Don't Meddle with the Maoists

The search for the yeti began the instant we arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal. The overcast weather and distance to the mountain ranges dampened our hopes of finding the beast. We quickly were informed that we had a few days hike from the biggest mountains, which according to our calculations would be precisely where the yeti would most likely be found. Unfortunately, our schedule would not allow for such an expedition. We did, however, scour the entire Kathmandu Valley. We, like the scientists, explorers, zoologists, and travellers upon whose shoulder's we stood, left Nepal without any concrete evidence of the existance of the yeti. We did however observe burning bodies, diving monkies, menacing maoists, and the highest mountains in the world.

Our second day in Nepal was spent on an extensive tour of one of the most elevated valleys in the world, which is also home to half of Nepal's population. We went to a number of ancient temples which were mostly filled with people trying to sell us Nepalese knick-knacks. Of course, the temples were also filled with carvings of elephants and buddhas. The most impressive temple was one where a cremation ceremony was being performed next to a small river. The river was filled with swimming monkies. Not only, were monkies in the water, but many climbed the structures that lined the river and, with flailing arms, belly-flopped into the water.

The exit from Nepal turned out quite adventerous. Our taxi driver said that the roads through the downtown were all closed off because of a huge maoist rally. They were expecting about a half million people to come to the rally, which meant we would have to go around the city to get to the airport. Driving down one of the bumpy, dirt roads we ran into a traffic jam. Within a few seconds a UN SUV passed. Violence was breaking out at the rally! We had to get to the airport before the maoists overthrew the city and declared marshall law! Our driver found an alternate route. We passed masses of marching maoists, mostly young men, with red headbands and red, waving flags which proudly displayed the hammer and sickle. We arrived at the airport and made our escape only to find out later that the violence was just a little skirmish and only one person got hurt.

Feeling relieved after taking off, we relaxed in the airplane as it burst through the cloud layer and the snowy peaks of the tallest mountains in the world stretched out in front of us. Mt. Everest, it turns out, isn't so easy to identify, because it is only slightly taller than all the other mountains. However, with the help of a knowledgable Nepali sitting behind us, we pinpointed the highest place on planet earth.

The trip to Nepal was certainly a relief from all the heat of south Asia and although the yeti still remains a mystery I give this leg an 8 of 10.