“On a Mish” #421 Changing Lives – Mine Most of All. Ganesh Himal Charity Trek (Part Four). Megang Danda (Nuwakot). 4.11.2024. Don’t think any of us had a great sleep last night, Mark least of all. Part of me felt like just packing up and going home but we are miles from transport and the only option, literally and figuratively, is to just keep on going. We had yet another mammoth breakfast and set off after donating to the village to fix their temple which is still damaged from the earthquakes…
Today’s walk was primarily on the road, and it was very heartening to see that Mark was finding it a bit easier. We are also walking a bit with the porters now which is nice. Although they can pass us very easily- what they carry on their backs is just ridiculous and many of them are just wearing jandals or slides!
There was a bit of a hitch when we reached the village where we were supposed to stay to find there was an issue with the location. But true to form Arjun found us another spot an hours walk away while the rest of us sat at the local shop and drank Fanta. Turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the new spot was spectacular. Because we were closer to the kitchen tent, we got to see a bit more of them at work. Including one of them arriving with bags containing live chickens! Dinner tonight was another Dahl bhat feast and yes there was chicken on the menu – the best I’d ever tasted!
The next morning was one I will never ever forget.
We all got up early to watch the sunrise from the temple up the hill from camp. Did a spot of yoga while waiting for the sun. Although it was cloudy we got the odd glimpse of the sun lighting the big peaks, which included two of the ten biggest peaks in the world. Then a monk came up the hill. At first we thought he was angry because we’d opened the gate but once he’d finished his prayers he came out and offered us coffee. Weirdly this was in the form of sachets which he opened with a machete. He was one of the jolliest men I had ever seen. We shared coffee with him then he started filming us – turned out it was for his TikTok account! Mark gave him a donation and he almost cried then said a prayer over us.
After another awesome breakfast we set off for Megang Danda. We are really in remote territory now and often feel like we are walking through people’s backyards. Today’s walk was quite short which gave us lots of time to enjoy the village. Though a bit harder for Jeremy than the rest of us – Kate, one of our fellow travellers from Australia, walked with him and when he wasn’t looking slowly filled up his pack with rocks! He was blissfully unaware until we stopped at the next camp. And not too happy!
The youngest of the porters who is only 19 and still at school is cricket mad. He wanted to play cricket with Jeremy this afternoon but we had left the bat with kids in one of the earlier villages. So, he went away and made a bat out of a plank using a knife. Hard to play in the middle of a rice paddy with all the different levels but they seemed to manage. There were even some gorgeous little puppies where we were camped.
After a short time one of them started following Mark around. We all got to enjoy another bucket shower – bliss. Then I got interviewed by Dan and Beth for the documentary Beth is making. So hard to answer the questions about the highlights of the trip when there are so many. Dinner tonight was soup then pizza, pasta and veges and our favourite rice pudding made with buffalo milk…
