Hey Everyone,
How's it going? Well, I survived the kayaking and I'm now back in Kathrnandu.
The kayak course started on the lake beside Pokhara. There were 12 of us in the course, all of us beginners. The first day was pretty sad to watch, we just had to paddle across to a beach, but everyone was going in circles and a couple people flipped. Then we tried to learn how to roll, another sad sight to watch, although one person did get it that first day.
The next four days were spent on the Seti River, an excellent place to learn. It starts out with smaller rapids (Class l & 2) and the water gets bigger until the last day where there's a Class 4. I spent the first two days on the river very frustrated cause I couldn't roll and almost everyone else was learning it, but on day 3 in the river, I finally figured it out and was very happy. I didn't flip the last two days either, and made it through the Class 4! I hugged a rock and then got turned by the eddy line behind it into a 3 metre hole, but made it. (We learnt some lingo too) It was pretty funny on some of the rapids, one of them we called Carnage City cause about 10 of us flipped, and after the rapid, all I could see were upside kayaks and paddles and people swimming about. It was way more fun than rafting, and way more team building too, cause everyone was cheering everyone else trying to learn stuff. We were all surprised at how quickly we progressed. I still can't roll in white water though, but I'm definitely addicted.
The take out was half way between Pokhara and Kathmandu, so I came here directly. We all got to sit on the top of the bus for four hours (and only l50km) and the views were amazing of the Kathmandu Valley.
So now I'm relaxing in Kathmandu, sorting out kayaking bruises / sore muscles, waiting for Marisa (from Canada) to arrive (she gets here on the l0th) and then we'll be traveling together for 5 weeks and returning home for Christmas.
Toilet Update:
When rafting, had a dug out hole, squatting only. Also used the helmet-on-the-paddle signal, if the helmet was on the paddle, the toilet was available. The easiest way to remember if helmet meant available or not (as our guide explained) was that you put the helmet on to use the toilet. Well, it was funny at the time.
Well, see most of you at Christmas.
Love Eric