Cuddle with Simon II

Transcript

It's time to settle your body. Find yourself a comfortable spot, a relaxing space. Stretch out.

Turn off the light, turn off the screen, hunker down, so we can go on a journey. Allow your body to become weightless. Let that feeling all through you, that your tension is being absorbed right into the mattress.

It feels good, it feels perfect. You needed it. To your salvation, after a busy day.

Allow yourself to breathe deeply, and completely relax. Now, let's go somewhere magical. Bring along a partner, a best friend, a lover.

I can be whoever you like, but me and you are going to the mountains, the most powerful place on earth. We're taking a trip you always dreamed of, a trip you've always talked about, but maybe never got the chance to pull off until now. We're going to the Himalayas, the top of the world, the roof of the earth.

The great mountains await us, bags packed and excitement in the air, as we take in the sights and sounds of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. A bustling and beautifully chaotic city, filled with smiling faces from every corner, and delicious, exotic aromas wafting out from every window. It's a place that's been through so much, and yet triumphed, to become a wonderful jumping off point to the Himalayas.

We make the bumpy journey into the countryside to begin our trek on the world famous Annapurna Circuit. Something that has been on your bucket list since you were a small child, learning about this far away place for the very first time. Along this trek, we will pass by several of the top ten highest peaks on the planet.

We escape the city and find our souls. It's just you, me, and the mountains. We begin walking from the lower elevations, surrounded by vibrant pink and red blossoms, green trees, and lush grassy fields.

You pause to smell the flowers, to soak in the moment, eager for what's to come, feeling confident in your strength and abilities. Bit by bit, as we climb higher into the mountain, the trees change. Now it's just coniferous needles and cones that line the trail as we continue upward.

Soon, we begin to hear the telltale sound of a river. And sure enough, just a little further, we approach a crossing where we decide to fill our waters and take a much-needed break. The calm, bubbling brook weaves its way down the mountain, right to our feet.

You dip in your hands, feel the new frigid water, the freshness. You want to take a drink before purifying it, because it already seems so pure. But we decide to filter it, since we can't afford to get sick way out here and miss out on any of the adventure.

Looking up to where the river came from, you start to get a first good look at the towering peaks above. The green grass gives way to gray rock, which gives way to white snow and ice, before a jagged line divides earth from sky, where these two superpowers collide in a beautiful union, a stunning embrace. Glaciers top these mountains all year round.

They're magically tall, remarkably raw, rugged, pure. In every direction, something unique catches your eye. Finishing our break now, we continue up the mountain, along the path, weaving our way higher into the alpine.

It's a bright, sunny day, and not particularly cold considering t-shirt weather, especially with all the energy you're exerting and how warm your body feels. You also feel strong, feel like you could hike all day, all week, all the way to the top of the world. You set the pace for both of us, marching along the trail at a comfortable speed.

The feeling of hiking is different than any other mode of transportation, such a primitive way to get from point A to point B. But it works. It's what we're made for, what we've adapted to do.

It's a profound feeling when you do it, and you get yourself a long way away, or a long way up a mountain, into a different climate, a different world. As we climb, and time goes by, we escape the rocks and needly trees, passing over the snow and glacier ice now. But then, we finally get to the top, to the highest pass on our trek.

And the view is breathtaking. It's every breath you've exerted on the way up, expelled into a single sigh of relief. As you exhale any worries, any doubts, and feel the success and accomplishment and triumph of making it here.

You're among the highest mountains in the world, towering over almost everyone else on the planet. You've never been so tall, you've never been so high, and it feels good. It's invigorating, looking down upon anyone who's ever looked down on you.

Be proud. Then, you notice the faint smell of wood-burning smoke, and over the next ridge, you see the perfect, cozy little cabin, waiting for us. We look to each other and smile, laugh a little.

It's just hard to decide in this moment if you'd rather a cold beer or a hot tea. The Nepalese lady out front greets us with the warmest smile and welcomes us inside. Generosity oozes from every ounce of this place, every corner, covered with warm blankets, colorful rugs and carpets and furs.

Within no time, there's food on the way and hot drinks in our hands. The warm.