Day 6 - Langtang Village - 3,475m

The 1,000m climb (I have  no idea of the lateral distance) from Remche took about six hours, and was not as difficult as I had expected.  I was wearing the knee braces, which I think helped, but chafed skin and pulled hair...not very comfortable.  After arriving, Norsang and I walked around the village for photos and to discuss the next few days.  He knows of my knee problem.  I told him that after tomorrow's 460m climb to Kyanjin Gompa, I did not want to a side trip to one of the famous peaks in the area.  He understood and mentioned something else, a viewpoint for looking at the peaks that seemed too daunting to climb.  He said it would be easier.  Maybe...

 

 

We ran into a trio of 20 something Australian girls at the guesthouse last night, but the place was full so they moved on.  We saw two of them again today at lunch.  I asked what had happened to the third ( a Korean girl) and they said she had dropped out and was waiting for them at the guesthouse where they had spent the night.  She would be waiting for about 3 nights.  I asked what had happened and they just said she was not in great shape, but primarily, just lazy. 

 

I had a nice talk with one of them about Teaching English as a Foreign Language, which she says she would like to pursue.  I told them that I had thought of that, but felt I was too old.  They said, "Never think that."  I said, "Yes, but it is like a real job..lesson plans, student evaluations, etc., I'm not sure I want that kind of responsibility and expectation."

They caught  up with us tonight at this guesthouse and we, the Australians and I, had a good talk about trekking in general, and Bodhgaya.  They had been to Lumbini (Buddha's birthplace), so I told them about Sarnath and showed pictures on my camera of pilgrims at the cave and temple at Bodhgaya. 

We shared the embarrassment and frustration that our countries were so isolated and superior feeling that most of our citizenry spoke only English.