DAY 5 : NEPAL : Soti Khola (700m) - Maccha Khola (930 m) - 6 hour walk

Our destination today was Machha Khola.

Our campsite was very comfortable -we even have a dining tent - and it was fascinating being so up close and personal with the local shops and community activity just across the road.

Goats at play. Spring is definitely in the air - baby animals everywhere.

We set off on rough pathways. 

Our first view of a mule train. From Soti Khola there is no road access into the Manaslu region. Mules are used for transporting all major supplies for local communities in this region. They travel for days on the trail. 

Local communities work together to cut wood for housing.

At Lapubesi we stopped for lunch. We have a hot 2-course lunch every day prepared by the kitchen staff in rudimentary sheds, rented from local communities. I pulled out a guide book that we bought detailing our trek and a local came and looked at it.

She called to others to come and look.

They were all fascinated that there were photos of their village.

Then they recognised one of their children and called her over and she was delighted to see herself. I've promised to send a copy of the book with Tunka, our assistant guide, when he leads another group along this trail next month.

Leaders of the pack.

Another suspension bridge with a full mule team. Land is cultivated in every available space.

We walked down along the beach of the Budhi Ganaki River. A rushing river, providing water for crops, stone for buildings but not much communal activity - like washing clothes etc. as it is quite dangerous. In fact, most of the water supply in this mountainous region is from waterfalls.

We came across a few rundown buildings along the beach with children playing together. We assumed this was a group of itinerant families as the river would be in flood in the monsoon. Children occupy themselves so well - many of these would not attend school. I played a game of Jacks with a little girl with some stones.

 

Our campsite tonight was in a little town of Machha Khola, developed because of the trekking trade. Our tents were pitched on a grassy area below a mule train, resting for the evening.

M&M

mm_smith@bigpond.net.au