Jen negotiates the traffic and comes out 'sailing' plus a wonderful smile.
It’s not a quick flight from San Diego to Kathmandu. The journey is even longer as the rest periods at the airports are substantial. Each time we fly, we marvel again at the amazing capabilities of aircraft. To lift and carry itself, passengers, baggage, fuel and supplies while providing beverage and food service, bathrooms, entertainment, etcetera, over periods touching on sixteen hours is miraculous. Imagine if we spent more time respecting and admiring what is good around us rather than tearing at each other. I suppose the high altitude makes me dream. Anyway, allow for forty hours, or more should you choose even longer stopovers.
San Diego, San Francisco, Hong Kong and then Kathmandu, arriving in the evening 2 days later ignoring time changes, a quick ride to an airport hotel, settle down for a couple of nights and off to Pokhara. A person might think we are fond of Nepal since this is the second trip in less than 4 months.
Our afternoon, after arrival and unpacking, included the exciting task of acquiring vegetables and visiting our favorite vegetarian hamburger joint to enable us to have a decent dinner as Jen was ill-equipped to provide her usual wonderful cuisine. Touching base with the proprietor was wonderful. A quick few words, beaming smiles from all parties adds something special to the simple things in life. The following day, as we strode close to our ‘vegetable lady’s’ store, it took a second to reconnect, notice she was no longer ‘with child’, and struggle to communicate in probably a new language comprising much emotional signs but once again, smiles that could not lie. Who would have thought such occasions could be so uplifting. After all, we’re not talking about an ice-cream store. Seriously, the occasions when we communicate with many of the people over here (and elsewhere, too), provide the world with additional beauty (for us.)
Day 2 commenced with a walk that became extended which can be viewed below, in the City of Pokhara, that has it’s own charm. It also has much else that one would not appreciate in a western city but that’s what adds to the charm as well as to the chaos.
Our second visit of the trip, this time weighed down with a backpack full of vegetables.
Flag Day in Nepal...actually it's always flag day, although we arrived at the time of celebrating the Western New Year, making things a little more intense. Part of the Annapurna Mountain Range prominent but can't compete with flags.
Getting rid of the flags which could be construed as 'blasphemous'.
The haunting Machhapuchhare Mountain (the following day, see end).
Adding a slither of Phewa Lake into the mix.
A peak opposite Fishtail, one of our hiking opportunities.
For the festivities, a new innovation: The annual Chinese-Nepalese Red Dragon Friendship Boat Race. (Definitely not a political connotation, huh!)
And the winner is 'Friendship'. We did hear one Nepali rower utter, "Some of my best friends are Chinese". Probably should return the cynicism to my backpack. Along the route we stopped into a restaurant/hotel we had noticed on an earlier visit. A steep incline to the establishment provides a lovely view of the lake and surround. Nepal's uniquely shaped flag in the background.
Jen has unexplainably developed a fascination for motorbikes and scooters. There's no understanding the aging process. Behind her are two amused youngsters thinking as I do, perhaps.
Out of nowhere on a clear day, a cloud seeks to block part of Annapurna.
'Fishtail' at dawn from another position. The Hotel le Glamour is on our route for the next day's hike.
Cheers,
Jen has unexplainably developed a fascination for motorbikes and scooters. There's no understanding the aging process. Behind her are two amused youngsters thinking as I do, perhaps.
Out of nowhere on a clear day, a cloud seeks to block part of Annapurna.
'Fishtail' at dawn from another position. The Hotel le Glamour is on our route for the next day's hike.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
From deep in the fog, after another great battle to exert its dominance, the great Machhapuchhare icon, rose like a phoenix from the ashes (well, snow this time) and again established its rightful position in this mountainous region in time for the new year.
A couple of pictures above, we mentioned something about Hotel le Glamour. Well, here it is from a different angle which we passed on the return hike and had the good fortune to even catch a glimpse of Fishtail, too. At that stage the mist was returning. Lucky guys.
A couple of pictures above, we mentioned something about Hotel le Glamour. Well, here it is from a different angle which we passed on the return hike and had the good fortune to even catch a glimpse of Fishtail, too. At that stage the mist was returning. Lucky guys.
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