FINALLY . . . an outing!

We've had company at our house since we arrived home from our stint across the border. We had lots of fun things planned, BUT they were put on hold because the dreaded 'Delhi Belly' of South Asia struck as we arrived back at home. Finally, after 7 days, one complete week, of quarantine, everyone was deemed fit enough to travel up the 'hill' to our favorite cooling off spot. It's a beautiful place with lots of scenery on the way AND it's a great place to escape the monsoon heat. You can even get cold up there! AWESOME.

We set off as a very merry party and decided to stop at a spot dubbed 'The Secret Spot' by others who have gone before us. It's a beautiful little spot where you can hike a little ways and see a beautiful waterfall. My family was especially excited to see it since we have never seen it monsoon before! We got there with no problems and headed off to show off our secret spot. Isn't it beautiful?

Jon Thomas wanted to show Charlie and Jonathan what was further down the trail than they had ever been, so they explored a little further than the rest of us. Below is them, looking serene in the peaceful, misty forest. Little did we know danger was lurking.

"Dad, there's a little black worm on my foot. It has a big sucker on it. What is it?"

"That's a leech, we've got to get back to the truck."

(We, from afar, notice that they departed their location rather quickly and returned to our location. We then all returned to the truck together for inspection.)

"That's disgusting. It's like a slimy tick."

"Everyone take off your shoes and pull up your pants legs for inspection."

"There's another one."

"I'm bleeding and it won't stop"

"Don't leeches have some sort of anticoagulat they put into you so you bleed a lot?"

"Yes, that's even more disgusting."

After much discussion, we conclude there are no more leeches. We resume our trip to the top of the hill. We are still a rather merry party, although by this time we are experiencing phantom itching on our legs and feet. But once we get to the top and get to our favorite, open-air restaurant, all is forgotten. We enjoyed some lovely tea/coffee/hot chocolate with snacks. See below, don't we look happy?!?

Just before paying the bill, Jonathan says, "DISGUSTING, there are even leeches on the ground up here!" (side note: it's monsoon, EVERYTHING is perpetually wet). We examine said leech (see below), begin itching again and quickly pay the bill.

We didn't realize until we got back to town, ventured to the vegetable market and someone told Jonathan there was blood running down his leg that the leech had actually FALLEN OFF JONATHAN'S LEG! Let me rephrase - IT WAS ON MY MAN'S LEG! Jonathan was unnerved by the fact that the leech was that far up his pant leg, so we immediately went home, had a 'full body leech search' on all parties involved and tended to the poor man's still bleeding leg. That anticoagulant thing is serious stuff.
Have I ever mentioned that we like living here because something unexpected is always happening. Love days when I'm not dissappointed!