Nepal- Rock Star with Indians; Back to Future Trekking

I flew from New Delhi to Pokhara, Nepals 2nd largest city and the starting point for the Annapurna Base Camp trek (always referred to here simply as ABC. Pokhara is friendly city abutting a pretty lake.  

While standing there admiring the lake, a young Indian fellow (maybe 21) started talking to me and then asked if he could have his picture taken with me. While being a little apprehensive that it might some sort of scam- I man I am good looking and all but still- I consented. Then all of his 7 or 8 mates asked if they could have their picture taken with me too. In an expansive mood by that point, I again agreed. I felt like a celebrity. Maybe the blog has gone viral in India  

Turns out they had just graduated from college and were all there on a holiday for perhaps their last time together  it was a fun moment and of course they posed with me- 

I then started my 5 day trek to ABC   The trek is usually done in 6 days but I am trying to do it in 5 as the accommodations leave something to be desired-  

At least the first night I had a single room   When I started my hiking activities with my old friend Craze over 50 years ago, we stayed in bunk rooms in cold Appalachian Mountain Huts  So this ABC trek is back to the future with tiny cold bunk rooms- 

I would rate these mountain Tea Houses as maybe .00005 stars   Here is my guide trying to stay warm as they have no heat- 

The weather hasn’t cooperated much either with a lot of clouds and rain   But early this morning I did see one of the most beautiful mountains I have very seen-