Row Row Your Boat
by Nick
Picture a blue blue lake surrounded by the snow capped Himalaya and on the shore a small town with delicious restaurants, trekking stores by the dozen, Tibetans selling handicrafts, and every kind of accommodation and thats Pokhara.
Some tourists whiz through on their way up to the gorgeous Annapurna mountain range but some linger awhile by the lakeside, we were the latter. Due to our visas troubles our time for trekking was cut but this aloud us to lounge around on the lake front and kick back before the stresses of India.
Our first night we took a taxi up to Sarangkot, a beautiful viewpoint from which machupuchhare and some of the Annapurna’s are visible. As the sun dips below the horizon the mountains are hinted with shades of pink and purple just before pure darkness.
It’s best to take a taxi up and have the driver wait to take you back down but since ours didn’t want to, we had to hitch a ride with a Spanish couple for which we are greatfull or we would have had to walk down in the dark.
The following day we rented a boat and with a few beers in hand and paddled our way through the scenic Phewa Tal. Well I paddled, Lianna enjoyed the views. Afterwards with an appetite worked up, we went back to the Italian Restaurant we visited on our first night. (Ann they even made a good gnocchi!)
We are now in Kathmandu again after a 7hr bus ride and will stay for two nights before flying to Varanasi. We obtained our 3 month visas as planned, booked our tickets and after finding a nice place in Kathmandu to spend my Birthday, we will be heading onwards to Mother India!
Nice way to spend a birthday Nick! – I just went on my computer to wish you a Happy Birthday as I had remembered it before I read your mention in your blog. Of course by now your day is ending and we’re only half way through. Again your pics are wonderful – very relaxing to view! I’m smiling at the idea of getting good gnocchi in a place like that but happy to see you didn’t have to starve on your birthday – no doubt Lianna enjoyed them too. HAPPY BIRTHDAY from all of us here – Rick, me Nicole, Buffy & Mia
Hi Nick and Lianna, We look forward to reading your blog everyday, I am in awe that someone I know is doing something as exciting as you are…the pics are awesome too! I hope you had an awesome birthday–Happy Birthday! Anna-Michelle & Glenn
Great picture of the two of you with a beautiful mountainous background! Wow ! Happy Birthday Nick……last BD Bhutan, this year Kathmandu and next year ???
Mom and Alicia
Hello!
I asked about altitude sickness the other day (found your blog featured on a travel website) …. but I hadn’t realised you’re still on the move!!!
Great stuff I’ve read… started to dream a far longer trip than the one I’m planning (20 days to Tibet only).
ENJOY!!
Larissa
Wow, those photos are beautiful! I cannot wait to get to Nepal. But first we must tackle India as well. We leave on the 24th. Maybe we will cross paths in that giant country. You never know:)
Thanks for reading Larissa. I believe the agency you contated is correct. Its better paperwork wise to fly in and take the train out of Lhasa but for your health its the opposite. The reason why the agency told you its simpler for paperwork is because sometimes train tickets are sold out to Lhasa but never leaving Lhasa because most tourists want to take the train into the city. We used an agency in Xining and no, we didn’t have any problems getting tickets but also it was not high season. Have a great trip and Id be happy to answer any questions you have.Sorry I didn’t reply for so long but as you know we are moving around a lot.
Leave your response!
Archives
Most Commented
This is an interactive blog. Let us know what you think in our comments area!