Poking around Pokhara
Three bearded boys from FueledByRice made it to the center of Nepal two days ago, to a town called Pokhara. This is the gateway to trekking in the Himalayas, and so it is the most tourist-visited area in Nepal (according to one guide book a-skimmed). The beauty is certainly an attraction. The town is situated on a mountain lake, hemmed with pines and the green slopes of foothills. When clouds aren’t cloaking them, the white peaks of Anapurna and M…. rise from the Himalaya heights for a stunning backdrop. (I’ve seen pictures — the clouds haven’t yet lifted but enough to see just a glimpse of white rocky slopes one afternoon after a rain).
The town’s feel is laid-back, a nice contrast to Kathmandu’s Thamel area bustling with hustling and hawking and honking. So, we run into other tourists and have English conversations and go to eat together at times. Last night we met a nice Dutch cyclist for dinner who’s doing basically the same route as FBR, only backwards in time for the Olympics (anyone inform CCTV?). We also met a German cyclist who gave us tips about Europe and a warm invite to his place if we go by. A group of three Israelis are motorcycling, but are interested in trying out the Bi-Cycle, motored by legs and rice. They’re staying at our same hotel.
So, we poke around Pokhara, not trekking–to the chagrin of many-a-would-be-trek-organizer–but rather resting and eating and reading and frizbeeing and meeting others, with a little time here or there on the vast network we like to call cyberspace, and resting the puzzling soreness of our posteriors (as Jim might say).
May 6th, 2008 at 6:19 am
hope the mountains are beautiful and you can view snow and its crystals… how is jim’s leg? If not better, go to another dr. and get stronger antibiotics. Any animals that you all have seen? How is the food? Be safe and kind as you all always are to everyone. N
May 6th, 2008 at 9:24 am
I too want to now poke-around-Pokhara! Can I get a quick weekend flight in-and-out? ;-} We support you all in your quest and affirm the time you need to relax. I was consulting some stress indicators and I think you are wise to recupe. The culture changes, language changes, lodging kaleidoscope et. al. give rise to a need for getting off your butts and being refreshed. Here’s hoping you get to glimpse the mts.
Love, prayer and thanksgiving for what you all represent.
papa-rod-ski (so named by the students in the Mission House)
May 7th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Netzy and Rod,
Thanks for your support!
FYI, we ARE eating, me the most. I actually think I haven’t lost more than 6-7 lbs. The photo in the Bhutanese Camp blog makes me look thinner than reality I think. I’m encouraging Drew and Jim to eat more daily, but they refuse. They’re not sickly or too thin though either =).
I think one big change in our diets since arriving in India/Nepal is very little meat, maily due to people warning us about getting very sick from the sub-continent’s meat, less meat around due to Hinduism, and the drastically cheaper price for a vegetarian diet. We do, however, usually have egg omlettes daily to make up for protein, and the dal (lentils) is also a protein source.
Most of the time in the rural areas, we eat the standard food the locals eat, “Dal Baht”, or rice and dal, with a potato (and sometimes califlower) curry (vegetarian). Its the cheapest food budget we’ve had yet, at 30 Nepali Rupees (US$0.50; 4 Yuan) a person. Its all you can eat, so I usually have 2 or 3 heaping plates, while Drew sometimes has 2, and Jim usually 1. In Pokara and Kathmandu, of course there is plenty of western food for much more expensive prices, though we did find hamburgers for US$1.25 which is quite good.
Jim’s infected leg is all healed up.
Animals, mostly just birds.
There certainly are plenty of cultural stresses, Rod, you’re right. I’ll try to be more aware of this to have more patience both for myself, and for those I’m bargaining with who are trying to over charge a tall tourist in an over commercialized tourist area, such as Pokhara, Nepal.
Peace,
Peter
May 13th, 2008 at 7:59 am
frizbeeing, Andrew, I am jealous. I good game of frizbee with you would do me a world of good right now. By the way, I’ve got a new son at home, Emmett Robert born May 3rd. He is waiting to meet you.
June 11th, 2020 at 4:46 am
Wow, great article post.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.