Post written January 3: It’s been a relaxing few days. After a morning flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu, and a short stop at Swacon to obtain my discharge papers, it was back to the Royal Penguin Hotel 2 in Kathmandu to meet up with the group. They all looked freshly showered and out of ‘trekking’ mode. With hugs all around, it was great to see them.
We headed to Nepal Eco Adventure, debriefed with Chhatra about our travels, and then it was full vacation mode: lunch at the Gaia restaurant to catch up and hear all about the trek; lounging at the Himalayan Java in Kathmandu; then dinner at the Roadhouse cafe for incredible wood-oven pizza. And then the next day, New Year’s Eve, we did it all over again: breakfast at the hotel, a quick walk over to Himalayan Java for coffee; lunch at the hotel; more Himalayan Java; dinner at the Third Eye restaurant for amazing Indian food; the busy streets of Thamel for the New Year’s street festival and rave; and then drinks back at the hotel while watching really bad movies. And thus concluded the low-key yet awesome New Year’s Eve. It was cool to find myself wandering the streets of Thamel for New Year’s. You never know where life takes you, but wherever it goes, you gotta make the best of it. So Happy New Year! May you find many unexpected adventures in 2015 and make it the best year yet!
The next few days were much of the same. More coffee. Dinner at Rosemary’s Kitchen and Cafe where a 6 course meal cost 1499 rupees… and it was delish. Little did I know that with a compromised immune system, I would get quite sick. Coughing. Congestion. Runny nose. Headaches. A vacation of being sick. It wasn’t what I anticipated, but it was still a vacation nonetheless. I’m looking forward to heading back home to rest and recover, but I know I’ll be itching for another adventure in due time.
It’s been a very eventful few weeks, from experiencing a wonderful trek with scenery that had me awe-struck, to unexpected curve balls; but overall, I’ve had an amazing time. I’ve experienced a culture unbeknownst to me with great friends who have made the trip an unforgettable one. Not a bad way to start 2015!
HIKES & HAMSTRINGS 