing and reaching for our camera. The landscape of the Himalayas presents a strong resemblance the Southern Alps of the South Island, with one exception, the scale!!!

Mickey

... and Kate helped