Second Cheapest Room (Day 17)

It was another short day as we made our way from Yak Kharka to Thorung Phedi. The Lonely Planet guidebook claimed it would take three hours but Krissy and I finished it in a little over two. We've talked about this and we agreed that we're both built for going uphill. We seem to garner some astonished looks from people as we pass them uphill, only to have the same people breeze past us on the descent. I can admit that I'm certainly the slowest downhill since I have the knees of an 80 year old.

But, there being no downhill portions of today's walk, it was all glory. It was also a good thing we slept in and had a late breakfast. After checking into the Thorung Bas Camp Hotel and eating lunch, we didn't have much to do. We did marvel at the building and the food we were served. It all seemed better than most guest houses we'd stayed at before, which is strange, because many people assured us that that lodges above Manang were basic at best.

After marveling, we passed time reading, chatting with other hotel patrons, playing chess and eating. We've both been eating a lot. That's what people notice about us: how fast we walk uphill and how much we eat.

It was cold that night and our room was too. When we first showed up the hotel proprietor* asked us what kind of room we wanted. "Whatever's cheapest," was my response. So he put us in the room past the icy hallway, next to the kitchen and across from Cujo's holding pen. So, as we slid into our rooms for the night, we were able to hear all the clamour of the kitchen. Since it was so noisy in there, the kitchen staff would step outside to answer their phones (cell phone coverage is amazing in this country) and yell "HELLO?! HELLO???! HELLO!?!?" (but it has it's limits). This would of course disturb Cujo from his most likely tranquilizer assisted slumber. So what we heard was something like this: BARK!! HELLO!!?? SNARRRRL! HELLO?!?! (pots banging) HELLO?!?! BARK!! BARK!!! (more random kitchen clamour).

Next time I'll ask for the second cheapest room.

* I use this term loosely. You can never tell who runs the hotel or even who works there. Usually if you stand around looking confused long enough someone will offer a "namaste" and reveal themselves as someone who can help you.