Hi there! My name is Camila, and it is nice to meet you.

Day one of Gosykunda Lake trekking: Langtang National Forest

Something that I find very funny, is that while I was up more than 4000m in the Langtang National Forest, surrounded by the Himalayan Mountains, all I wanted was two things. To see my mom, and to have ice cream. Sometimes, we do not realize how our actions truly impact us. What the decisions that we make truly means.Little did I know that climbing a mountain, reeally means climbing a mountain, like leaving home means really leaving home, and being away from the person who loves you the most, and not meaning to hurt them, or to show that you do not love them, butfollowing your heart, and finding yourself in the small moments that seem the toughest, in your journey. It is amazing how the body can suffer, and the mind can percieve ones own weakness, but that the true power we find within comes from a deep well of happiness, and a resevoir of peace and tranquility. This grace is the strength that wills us to survive. It is the beauty of life itself, the will to live. As I was coming down the mountain, I knew that night was coming, and that I needed to make it to the town at the entrance of the park, Dhunche. On the bus ride their to Langtang, I met a couple of hikers who were on their way to Puja at the top of Gosykunda Lake, to worship the Lord Shiva temple there, and bathe in the ice cold water. I was originally meant to meet my friend who had left earlier that morning, however, when I arrived into Dhunche, after a pretty unique bus ride, I realized that I would have to stay the night in Dhunche, and hike to the nearest town at the base of the Langtang Lerung Base Camp, which would leave me hiking alone, without a map, for two days. I took the signs, and went with my new friends to Gosykunda Lake, unsure if I would cut through the mountain pass to meet my friend the next day. That night in Dhunche, while they partook in rice wine and hot water, I met a young girl and her family, and become one of the family for the night. On my way home, their friendship would be nearly life saving, as they took me into their home and helped me pay for the bus back to Kathmandu. One of the hikers was married, with a baby, though he was younger than me, and his friend, who was younger than my brother, was in a committed relationship, as I could tell. They reminded me of Harold and Kumar, and when they produced the homegrown Nepali hash and grass, I couldn't help but smoke a little with them to mark the occasion. I would regret this at the top. The carbon made it difficult to breathe, the altitude made it difficult to think, and the dizziness would contribute to the first signs of altitude sickness that made me stay at the top for a very cold, very painful night. I met some world travelers, however, on their 10 day trek, then another group on the way down, as they were going up from the 8 days they took to reach the pass I had seen on the map to Lirung. We had rich yak butter and potatoes for dinner at the homestay in Dhunche, with daal bhat and hot water. Daal Bhat power, 24 hour, as they say here in Nepal. It's true. After working hard on a job site, or hiking for hours, a belly full of daal bhat feels like heaven. The next morning, I was awakened for the day of trekking. I had my doubts at first, paranoia slightly from the cannabis and dreams, no doubt. I felt like I should not trust these two. In the end, I would part ways, and follow this instinct to be more careful iteracting with others at the park, and on the trails. The kind ahma gave us a bag of home made donuts for the road, and hot milk tea for breakfast. The donuts were the best thing I have ever had. Very oily, very fluffly. Shortly after we left the home, our friend did the trekker tradition and purchased a handful of milk lollies, and we all stuck one in our mouths for the first length of the trek. I am grateful I went with them. After seeing my friends photo in the snow, at over 4900m, I knew at the top of Gosykunda Lake that I was underdressed, and under prepared. I made the right decision to acclimate by going to Gosykunda, and to test the waters at a slightly lower elevation. The sun was my best friend. I realized I could not hike at night just as the sun was setting on the first day. I had to implore my friends that we stop at the teahouse we had gotten noodles for the second time, and they complied. At each stop there was a surprise. The surprises would help me recognize my way path on the way down. The first stop was a cute guest house known as Lama hotel. The trail began by a gushing crystal river that required a rope bridge and wooden bridge to cross. A dog from the neighborhood had been given some donut, and became our companion for a small time up the mountain. He even crossed the river to join us on the other side of the bridge. On the hike up, we passed a house with cannabis growing by the side of the patio. This was when they asked me to ask the homeowner to purchase it, as a favor. This made me uncomfortable. I kept to myself, and this irritated one of them. I am good at staying calm as others crack. The first day was eye opening. The younger one had a camera, and took beautiful photos with the mountain back drop. They drank and smoked cigerrates the whole way up. I knew it would last. I was surprised though, at how resilient they were, even in their unhealthy habits. On the first night, I realized it is veyr easy to offend the home owners, as they assert their control very clearly, and it is indeed still their home. After having noodles and getting my room, I went inside the main house and sat by the fire, ate daal bhat with everyone. On the first night in Dhunche, I had met another hiker and his teenage brother. This hiker seemed eager to meet me, and stick together. Again, I was patient and careful. When they arrived at the teahouse, however, I was very happy to see them, even lept upto give him a hug. It was then that I realized that I was under durress, but that I would commit to trekking up and splitting ways the next day. The guy from Dhunche spoke good english. When we said, "You were taken from your path", this struck me, however, I knew I was following my instincts. He seemed upset and like he had a point to make, but this was not my concern. Still, I appreciated everyone's appreciation for the ukelele. I played a few times in the tea houses, and honestly, felt deeply where my songs were coming from.