Romance In Makara Orange

Towards Ghorepani with Sandeep

After dawn prayers, Vira no longer sleeps despite the morning air so biting.

Released all the equipment to put in the backpack before the Sakar, his porter carried it. Vira only carries a 20-liter backpack containing documents, chocolate candies, granola and peanut snacks, and two half-liter water bottles.

Because yesterday afternoon had taken a shower, Vira felt her body was still fresh and did not need to take another bath. Just wash your face and brush your teeth. Breakfast starts at seven in the morning and they will begin the climb to Ghorepani at eight. Not sleeping anymore, Vira went straight to the restaurant that had been open since six this morning.

He put his Vira backpack under the table, where Sandeep, Sarkar and Satya ate. They are always separated and tend to join with other guides and porters. He saw no signs of backpacks from other mas-mas climbers.

“Sandeep, have my friends come down already [have my friends been down here]?” ask Vira.

Sakar and Satya threw their timid smiles at Vira while continuing to chew her food. They were smiling cheap but only spoke a word or two in English that they did not seem to have mastered.

“Not yet, you are the first. You can order breakfast now [Yet, you're the first to come. You can order breakfast first],” Sandeep replied.

Vira ordered momo, a type of typical Nepali dimsum containing chicken meat and vegetables, only the skin was thicker than what Vira used to eat. Intentionally Vira also ordered fried rice which turned out to taste a blend of soy sauce and curry seasoning. Although it feels strange, but still eaten.

Mas Une, Mas Dody, Mas Cokro, and Bobby came together while Vira was eating her fried rice.

“Buset, wake up at what time you Vir, at this time have breakfast,” saya Mas Une.

“Koq you can come with gini?” ask Vira.

“Can we room four. That Obi mah buseet ngoroknya already like a pig,” said Mas Une who was greeted with a snort Bobby.

“Si Vira mah already know the sound of Ne snoring the Bobby,” chirps Mas Dody that makes Vira immediately giggled.

“Loh koq can?” ask Mas Une.

“She was pat in her room Vira pas in Pokhara yesterday. Anjrit was very heavy nyreret nih asu,” replied Mas Dody.

Vira laughed and almost choked in light of the incident. Everyone laughed and only Mas Cokro was silent, like not caring or not liking. I don't know. Since the beginning, Cokro has hardly ever spoken.

Luckily Vira ordered the food first so that it was finished faster and rested her stomach for a while before starting the climb. Vira chooses to sit outside while the mas climbers enjoy their breakfast.

He saw a message from Kosa that still ticks gray. Ah forgot, apparently there is no wifi signal and have to pay two more dollars. Thirty minutes left at eight and they'll be on their way up. Vira decided to let him.

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The road to Ghorepani passes through several different tracks. At first it was a ladder from the rocks but not too much. Only about three thousand steps according to Sandeep. Vira grimaced, three thousand koqs spelled out not too much. On campus alone, he always took the elevator if he was caught studying on the fourth or fifth floor.

In this early track there are still found houses, small stalls and children of Nepali who are busy playing.

The next track passes through a forest that is very similar to the forest in fictional films such as Hobbit. The path of the right and left side of the ground was filled with green trees with slightly purple red flowers. A blend of colors that makes the eyes cool looking at it.

“What’s the name of this flower [what is the name of this flower], Sandeep?” vira asked Sandeep who was walking not far in front of her.

“This is Rhododendron, Nepal national flower. Beautiful isn’t it [This Rododendron flower, the national flower of the Nepalese. Beautiful isn't it]?” answer Sandeep.

“I feel like I’m in heaven [I feel like I'm in heaven],” said Vira with admiration.

Sandeep. At first it was a little upset that Vira was walking so slowly while all her friends were men walking so fast. Sandeep initially felt not like a guide but like a baby sitter [a babysitter]. But along the way to Ghorepani, Sandeep was comfortable opening herself to Vira.

“I can speak five languages [i can speak five languages],” Sandeep replied without showing the slightest arrogance.

“Whaaaat, are you kidding me [whataaa, really]?” pekik Vira could hardly believe it.

“I can speak Nepali, Hindi, English, French, and German. It’s common for guides. Every guide in Nepali should speak more than three languages [I can speak Nepal, India, England, France, and Germany. This is common for guides. Every guide in Nepal should at least be able to master more than three languages],” explained Sandeep.

“I never accepted client from east Asia because I can speak none of them [I never accept climbers from East Asia because it does not speak their language],” continued Sandeep.

“Where are you from Sandeep [Originally where is Sandeep]?”

“I’m from Gorkha. My father was a Gorkha Soldier. I live in Kathmandu now [I am from Gorkha. My father's Army Gorkha. I live in Kathmandu now],” Sandeep explained.

“Vira, for you to know, I ‘m a widower, been divided since ten years ago [for you know, I am a widower, divorced since ten years ago].”

“Why you say that [Why say that]?” ask Vira

“It’s okay. Since you asking many question about my self, I don’t mind to tell you this [It's okay. Because you ask a lot about me, yes I just tell you].”

“Why did you divorce [Why are you divorced]?” ask Vira curious.

“Me with this job, yeaaah. Maybe she’s lonely and more comfortable with other man [With my work, maybe my wife is lonely and more comfortable with other men], Sandeep replied grudgingly.

Vira feels guilty. He was silent for a moment. No longer talk as much as before. He feels too curious about the lives of others.

“Hey Vira, what is with this silent? This jungle is dead without your voice [Hei Vira, koq is silent anyway? This forest is too quiet without your voice],” Sandeep said breaking the silence.

“Oh, Sandeep, sorry to hear that. Let’s talk about food, or movies, anything [excuse me, We talk about other things like food, movies, anything],” pinta Vira.

Sandeep laughed at that. They also talked about Nepalese food influenced by Indian and Chinese cuisine and the onslaught of Indian films in Nepal. How Sandeep likes the films starring Amir Khan because it always has a positive message.

They met at a blue-painted food stall on the edge of a ravine with incredible views. Vira and Sandeep are an hour late. The climbers have finished eating. Mas Une, Mas Cokro, and Mas Dody are ready to leave again with Sakar and Satya. They had to go up and down one more mountain to get to the lodge for the night.

“Gue with Vira, Mas. Still want leyeh-leyeh here. Great atmosphere!” say Bobby to another friend.

At the same table, with Bobby and Sandeep, Vira feels a new atmosphere of friendship. Just this time Bobby accompanied her and didn't leave her alone with Sandeep. Talk three during the trip. Walk only at the most distance of twenty meters.

“You know Sandeep, you should come to Indonesia and we will treat you well [You must come to Indonesia and we will entertain you well],” Bobby said solemnly

“All accommodation is free [free accommodation],” connect Vira.

Sandeep laughed out loud as she brandished her two thumbs.

It did not feel they finally arrived at the Tourist police office for check points, checks related to tourists who stopped to go to Annapurna Base Camp. Sandeep takes care of everything. Vira and Bobby with shaky steps walked towards the inn which was still a kilometer away.

“Bi, tomorrow morning I don't go to Poon Hill to see the sunrise. I just slept, sayin to Mas Une ya!” vira Pinta.

“Four hours of dawn leave Vir, I was thinking too times yes, Three hours back and forth.”

They both laughed with fatigue.