70.04: Nepal: Pokhara: Animal Farm with a backdrop of magnificent mountains. The journey up-and-down.

Sometimes there's not much difference between kids of different species...they are bouncy and want to have fun. This kid rolled around and then stood on his hind legs. The grownups did not appear impressed or even interested; however, we were. Maybe it's true; we're not really mature.
"If I have to come down to sort you out you'll regret you ever laid eyes on me. Get that, Bully."
"Oh, you are coming up. Just so happens I have an appointment so I'm leaving. Next time, I won't let you off so easily, twinkle toes. And by the way, if you dropped a few pounds you might be better on the inclines...Jen, let's get out of here."
Meantime, earlier in the hike Jen used a road to reach the beginning of the trail. Watch the scooter! At the blue sign to the left, which we have no understanding of it's meaning, we'll make a left and rise (with some effort) to the top.
We cross the bridge, walk along the road for a while, make the turn and face this amazing sight.
Jen takes a break from her construction job and goes walk-about, looking for her trowel.
We continue up although we are still at very low altitude, look left and see Shanti Stupa on the front mountain, a regular hike although, not for the religious experience. The result is always uplifting, both literally and figuratively. The stupa is at an altitude of 3,600 feet. Behind it, looking only a little above Shanti, is Annapurna at a mere 26,700 feet. Talk about illusions.
When the elevators are not operating, a person is forced to use paths and stone-steps. The reliably of the equipment is most disconcerting, but we struggle upwards.
The higher we get, the more overpowering are the mountains, particularly, Machapuchare. On the mountain in the foreground is Sarangkot, a favorite hike, a sort of love-hate relationship.
Every now-and-again we'll pass a home. While they won't meet basic western standards, the views are fantastic.
Struggle continues.
We have made progress in relation to Shanti Stupa.
Closing in on our destination.
Jen arrives...stunning position.
Big-shot raised his head with a look of disdain and mockingly looks down upon us. He followed us , not believing we had an appointment. Having a bull and cows gives a family status as well as a lot of cleaning up functions. While dogs are independent in the country, that is, nobody walks them, people take their cows, bulls and buffaloes walking, yaks too. (No yak-yak).
Perched above the City of Pokhara, feeling rather fulfilled and a touch weary.
The closer one gets to the city, the reality of life becomes apparent. This is not a comment on the quality of existence but rather, it is not western wealth. However, it has many qualities missing from latter societies.
Heading down sharply as we approach the swing-bridge.
Following a bull fight, the winners cool off and the red capes show the blood from the activities. We head back home after enjoying another home-made brunch (cereal, yoghurt and fruit). Looks like a win-win situation although some might say there was a lot of bull.
Down one side and up the other, the beauty of a river crossing.
The hills are alive with the sound of crunching.
After a wonderful outing, we enjoy some tranquility.
Cheers, 

'Yo-Danda' and Jeffrey

70.03 Nepal: Pokhara: A night on the town. On second thoughts, a night above the town, lake, minor mountains while way below the fabulous Annapurna Range. (An introductory few)

'Cry the Beloved World' continues after the pictures. 

This is definitely easier than climbing the monster.
The sun has set...well, nearly but certainly over Fewa Lake and the City of Pokhara.
Shanti Stupa welcomes sunrise, above Fewa Lake.
Annapurna I welcomes the evening.
'Morning has broken, light the first day'.
Jen through the jungle, for a change.
One of us has a favorite: Machapuchare Mountain, losing snow each day. A height of a mere faction below 23,000 feet.
When clouds get in the way...on second thoughts, when they enhance.
The clouds decide to be on their way...to wherever clouds go.

In the early stages of the hike, we are still at ground level but seem to be above Annapurna I. (Well, the reflection at water level.) 

 A view as we approach Shiva Temple one early morning, and turn to face our commencement point.
A perspective of Pokhara on the way to Shiva Temple.
We close the photographs with Jen closing in on the peak...well, a little more to go. Pokahara in the background, Shanti Stupa a little way down.
                                                

                                                        Cry the Beloved World. 

  It is so difficult to watch the suffering caused by evil people in the name of ...what? One cannot help but wish to lash out in some way, to express one's outrage, to try to at least develop a consensus that evil behavior is exactly that...unacceptable, dastardly, abhorrent. That one has to even try to convince people that evil is abhorrent is in and of itself, a sign of just how low we have descended and unfortunately, continue to sink. Without wishing to overstate the obvious, something I have mentioned ad nauseum, is that when you allow decent values, morals and behavior to become something voluntary, maybe 'okay' to tolerate, you have lost the moral compass and thereafter, anything can and will happen. 

  It was not that long ago, well I am old, but then again relatively young in terms of the Earth's age, when people knew by teaching, strict instruction and an element of instinct as well as being corrected by the neighbor what was expected of them in the field of behavior, manners and decorum. I fear that age is long past and yet it was only a few decades ago. We were taught to be good, to do good, to help others. Clearly, after this was becoming an awful burden on people, a change occurred when it became the ideal to: 'Do no harm to others'. 

  No doubt, a major change but in the scheme of things, nevertheless, a pretty decent ideal. This has been superseded by: 'Do what suits you, be guided by your feelings, do what works for you. After all, you've earned it. Who has the right to tell you how to behave? Sounds a little individualistic one might deduce. After all, when you can select your own gender, who is in charge? Should you not find your medical insurance premium to your liking, murder the chief executive of the company. Sound ridiculous: Yes, but true. 

  Imagine being a person of a certain group, say ethnicity, religion, or otherwise, let's even say a Jew, which then makes you a target for a death squad, a group that hates you. They know nothing about you. Yet, not only do they decide that you do not deserve to live, an opinion that people 'might' be entitled to have (dubiously), of course, but not permitted to act upon. (I am appalled to even mention this). They then act upon their evil desires and go ahead and murder a person randomly in the name of a personal fictitious concept/opinion. It's preposterous. I find I have to pinch myself to believe this is actually occurring. Add to this evil behavior, there are those who applaud these murders and murderers. It brings joy to their lives. Surely, this cannot be true. Yet it is. How is it possible that there are so many soulless people walking the streets, our parks, the cities? Hmm! Evil flourishes when good people do nothing...how valid. 

  "Hey, Jeffrey, there are only a few bad people around—most people are decent." 

  How often have you heard that? There are millions of decent people living; I have no doubt. What I do know though are two things: The first being 'good' is too easily categorized and accepted. To be a good person takes much work; it takes deliberate effort to do good and perhaps even more difficult, to be consistently good. Thus, whereas I know there are many good people (and we have benefited from them over the years) but not as many as those who are wont to state: "People are basically good". To the contrary, people are neutral in behavior until proved otherwise. 

  The second point is that it is no longer uncommon for one to accept the concept that each one of us has had the odds reduced of being murdered randomly. Makes you think differently when the concept is not that abstract. 

  How does one deal with these issues when the ruling classes are awfully corrupt and untrustworthy; the new prosecutorial officers appear to be more interested in taking care of criminals than victims; and the new age of 'do-gooders' deem a police force no longer required to enforce the laws. I agree, it's a wonderful idea, but they do forget that people are not naturally good. After all, people are basically "good" and yet, corruption and evil behavior, are flourishing. Has there ever been a time when societies were trustworthy? Give me a positive answer and I'll sell you a bridge. 

  We have no formula for success, perhaps even survival. (Depressingly, our ages are now an advantage as we reach the latter stages.) Alas, the former system of values which the world nurtured, the ethics, codes of behavior, are drowning, and most sadly, disappearing. So what do we do? 

  We look to the other part of the world, that aspect which is nothing short of miraculous. We join nature and seek and enjoy what was given to each and every person born to the Planet. We seek, we explore, adventure, learn, appreciate, and always sweat as we take in the glory of the natural world. We are also bolstered by the many kind and decent people we meet on the trails and land. And when these aspects come together, funnily enough, bonded by sweat of the physical challenges, our souls find comfort. 

  How this occurs, we know not. However, on each occasion we complete, we are boosted, though temporarily, until the joy wears off. Such good feelings invariably disappear the day after, by which time the process has to recommence to re-establish itself. The sweat, effectively the glue, needs to be generated productively, positively, which allows for the binding of the physical, mental and spiritual aspects. 

  Unfortunately, behind the scenes, less hidden than in earlier days, the evil behavior lurks much closer than we have ever experienced. Yet, still worse, no plan for elimination of evil seems to exist. 

   With acknowledgment to Alan Paton for title assistance: "Cry the Beloved Country".

70.02 Nepal: Pokhara: Hike to Shanti Stupa via the jungle, a truly wonderful experience.

  The hike followed the usual pattern of quick gains in elevation, often through jungles and forests, passing through various destinations along the way. Each place is a destination in-and-of-itself. On this hike, the Fewa (Phewa) Lake was below us (the level at which we began), local mountains across the way, and the mighty Annapurna Range beyond them. As we got higher up in the jungle, gaps appeared in the trees and in a few places, we gained magnificent sights of the mountains, the city and lake. It was, once again, an incredible experience. I think the text that follows attests to this last comment. 

Perhaps we should commence with a great sight: A view of 'the reward for the effort'. Jen is heading to a summit, one along the way of many.
Fewa Lake below as seen from the jungle.
Jen makes her way through the forest cautiously.
A good view of Fewa Lake, the outskirts of Pokhara to the right-below, Sarangkot, a great hike up the local mountain across the way, and of course, part of the Annapurna Range. On the left is the highest peak, Annapurna I (original?), at a mere 26,700 feet and probably a couple of inches.
We find a spot from which to view the city and lake as well as a group of boats for hire. Not much help to us from up here.
Which direction now, Jen?
A form of taking the gap. Really helpful for painful backs.
From the jungle, we find a gap which provides the following sights: Gangapurna and Annapurna 3, at a mere 24,932 feet.
Machapuchare, a great favorite, also know as 'Fishtail'.
From a high point in the jungle, we view a section of Pokhara.
The climb only ends at the top...no easing after commencement
Machapuchare enveloped in light clouds. At the peak of the local mountain is Sarankot in the foreground. The tower can be seen atop as well as an icon of gold to its left. 

Jen is now above the jungle and heading for a picnic spot. At rear is Shanti Stupa and left at the skyline is Shiva Temple.
Reaching the viewpoint/picnic spot. Okay, let's eat, it's been 17 hours since dinner. We only ate a few nuts earlier; I think we're nuts sometimes.
Lake, forest, city, mountain with the incredible backdrop of the Range. To the right, on the mountain above the lake, is a white building:  'Le Glamour Hotel'. Above it is Methlang, a place we ate breakfast 2 days earlier.
  'Tap, tap', the sound emanating from below my feet as the boots made contact with the surface. 'Tap, tap', the sound of boots making contact with the stones, rocks and earth comprising an incredibly good path. We were on the way down from the top of our destination, downhill all the way. That's typical of high-mountain areas—inclines go up without respite and vice-versa. I had developed a rhythm on the return journey which was aided by the atmosphere of the jungle-forest area. Quite beautiful, calm and quiet, green and deserted but for the occasional hiker or local, crossing paths. Maybe half a dozen people over 3.5 hours. Then again, I omit a herd of goats coming up the path heading to who knows where with a shepherd bringing up the rear. 'Namaste', we greeted the guide and all the locals we passed.      

  

I felt so calm, so alive, so at peace. Clearly, the tranquility of the jungle-forest was having a wonderful effect upon me. With Jen just behind as she bravely dealt with her injury, I felt both proud and good about her and the progress following nearly 2.5-months of difficulty and suffering. 'Crunch, crunch' the sound of disturbed fallen leaves littering the path with light, constant sounds in the background of insects hidden in the jungle but giving off a constant buzz, we continued down.        

  My mind, perhaps soul, seemed to meld into the atmosphere and the feeling I had was that of not quite being in any particular place, but rather in a very comfortable space somewhere between here and elsewhere. It's not a place definable or if it is, it's beyond my ken. Rather than bother to think of it too deeply, I set the thought aside and continued to glide down the slope, an eye on Jen every few seconds while remaining immersed, in what seems to occur every-now-and again, as almost being in another dimension. Who knows? What I do know is that it's not a feeling one fights; rather one holds onto it gently and hopefully, remains enraptured or engulfed by it. 

  I began to think of what someone said to us some 6-months after we began Hike-about,  over 15.5 years ago. This elderly gentleman effectively suggested we should get lives, do something useful. While we smiled and perhaps half-agreed, we knew we had discovered something special. We could provide many reasons why this lifestyle makes sense and we do from time-to-time, but I'll add something not mentioned before. It struck me that an important facet of our lives is to live outside formal society. 

  While we like and respect many people and in fact are comfortable with most good people, we have become less and less enamored with being a part of society, its pressures, requirements, especially its concept of conformity. We are not against conforming provided it makes sense. We do have great difficulty with the abandonment of old-world values for the adoption of the latest in 'feelings, opinions and being bombarded with vogue and new-age' concepts. What we respect more than anything, although we are sure we fall short on many occasions, is that of adhering to solid values and good behavior, those based upon biblical values and earlier western standards. 

  In short, we believe we live a life that makes sense to us, not concerned what others may think or believe (within the values mentioned above). We also seek freedom within those parameters allowing us to enjoy the wonders of nature while adhering to the laws and customs where we find ourselves within civilization, while enjoying the material comforts it offers. We realize we require the means to afford this lifestyle of adventure—it really is an adventure—which is part of the reason we continued to try to make pecuniary gains over the latter years. We also find considerably pleasure in sharing a fraction of those gains with those who need it as we move through the poorer parts of the world. While we mention this not because we think we are particularly generous, but rather, perhaps selfishly, derive much pleasure providing a modicum of assistance. 

  It's probably a good time to end this piece as we observe, in our opinion, a world that has lost direction and continues to sink, probably in direct proportion to its abandonment of solid values. 

 Cheers, 

Jungle-Jen and Jeffrey 

After breakfast, we headed up further to visit a wonderful woman who operates a coffee/cafe below the Stupa. Special times. Jen returning after tea and coffee including indulging in a cinnamon bun. Wow!