Poon Hill four day Trek

So I'm off on my own, a four day trek to Poon Hill with my guide Hari. Who is currently fast asleep on the local bus with me. The views from the bus are stunning, the bus is packed full of locals and not a westerner to be seen. At the summit of the mountain you looked back and could see the lake of Pokhara in the far distance then we headed down the far side where the bus dropped is off. We arrived at the start of the trek, only two hours on the bus. It all starts at Nayapul (new bridge), it's 9am and time for breakfast. So our first tea room, tea and omelet. Our walk started by going through a small village for the locals, which also sold many supplies for trekkers. Then over a small rope bridge where I had to stop and show my national park permit, they duly signed my name in to a book I was number 30 for today, assuming that 29 trekkers had gone before me. Another short walk and time to inspect my TIMS permit, all trekkers have to hold a TIMS permit to walk in Nepal, then we followed the river upstream. Passing a number of very large landslides, I mean large the whole hillside had come away and ended up at the bottom of the pass. Not one but four landslides in total, even the locals were asking if the trek was passable. There are a number of tea houses on route each having the same menu, same prices so this makes things a little easier to know you can stop at any tea house and prices would all be the same. We reach another flight of steps, I was getting in to the rhythm of trekking and I bounced up, leaving the guide behind puffing and panting. Oh my guide is a 26 year old married man with a 3 month old baby boy. I was to find out that at the top of the stairs was the resting point for the next; hang on it was 1pm, why did I have to be ready by 6am. I was not very happy with my guide. The rest of the day left me washing and hanging out my wet clothes. The room, costing only £1.30, is very basic and made out of old wooden boxes. Anyhow it'll do for one night. Okay new morning new day, walking again, it's 10am and am knackered like an old mule. This is hard work. 10:15am and I stopped for a banana and apple pancake, with a bottle of coca cola, my energy levels are so low. So a small doze and I'm up and ready to go again. More going up, up and more up hill, step after step, these go on forever. I used to be fit before I started travelling, but now my energy is just not available. Even after the brunch I have a little more, but not enough to carry my legs up the mountain. I keep plodding on up and onwards. At 1:30 we stop for lunch, my levels are so low I need something but I know that what ever I eat or drink will just give me a small amount of repayment. So a coca cola and egg fried rice. Next stop is our resting place for the night and about 90 minutes walk. Today I must have burnt over 5,000 calories but only eaten some 1,500. But my body does not want to eat anything. We've arrived at our rest point, nice small village at the top of a mountain, very pretty and if the clouds would clear I am sure very stunning views. Tomorrow we're up at 5am to climb Poon Hill in the dark without any torches. Although I do have a torch back in Pokhara I asked my guide what I needed to bring he said nothing. Hum, not happy. So hot shower and I’m ready for bed, it's 5pm but I am knackered. The room like before is made from old wooden boxes, it must be the think here. Food is smelling nice and I have agreed with Hari, my guide, to eat with him at 7pm eating a local Nepal Dal. Well he keeps eating it so I'd thought I'd give it a go too. Not much sleep if any at all, I think it could be down to the altitude. Up at 4:45am and walking by 5am in the dark up to Poon Hill. It was cloudy so I could see nothing. After about 30 minutes walking we reached the top of the clouds and could see the mountains for the very first time. They are stunning and look so close. We still needed to walk up to the top of Poon Hill, another 20 minutes. Walking up a hill at 5am in the morning is not what I call fun, it's knackering. Finally reached the top just as the sun was rising over the far mountains, the view now was breathtaking, the sky was clear with some clouds. We could see two mountains that were over 8,000 metres high. Just dazzling and mesmerising. Back to the guest house and apple fritters with custard for breakfast, yum yum. Got an eight hour trek today. Over what they call Nepali flat which means up hill, down hill, up hill you get the idea. My room tonight has cost be under £1 and with a view to die for, looking directly out on to the mountains. This must be one of the best value for money rooms in the world. Okay we walked up hill again, but then it started going down at last! Then entering in to a valley the rain started and it thru it down. Hari got soaked and was said he was getting a little cold. So I picked up the pace to get his core temperature back up. After walking for some 8 hours today we arrived at our resting point for the night, said to have some of the best views around, it's cloudy so I'll make judgement on the view in the morning. I have come to the conclusion that this trek must be classed as one of the best treks in the world, it is just stunning, even when it rains. The views have been staggering and breathtaking. Anyhow feet are now up and I'm relaxing, one more day of trekking and then the bus back to Pokhara. Last day and down hill for seven hours, it's hard to imagine walking for so long in one direction and to be going down hill all the way, it is sore on your feet and a killer to your knees. That's it the wall is over, signed out on TIMS and the national park and crossed the bridge. Now waiting for the bus back to Pokhara. What a fantastic trek, all thanks to Ian, this must be the best walk I have ever done, everything from the climbing of the hills, Poon Hill at 5am to watch the sun rise and just the amazing scenery every step of the way. Cheers mate!