We'll All Be Friends in Heaven

"For five seconds, I didn't know where you were!" Milan says to me, laughing through a giant grin. For five seconds, I didn't know where I was, though, either. We went white water, well, more like brown water, rafting yesterday during our travel to Pokhara. The water was the color roughly of the national drink-masala tea with milk and sugar, a light brown color. Six of us, and our two guides, boarded our small inflatable raft on the nearly flooded river. The monsoon rains have been ever-present, but only intermittently (it rains everyday, just not all day long). With life jackets buckled, helmets strapped, and paddles in hand, we began our voyage down the river. I began at the back of the boat, near Milan, Jess, and our other guide, and the trip was wonderful. We stopped for lunch and ate with some Brits on a tour of South Asia, and then we began once more down the river. Milan, I think, became rather bored. Many of the rapids were covered with water because of the monsoon rains, and it was pretty easy going throughout, so we started to play games, i.e. everyone got in the back of the boat and we tried not to capsize. Eventually, I found my way to the front of the raft, and, due to my own ill-thinking, forgot to secure my foot by placing it firmly under the cord. We hit a rapid, and suddenly, I felt myself falling out. I lurched forward to grab the rope, but this little movement provided me with just enough momentum to fall into the masala mess. Quickly, I was submerged in the brown water, and I struggled for the surface. I could not get up. While I attempted to fight the current pulling me down the river, I first ended up coming under the boat. I kept fighting, kicking, with my heart pounding in my chest, and finally I emerged, arms flailing, mouth gasping, eyes searching. Jess and Megan grabbed me and I grabbed the rope; Milan pulled me in and handed me my paddle. And all I could do was... smile. What adventure.

Tomorrow morning, we leave for a seven-day, six-night trek to the Annapurna Base Camp (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/expeditions/tianshan/photos/images/annapurna_base_camp.jpg). I cannot wait.