When I wanted to leave Sarangkot I was accosted by the expected cadre of young men offering to guide me back down the mountain. They are not as persistent here as in Kathmandu but still irritating. I sat down in the shade to eat the bag breakfast the hotel prepared for me. A guy came over from the group and started into his pitch. I told him to sit beside me on the bench. I looked straight into his eyes and said, "Last week I killed a man. I am in Nepal to get close to God and make penance. I need to do this alone." He left me and went over to the gang of guides. For the rest of my breakfast there were furtive glances my way but I was left alone in peace.
Speaking of Peace. I made the climb to the World Peace Pagoda this afternoon. I crossed Lake Phewa in a canoe paddled by an 80 year old woman with only half a face. God shows his sense of humour by placing his most holy sites on top of high things. I climbed straight up for about 1.5 hours and, exhausted, said my prayers and meditations while walking around this massive stupa barefoot. If some god doesn't hear my prayers through the pain in my legs and feet we are lost. I walked down by another path that took 4 hours through a beautiful Sal forest. I encountered a troop of about 100 monkeys foraging and so I just sat down and snapped photos until they had passed on.
I have discovered that stinging nettles feel pretty much the same in Nepal as they do in Spain.
Back to Kathmandu in the morning.
Blessings
Scott
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