Thunder and heavy rain turned to hail last night and filled my dreams with visions of landslides, one of my abiding fears. But in the morning the sun had returned and I felt well rested. My knees were still niggling me a bit though and after breakfast, I decided a rest day was called for. While I was having a rest others were still walking and a steady procession of groups and individuals came traipsing by in the morning. One particularly large group of Chinese trekkers handed out pens, balloons, and sweets to the children that live here. They were happy and played with the balloons for most of the day. Meanwhile all around the lodge regular farm work continues, animals are herded to new pasture, firewood is gathered and the shouts of a farmer guiding his animals while plowing the terraced land behind me never stops.