Rural Dhulikhel

About 30 miles east of Kathmandu lies the small town of Dhulikhel. We went quickly through the town itself, preferring to reach the more rural areas of the surrounding hills. While there, we took a short hike past local farmhouses and had a chance to mingle with the locals. It was a most welcome respite from the frenetic energy of Kathmandu.

The next morning, we hiked up a nearby hill to catch the first rays of the sun breaking over the Himalayas. While I am not in the habit of leaving a warm bed to hike up a steep and muddy trail in the frigid darkness of an early morning, I am glad I made the effort on this occasion. As the light came up, we could see that we were standing above the clouds as the forms of the distant Himalayas slowly emerged from the blackness.