DAY 166 - KERKHA

166) SATURDAY, 10 DECEMBER 1977: 170KMS. - KERKHA

 

Our route today reminded me of the song “Climb every mountain”, this track ran zigzaging back and forth about 12 times. 

Photo : gadventure.com / Google images search

As soon as we came down the mountain, it ran along the river until we reached  HETANDRA where we stopped to fill up the diesel. We continued our way on the road passing through the field of mustard or rapeseed with yellow flowers on both roadsides. 

http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

Then we passed the forest or jungle area, there were fowls and monkeys feeding on the sides.   We parked overnight near the town KERKHA, where many thatch houses were scattered  similar to rural  area in Thailand. I saw people here grow Christmas Star or Poinsettia  in front of their houses.

DAY 165 - BASTIPUR

165) FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER 1977 : 200KMS. - BASTIPUR

 

We departed towards the East through the mountainous topography and the plains, just like what we passed yesterday.   Our overnight parking today was in BASTIPUR.

Photo : myholidaynepal.com / Google images search

 

 

DAY 164 - DAMAN

164) THURSDAY, 8 DECEMBER 1977 : 125KMS. - DAMAN

After stationing in KATHMANDU for many days, we left Swayambhunath  for our next destination. Because of too long parking and the temperature in the car was just 12*C only, Tilo could not start our campervan,  we had some people help pushing it.  We paid for the toll charge at  NRS. 108.-, it was the road over the mountains with many curves  and zigzag parts, flanked by the stream that made me feel dizzy.

 

 

Pointing at the Everest Peak on the way to Daman

We arrived Daman (3,000 m. above sea level) in the late evening. Somewhere on the way, we parked to take a photo of me and  MT. EVEREST (MT.EVEREST or SAGARMATHA in Nepal, 8,848 m.) in the background  far away seeming like floating in the air, covered with white snow.  From DAMAN we drove to another side of the mountain to find heavy fog that we could not see anything. Looking at the trees on the roadside, distorted by thick fog, they looked like shadows of monsters  !

Today Tilo chose to park overnight on a slope area with the hope that the campervan  would roll down the slope in the next morning to help start the engine.

 

DAY 163 - KATHMANDU

163) WEDNESDAY, 7 DECEMBER 1977 : 0KMS. - KATHMANDU

 

We went on with our chapter two of command  training for Bhalu. The student was ready to practice  the next command  after sitting down, it is "WART(E)"  (warten = wait) to lie in waiting by pressing one hand on his back to lie down while releasing the cord near his body and we walked a few steps away. It was a little difficult for Bhalu to understand  but the scolding loudly helped to keep him to stay on the spot if he wanted to get out. We repeated until he seemed to understand, we did not forget to give him soft patting on his head as compliment.  We should do it often or every day, if possible until he get used to our command, but we rarely stay for a  long period in one place. 

 

Lhasa Apso - Photo : amahllhasaapso.com / Bing images search

We went for dinner at the same Tibetan restaurant as usual, I  liked their natural yogurt (I did not know which kind of milk), plain and unflavored. I just added a little bit of sugar to my taste. It was delicious and compatible with fresh cool weather. 

DAY 162 - KATHMANDU

162) TUESDAY, 6 DECEMBER 1977 : 0KMS. - KATHMANDU

 

I took turn with Tilo in training Bhalu along the steps up and down of the SWAYAMBHUNATH temple. Today we started chapter one.  Bhalu is cute and clever, playful, and learned faster. I walked in front of him, I noticed that Lhasa Apso  breed  had some character like cats that they  rarely follow a command. 

Lhasa Apso puppy - Photo : completeddogguide.com / Bing images search

I said "HALT" in German (meaning  “stop”) while pulling abruptly  or jerking the cord strongly enough to stop him from walking and we also had to stop and stay still with him. Every time when I stopped   walking. I stood on the left side of Bhalu as I lead him with my right hand.  My next keyword of order was  "SITZ" (sitzen = sit) by using my hand to press down his back to make him sit on the ground as well as gently pulling the cord upward.  With a free  hand  I patted softly on his head and praised him with a word "GUT" (good)  to let him know that he has done it correctly.  We repeated alternately all along the passage way.    When we went forward,  we ordered him with the word  'GEH(E) " (gehen = go) to start walking. We had moderately entertaining  experiences with our 4-leg  student, he kept wandering out of the way to stop sniffing urine  and left off  excrement  of other dogs.