Langdi (c.1800m) > Naya Pul (1070m) > Pokhara (820m): Farewell mountains, hello hashish

Mixed emotions.

T will get better after today. Not only is her back still bad, but she’s a little ill in the stomach as well. She even threw-up last night a few times.

Super.

The downside?

Leaving the Annapurna… and I can’t deny the fact that leaving the Annapurna means we’ll be leaving Nepal soon.

When will the depression set in?

Today, this final day in the Annapurna, we covered a lot of a distance.

Langdi (circa 1800m) through to Naya Pul (1070m) only took us 3-4 hours at a moderate pace.

All downhill. All steps.

Just like the beginning in Phedi, only reversed.

Truthfully, it was kind of relaxing.

But upon seeing the suspension bridge that leads into Naya Pul in the distance, I felt sadness creeping into my day. I didn’t want to leave.

My burdens soon waned and my spirits lifted after getting on the bus in Naya Pul that was bound for Pokhara. It was the beginning of festival mode.

All the porters seemed so happy. Happy for going home. Happy for a successful trek. Just happy.

The music was soon blaring on the bus PA, and everyone started to sing the Nepali pop-songs we had become accustomed to over the course of the trek. Even though, we hadn’t really heard the songs in CD format since leaving Kathmandu because some of the porters took instruments with them on trek.

This happiness turned into panic and curiosity midway on the return leg to Pokhara.

We were stopped at a police checkpoint and all ordered off for a search. Fine, we thought.

Only, no. Not quite.

One of the porters had bought hash in the mountains and didn’t get rid of it. The police found his bounty. And after much negotiation – about 20 minutes worth – Ang agreed a price for his freedom. The porter was pretty embarrassed, and his mates all ripped him for it. It was pretty serious for a while, but the situation lightened later in the evening.

Once we made it back to the Pokhara base, it was business as usual. Although, we first went into Pokhara itself to get some gifts and stuff. Upon returning it was the norm; prepare beds, eat dinner.

After the meals we all got together with the porters and had a ‘thank you’ session. And then a party… Nepali-style.

It was honestly a lot of fun. A bit of drinking, a lot of live music… Prasuram on vocals. And copious dancing long into the night.

Something I’ll never forget.