So yer it was left as we'd been to Lumbini, which is still near the indian boarder, and after our day of sunburn and a overload of temples on a cycle tour we had in mind a visit to Nepals Second city, Pokhara.
We boarded a local bus and got the last two tickets on the bus, what a result we thought... there was a reason there hadnt been taken up. The space in which our seats sat at the front of the bus wasnt really enough room for me alone (something i've come to relize travelling around nepal and india now is the seats are not designsed for people over 5'8, Bills in his element, he finely average size, its also just as well he doesnt read my blogs otherwise i fear i'd get an earful. Anyway ive digressed).
The monsoon season was none exsistent in India, in Nepal not so much, it rains for hours at a time and can lead to landslides, so theres two ways to pokhara over the mountains ( 7 hours ) or the long way (13 hours). After hearing four buses went over the edge last month we opted for the extra five hours of torture. It weird with me and bill seating arrangement its just a given that he gets the window these days which steams from me needing the aisle space for my lanky extremities but on india buses at the front that doesnt count as i cant stretch my legs as theyd be in the lap of the driver. Regardless we take our usual positions after an hour the monsoon hits and the shitty locals bus shows it true colours and the windows start to leak, causing Bill 13 hour of chinese water torture form the window frame. Also there was a cut out hole in the front of the bus so they could fill the window fluid, it meant we could see the tyre, which in turn meant water being flicked and gushed through the hole, it was in truth a superb bus ride.
So we arrive in Pokhara happy to be there after a monster journey, we decide the natural thing to do is some boating. Pokahra is situated in between rolling hills, bordering a valley type sceranio and the whole town is on the lakeside, so we rowed to a temple in the middle of the lake and then went to see a waterfall called Devi falls which we were informed was named as just because a swiss tourist, called David had fallen over the side into the abyss below and dragged his girlfriend. If thats true RIP but it sounds like utter bullshit. From there we TREKKED up to the summit of a hill to view the peace pagoda. Now i fort i was in decent shape i dont know whether i was kidding myself or it was heat ( i know which one i prefer) the 3 KM uphill walk absolutely destroyed and reaching the summit was an achievement in my eyes! However upon reaching the top it was well worth the effort as the views were absoltuely stunning. The eveing was finished in style with a 3 inch thick steak for the grand total of 3 pound and i needed the calories after the hike!
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We left for Kathmandu the next day and over the next couple of days (thursday-sunday) we met a lot of other travellers which was nice as they'd been pretty thin before Kathmandu but i hear travellers are like buses! *cringe at the poor attempt at a joke* Whilst in Kathumandu we stayed in a budget hostel the first night in view to switch after however in the district we was staying in,Thamel (think the crowds and narrowness of china town but nepalse and tibetan food), it was the cheapest thing by a long way so we stayed the whole stretch at hotel Potalla. Nepal after India was so relaxing and such a contrast, one that was most welcome in fact, we were barely hassled and with fellow english faces and alcohol about it proved a massive contrast.
The sights in Kathumandu were pretty special with a hill top temple named swayambunath being patrolled but at least a gang of fifty monkey. Also we visited Bodha, one of the most buddiest places in the world, where the tibetan exile monks roamed round the stumpa ( look at the pictue the big thing and always work clockwise round the stupa remember!) in there marron and yellow robes, so that was pretty special to see but it was not as astounding as the next sight we visted, Pashupitnath. Its divied in two the temple for Nepalese Hindu followers and the surrounding grounds for everyone else. High on his sun tan and Jacks (Billys dad) origins he was outraged he was turned away from the Hindu temple, i didnt like to point out the obvious fact he's not religious let alone a Hindu. The most astounding and interesting fact of this holy place occurs ont he banks of the river that flows through the middle of the holy ground. Families take and burn the bodies on roaring fires overlook the river of pasted on loved ones and then sweep the ashes into the river as a form of releasing them in tune with the elements (fire,water...). This all occurs within the view of of tourist and locals and people selling horrendous wooden statues. Along way away from the private idea of a english send off but obviously different cultures. Overall Nepal was a delight and if i can i will try my hardest to visit again and perhaps even attempt a everest base camp trek!
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We boarded a local bus and got the last two tickets on the bus, what a result we thought... there was a reason there hadnt been taken up. The space in which our seats sat at the front of the bus wasnt really enough room for me alone (something i've come to relize travelling around nepal and india now is the seats are not designsed for people over 5'8, Bills in his element, he finely average size, its also just as well he doesnt read my blogs otherwise i fear i'd get an earful. Anyway ive digressed).
The monsoon season was none exsistent in India, in Nepal not so much, it rains for hours at a time and can lead to landslides, so theres two ways to pokhara over the mountains ( 7 hours ) or the long way (13 hours). After hearing four buses went over the edge last month we opted for the extra five hours of torture. It weird with me and bill seating arrangement its just a given that he gets the window these days which steams from me needing the aisle space for my lanky extremities but on india buses at the front that doesnt count as i cant stretch my legs as theyd be in the lap of the driver. Regardless we take our usual positions after an hour the monsoon hits and the shitty locals bus shows it true colours and the windows start to leak, causing Bill 13 hour of chinese water torture form the window frame. Also there was a cut out hole in the front of the bus so they could fill the window fluid, it meant we could see the tyre, which in turn meant water being flicked and gushed through the hole, it was in truth a superb bus ride.
So we arrive in Pokhara happy to be there after a monster journey, we decide the natural thing to do is some boating. Pokahra is situated in between rolling hills, bordering a valley type sceranio and the whole town is on the lakeside, so we rowed to a temple in the middle of the lake and then went to see a waterfall called Devi falls which we were informed was named as just because a swiss tourist, called David had fallen over the side into the abyss below and dragged his girlfriend. If thats true RIP but it sounds like utter bullshit. From there we TREKKED up to the summit of a hill to view the peace pagoda. Now i fort i was in decent shape i dont know whether i was kidding myself or it was heat ( i know which one i prefer) the 3 KM uphill walk absolutely destroyed and reaching the summit was an achievement in my eyes! However upon reaching the top it was well worth the effort as the views were absoltuely stunning. The eveing was finished in style with a 3 inch thick steak for the grand total of 3 pound and i needed the calories after the hike!
View from the peace pagoda
We left for Kathmandu the next day and over the next couple of days (thursday-sunday) we met a lot of other travellers which was nice as they'd been pretty thin before Kathmandu but i hear travellers are like buses! *cringe at the poor attempt at a joke* Whilst in Kathumandu we stayed in a budget hostel the first night in view to switch after however in the district we was staying in,Thamel (think the crowds and narrowness of china town but nepalse and tibetan food), it was the cheapest thing by a long way so we stayed the whole stretch at hotel Potalla. Nepal after India was so relaxing and such a contrast, one that was most welcome in fact, we were barely hassled and with fellow english faces and alcohol about it proved a massive contrast.
The sights in Kathumandu were pretty special with a hill top temple named swayambunath being patrolled but at least a gang of fifty monkey. Also we visited Bodha, one of the most buddiest places in the world, where the tibetan exile monks roamed round the stumpa ( look at the pictue the big thing and always work clockwise round the stupa remember!) in there marron and yellow robes, so that was pretty special to see but it was not as astounding as the next sight we visted, Pashupitnath. Its divied in two the temple for Nepalese Hindu followers and the surrounding grounds for everyone else. High on his sun tan and Jacks (Billys dad) origins he was outraged he was turned away from the Hindu temple, i didnt like to point out the obvious fact he's not religious let alone a Hindu. The most astounding and interesting fact of this holy place occurs ont he banks of the river that flows through the middle of the holy ground. Families take and burn the bodies on roaring fires overlook the river of pasted on loved ones and then sweep the ashes into the river as a form of releasing them in tune with the elements (fire,water...). This all occurs within the view of of tourist and locals and people selling horrendous wooden statues. Along way away from the private idea of a english send off but obviously different cultures. Overall Nepal was a delight and if i can i will try my hardest to visit again and perhaps even attempt a everest base camp trek!
The Stupa In Bodha
The beginning of the cremation process
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