day 26, 9:19pm, youth hostel has internet!
yeay! a keyboard! it's too bad all the energy and creativity has been sucked out of me.
but i'll use this opportunity to answer a few of the questions i've received.
snake count 24! i see most of the snakes either in the grass beside the rice fields or on the pavement on the side of the road. i usually see them just as they start moving away which is at about 3m. a few times i've nearly stepped on them because they are hidden in the brush so well. snake number 21 scared the hamburgers out of me because when i nearly stepped on it it freaked out and started flailing around. i thought it was trying to bite me. most encounters are not so dramatic. and i've never seen one near where i was sleeping.
the places i sleep. when i can't get a free room, the next best thing is a rest hut. they do resemble covered picnic areas, although the nicer ones are quite big and are walled around most sides. you could probably fit a 2-person tent inside on the concrete. i try too look for rest huts that have washrooms and running water nearby, like the place i stayed last night. i took a picture of a basic rest hut with my cellphone. i'll post it up later.
walking and distances. i determine my daily walking distances by adding up the labelled distances in my guidebook. the road distances seem accurate but the trail distances always seem to be underestimated. i don't think it takes into account all of the turns and switchbacks.
the signs on the trail never seem to be reliable. one time, i came to a sign that said "next temple 3.0km", then just up around the bend there was a second sign that read "next temple 2.5km". that's always a nice surprise, however in this case after another 15min of walking a third sign read "next temple 3.3km". there must be someone having a little fun with the henro.
these days, i'm walking 1km in about 12-15min depending on the trail and time of day. it gets pretty hot at 3pm and i start walking pretty slow. :)
my body and weight. everyone wants to know about what i'm looking like these days. well unfortunately there will be no picture. however, there will be a contest! (not for a picture). i'll put the details in my next post.
but i'll use this opportunity to answer a few of the questions i've received.
snake count 24! i see most of the snakes either in the grass beside the rice fields or on the pavement on the side of the road. i usually see them just as they start moving away which is at about 3m. a few times i've nearly stepped on them because they are hidden in the brush so well. snake number 21 scared the hamburgers out of me because when i nearly stepped on it it freaked out and started flailing around. i thought it was trying to bite me. most encounters are not so dramatic. and i've never seen one near where i was sleeping.
the places i sleep. when i can't get a free room, the next best thing is a rest hut. they do resemble covered picnic areas, although the nicer ones are quite big and are walled around most sides. you could probably fit a 2-person tent inside on the concrete. i try too look for rest huts that have washrooms and running water nearby, like the place i stayed last night. i took a picture of a basic rest hut with my cellphone. i'll post it up later.
walking and distances. i determine my daily walking distances by adding up the labelled distances in my guidebook. the road distances seem accurate but the trail distances always seem to be underestimated. i don't think it takes into account all of the turns and switchbacks.
the signs on the trail never seem to be reliable. one time, i came to a sign that said "next temple 3.0km", then just up around the bend there was a second sign that read "next temple 2.5km". that's always a nice surprise, however in this case after another 15min of walking a third sign read "next temple 3.3km". there must be someone having a little fun with the henro.
these days, i'm walking 1km in about 12-15min depending on the trail and time of day. it gets pretty hot at 3pm and i start walking pretty slow. :)
my body and weight. everyone wants to know about what i'm looking like these days. well unfortunately there will be no picture. however, there will be a contest! (not for a picture). i'll put the details in my next post.
posted by eriko at
5:15 AM
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