Forest of giant pine trees; coming round the mountains; face to face with majestic Mts Ngadi Chuli and Manaslu (8163m) unveiled
Dharapani also happens to be the transition point where caravans load and unload their cargos and horsemen and their mules, donkeys and horses break for rest and recreation. So it was here we run into mini traffic jams involving mules, donkeys and horses early in the morning.
Pretty soon we found ourselves walking into and around towering mountains looming up out of the mist.
Further up river the Marsyangdi again turned on its torrent in narrow gorges. It swerved in and out cutting through the bottoms of mono-rocks and rock faces in its way.
Mountains looming up
By and by we came to some slopes hidden in a thick forest.
After an hour or so of puffing and huffing on muddy and slippery inclines we found ourselves entering a highland grown with giant pine trees, some with straight trunks about 20 m tall, good enough to be used as electricity transmission poles as in the US. Beneath them were temperate trees and shrubs. Otherwise the forest was clear with footpaths and footprints everywhere. It was into autumn and some trees and shrubs have worn leaves of vibrant hues.
Walking out of these forests we came to Temang perched peacefully on a plateau extending gradually from the distant mountains towards the ravine. There were pine trees on upper slopes. Along the lower slopes were farms separated by dark and disjointed wooden fences. The slopes passed by us at Prasanna Hotel and Lodge and disappeared into the hidden ravine of the Marsyangdi.
Attracted by the colorful autumn leaves and myriads of crimson and yellow flowers, cravens were flying around in flocks nearby. Next to several dilapidated stone dwellings further ahead of us some yaks, cows and horses were feeding on stacks of hay.
From the level roof-top of the dining hall of the Prasanna we had full views of the majestic Mt. Manusla and Mt. Ngadi Chuli dazzling in the bright midday sun. These were the first heavily snow-clad mountains we had seen in full view so far. So we took turns to take many photos with these mountains as our backdrop.
Mt. Manusla nad Mt. Ngadi Chuli in the Abode of Snow
While waiting for lunch to be served, I lay sun-bathing on the stone floor of the front courtyard, surrounded by rows of colorful flowers. For the first time I saw poppy flowers in full bloom. The fact that vile opiate drugs and opium are from this delicate and exquisite flower is quite imponderable.
The extremely pleasurable sun-bathing must have dehydrated me quite a bit. In the afternoon I found walking exceptionally strenuous even on flat paths. My legs felt sluggish and heavy on the slightest of climbs.
What drove me on was a place to lie down for the night.
The snow-clad mountains followed us to Chame. I was last again today, partly because I turned back to talk to the mountains. I heard them beckon, “Come, come, baby!”
I answered, “Coming down to carry me home?” No reply. Smiling, they then slowly and quietly disappeared behind myriads of leaves.
The mountains in the evening
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