I reached Jomson and left my new friends, as they had decided to fly out from there. To be honest from Jomson down to Tatopani the trek isn't that fabulous anymore. The best part already lied behind me. This part of the trek is also known as the Jomson Trek, as many trekkers walk either up or down to or from Jomson and fly in or out from the little Jomson airport. Therefore there are many more tourists and also the people are more annoyed then on the Manang side. However, you still have lots of beautiful sights (Dhaulagiri, gorgeous valleys ...), accommodation is much more comfortable and food is better. The bad thing is the incredibly strong wind, that comes up every day in the afternoon, from south to north, from Tatopani to Jomson. It makes it very difficult to walk against its direction and is really tyring.
In Tatopani there are very enjoyable hot springs. I decided to walk up on the Poon Hill which is very famous cause of its Rhododendron forests, which flower in March and April, and because of the great views you have on top of the hill. It was another hard day of walking but definitely worth it. Wonderful terrace landscapes with the traditional and very beautiful clay houses. Ghorepani lies nearly on top of Poon Hill. From there at five o'clock masses of tourists climb up to the top of the hill (3200 m). There I enjoyed sunrise on the deepest valley in the world, between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I lies Tatopani at 1200 m altitude.
Finally satisfied, I walked down the famous 3318 stone steps which leads you down the Hill looking up on Machapuchre (FishTail), the holy Nepali mountain, and got to Birethanti and Nayapul, were I found again modern civilisation and a taxi, which took me back to Pokhara, after an obvious bit of bargaining.
01 The main street in Marpha is perfectly paved with flagstones 02 Young woman in Marpha 03 The road from Marpha to Tukuche 04 The majestic peak of Dhaulagiri (8167m) in the early morning 05 Kids in Kokhethanti
06 Rice terraces close to Sikha 07 A closer view to Dhaulagiri Himal 08 Sunrise on Poon Hill 09 The deepest valley of the world between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri
10 The massive peak of Dhaulagiri 11 Prayer flags in the morning sun 12 Prayer flags on the Poon Hill 13 Prayer flags on the Poon Hill
14 Prayer flags in front of the Annapurnas 15 A girl carrying her little brother 16 Flowering Rhododendron on Poon Hill 17 Two porters carrying the bags of three Sunday tourists
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