Canyoneering and Rafting

11/10 Very sunny and clear (i.e. little pollution) in Kathmandu so you can even see the snow capped mighty Himalayas shimmering in the distance. Drive back up the canyon that leads to Tibet to do some rafting. I had taken some immodium, but still feeling kind of crampy and sick to my stomach. The first day we raft the lower Bhote Khosi. Not my best day of rafting as I am feeling a bit sick, its pretty cold, and as it is the warm up for the next day, it is not overly exciting with just some class IIIs. There is a big group of 18 Russians and then Benjamin and Matteus (both from Bavaria) and Oliver (from the UK but works for a mining magazine based out of Boulder and currently lives in Mumbai). Only a couple of the Russians speak a touch of English, so us English speakers were happy to be in the same raft so that we could understand the commands from the guide. At one point in the trip was the jumping rock. Normally I am all about jumping off rocks, but again, I wasnt feeling great and it was kind of cold. The other English speakers didnt jump either. But every single Russian, including the older ladies all jumped. Russians are touch and cold doesnt bother them. After the jump, the two Nepali guides were shaking furiously bc of the cold. You couldnt find a single goosebump on any of th Ruskies.
We were staying at a place called borderlands (as it is near tibet) resort. It was a nice safari style resort along the Bhote Kosi where you stay in big canvas tents. On the way to the resort after the rafting, we discovered that there was some sort of fight between the people of Bharbarise town and the poice, so the road was barricaded. So we had to walk 30 minutes through the town to get a bus on the other side
11/11 Full day rafting the Bhote Kosi. This day was much better! I was feeling better and the rapids were much more exciting. Not too mention they also gave us wetsuits which helped with the cold. Most of the rapids were class 4s with a few 5s in there. The river is very technical. Its not like the huge rapids mixed in with flat water that you think of back home, but instead its constant whitewater with lots or rocks and obstacles. Kind of like if you were to raft the Big Thompson from below the dam in Estes down to Loveland (except of course with a bigger river). So it is non-stop action and paddling and maneuvering is important. The bhote khosi has absolutlely not flat water. At one point, Oliver had to go into a different raft for some reason, but the next time we stopped, he immediately demanded that he come back with us. He said the Russians had know idea what was going on and couldnt understand the commands and he feared for his life, so he wanted back on with us. The river is very scenic as well, with lots of waterfalls falling down in to the river. The bus we took coming back was full, so the germans and I sat on the top of the rafts which were on top of the bus. It was a wild ride with bouncing rafts on the bumpy road. Ducking trees and electric wires and holding on for dear life. `so this is what a class 6 is` is what Benny said.
11/12 Did a half day of canyoning and abseling (rapelling down waterfalls) near the borderlands resort. Went with a guy named Michael from Australia who is driving a motorbike from London to Sydney. He was a real nice guy and we had a good time rapelling down the falls.
11/13. Another half day of abseiling and canyoning, except just me and the guides as Michael had gone rafting. Today was really awesome with some huge waterfalls that we went down. Also some cool natural slides that we slid down.
11/14 Stayed an extra day in Kathmandu just to make sure that my stomach was ok. Since I was here I did some errands that I was going to do in Pokhara. Got my ACAP permit (annapurna coservation area permit) as well as my TIMS card (a trekking card requird to trek in nepal). Also picked up some more prescription antibiotics in case I fall ill again, and stopped by the main post office to pick up a poste restante from my lovely mother. Finally had my back in civilization celebratory meal from my last trek...chicken tikka masala with a banana lassi.