Nepal, Kathmandu -> Pokhara (A bit quieter...)
November 25, 2010
It was time to say goodbye to Kathmandu – after a rather longer stay than planned, thanks to India’s less-than-stellar efficiency at issuing visas. I was definitely glad to leave this unbelievable smog-choked monster of a city behind. I’d actually had a nice time there and made a few friends, but my lungs were practically screaming for fresh air.
After barely an hour of sleep it was already time to catch the bus. Luckily I managed to grab a seat in the very back corner, where I was left in peace. During the almost eight-hour ride on Nepal’s roads (even a dirt track in southern Europe after a storm is in better shape) I passed the time with naps and chats. That’s how I met Viviana and Adam, for example, who were chaperoning a school class (kids aged around 15-16) on a roughly three-week trip through Nepal, and as a social project they wanted to help renovate a school during the last week. What made their trip special: the students were given a budget and planned and organized the entire trip themselves (transport, accommodation etc.). The chaperones were only there to step in and give feedback if the planning went wrong or the budget was blown. My verdict: highly recommended! This way kids learn early on to make their own decisions and weigh up the consequences, and on top of that they have an unforgettable time while taking on more and more responsibility.
Along the way, at an extremely touristy rest stop, I was glad to get the chance to stretch my knees a bit. (The buses here are definitely not built for the average Northern European!)
When I got to Pokhara, I checked into the “Amrit Guest House” – a tip another traveler (thanks, Christopher!) had happened to give me back in Kathmandu. Not exactly my idea of pretty, but it was very cheap (less than 2 € a night), the location was perfect and the staff were really nice. Luckily I had very nice roommates in the four-bed dorm: Melissa from Finland and Julian, a German born in Costa Rica. After a sandwich at the nearby “Bamboo Bar”, my bed was already calling – even I need a bit of rest at some point. ;)
November 26, 2010
After a long sleep I took it a bit easier today and dealt with stuff that has to get done at some point too. Answering e-mails, planning, researching and, above all, doing laundry. ;)
In the evening I went to the “Amsterdam Bar”, where I ate choked down by far the worst pizza of my life. Naturally, I made my displeasure known. Not that it will change anything. Like in most tourist spots, quality isn’t exactly a priority here – there’s always a fresh batch of tourists on the way… Well, it was definitely fun watching some locals headbanging to Metallica and Nirvana and dancing their way up to female tourists… Make of that what you will…
Back at the guesthouse I finally took a picture of the local “town musician” right outside. Despite my earplugs, the charming fellow in the picture above had kept me company while I was trying to fall asleep and stubbornly kept me from dreaming. After the photo, though, I gave him a very good reason to go and chirp somewhere else… ;)
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