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!