Annapurna Circuit Day 4 -- Change

Now we are getting to a higher altitude and today everything changed. Most importantly, the smell.

Now we are moving from cow country to yak country, more ponies and less donkeys, Hindu lands to Buddhist lands, no more banana trees and terraced rice fields; instead, steep cliffs and our first peak at the big snow-capped mountains.

As usual, I was walking with my head down to avoid stepping in the donkey poop. I noticed a nice smell; I looked up to see pine trees all around! It reminded me of Northern California. A little further up the trail, the scent was even nicer, but I couldn't quite recognize it.

"Marijuana!" yelled Jibi, "Smell it!" he instructed.

I looked up to see wild pot plants all along the trail, on both sides. I bent over and sniffed one.

Ahh, the sweet aroma of Cannabis Indica! So much better than donkey poop!