Emerging Symbol

The final short walk to the waiting vehicles had much to offer in the way of butterflies and birds but this Common Swallowtail which had just emerged from its chrysalis, was a wonderful goodbye present from the trek. But I kept thinking back to the poor man carrying sheets of corrugated iron up that trail we had just walked down (see extra).

This afternoon we were invited to the field in front of our trek leader's house for a celebration with the whole team: porters, ladies running the homestays, our guide and his family. It was an idyllic setting but the storm clouds were brewing over the mountains.

Writing this in our "homestay" in Munsiari, the rain is pouring down outside with frequent thunder rolls and lightening flashes. It does not bode well for a 12 hour jeep ride tomorrow. Looking on the bright side however, it could have rained like this during the trek!