Very early and reluctant (for M!) start – short sharp climb up Poon Hill to watch the sun rise over the Annapurna range. Pleasant and uninterrupted views but can’t help but think we could have stayed in bed and avoided the crowds.
-
- A room with a view!
-
- Morning frost
-
- Sunrise over Annapurna
-
- Sunrise from Poon Hill
-
- The gang at Poon Hill
-
- Poon Hill prayer flag
-
- Tatopani – almost there, honest!
-
- Motivation
-
- Himalayan traffic jam
We say our farewells and troop off to Tatopani. Bimbling through enjoying the downhill and relative solace, the day rolls by. After stopping for lunch, we realise how far it really is – the indicated 6-7 hours turn out to be over 8 hours! I push the pace – long steep descent, we meet a Nepali man coming the other way – he works in Tatopani during the day and at a hostel in the pass at night. He seems happy to talk and kindly gives us some clementines – delicious! Tatopani seems to be further and further – the fabled hot springs sink out of our future. Arriving at well past 5pm, we make a false start, then stay in a mangy place with cold showers and a leaky toilet. But we do make the hot springs, which just about make up for the tortuous day! Twilight bathing eases sore muscles. Mediocre food and mangy, drooling dog provide our evening entertainment.
December 15th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
forgot about that disgusting flea bitten dog! And the very dodgy pizza with cauliflower and brocoli and green beans on it!
December 15th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
How could you forget such culinary delights?! And the drool patch on your trousers.