Tuesday, June 8th
After the Seminar in Dhading we spend the night again in our mud hut. The next morning we arise nice and early, five am, drank our tea, apparently an hourly ritual, and head out for the hike back up the mountain where we once again catch our truck for the ride down. This time there is no sand but half way down we load a motorcycle in the back.
Once down the mountain we are waiting on the main road for a bus to take us to chitwan, however a large semi type truck stops first, so we hope up in front. There is plenty of room up here and the seats are comfortable so that I think this is actually the most comfortable ride that we have so far had.
Once in Chitwan we leave the truck and find a jeep that takes us to Shaktikhor. We spend the night at a small inn.
Wednesday, June 9th
Wednesday morning we arise bright and early again pick up our backpacks ( mine is full of water ) and head out of the village. Our objective is the top of a “small hill” just outside town. Near the top is one of the churches in the area. A number of the younger people from the villages nearby our coming with us to fellowship with the tribal people on top.
It is a more difficult climb than we have done yet on this trip, mainly because the path is pretty much up up up, hardly a single step of level path. The sun is scorching hot, just beating down. We come to what I thought was the top of the hill only to find we are about halfway. Although my muscles and legs are not giving me problems I am definitely having difficulty breathing, even though I am not really tired from the climb and after resting a good ten minutes my breathing is hard. But it is my last difficult hike before returning home, and though I am drenched in sweat the top is finally mine. Everyone else looks as if they just came out of the shower, well at least I’m here.
After a full day of seminars, we had back down. One more night here in shaktikhor then it is on to Hetauda.
We are excited for Hetauda because there we can stay in a nice hotel with A/C and good food. As well as because it means the end of our two week tour and for me soon a return to the US.