I’m telling you, I don’t like leeches, but they sure seem to love me! The other day, four of us went trekking to check out a dam site. It was rainy, and of course, I was the only one who ended up with leech bites. They were all over my body, and I stopped counting after picking 28 of them.
This happens to me a lot. Every time we hike in the rain, I’m the one who comes back with blood all over my legs, while everyone else is fine. I’m starting to wonder if it’s because I’m a slower walker on the slopes, or maybe there’s just something in my blood that leeches really like. Who knows?
Even though I seem to be a magnet for leeches, I begin to love walking in the rain. The views are incredible—the greenery, the mist, and the fresh air. It’s so worth it, even if I do come home with a few extra bite marks!
Photos taken during field work for Chaku Khola Hydropower Project in Sindhupalchowk.
