For the first 2 hours it's really hard-going especially in the hot Kathmandu weather (Everest base camp trek wasn't like this!) but on the good side we get to see a real side to the local people who aren't catering to the tourists.
There's been a bit of rain up here in the night and the leeches are out in force, homing in on warm blood. They're virtually invisible and resemble twigs or stems but as soon as you look harder at the undergrowth you realise that they are everywhere.
After a night in a hilltop hotel, we're off again for day two and our 7-hour trek-a-thon. It's absolutely gruelling. By the time we reach Nagarkot and our hotel 8 hours later, we are utterly shattered and are too tired to make conversation with the hotel staff.
Up again early the next day for a leisurely trip to a local monestary and then back to Kathmandu for a final nights stay.
Our Hotel on the hilltop
Leeches just want to be our friends
Why do great views look average in photos?
All aboard!
