After having already spent 5 weeks in the Kathmandu and the Khumbu regions we still knew that we hadn't seen enough of what Nepal had to offer. We found our friend Mr. Funny, at Funny Nepal Treks, and he hooked us up with tickets to Pokhara.
Pokhara is Nepal's third largest city located 200 kilometers, or anywhere from 6 to 10 hours on less than ideal roads by bus, to the west of Kathmandu. By air the time is reduced to just under an hour. We took the plane. An added bonus of this flight was amazing views of the Himalayas as they towered above the clouds.
Our plans while in Pokhara were quite limited. In fact, all we really wanted to do is a little hiking and relaxing. On our first day we walked along the lakeshore and found a wonderful Korean restaurant near our hotel that we would continue to frequent in the days to come.
The next morning we managed to get ourselves to the rooftop of our hotel to watch the first rays of sunlight strike the Annapurna mountain range. While the views were fantastic, we knew that the views would be better in a couple of days when we were higher and closer in the nearby village of Sarangkot. But for today our plans were to walk 4km up a nearby "hill" to the World Peace Pagoda. Our map wasn't the best, nor were there any trail markings, and try as we might to get "misplaced" we managed to get there without any major incidents. On our hike we passed by a family of monkeys and came across a scary looking spider or two – larger than my hand. A local student who joined us on our way said that the one spider on the web was "OK, no bite" but in reference to the other spider on a brick wall he said "bite" and quickly walked away. Enough said.
We took a less adventurous route down and decided to follow the road. Along the way we stopped in a cave-turned-temple, and also saw a nice waterfall. By the time we got back to town we couldn't muster the strength to go to our hotel and instead had a late lunch at our Korean restaurant.
The following day we decided to check out Nepal's International Mountain Museum. It's a relatively new museum that is dedicated to the Himalayas and to those who have climbed them. It was really interesting to learn about the first climbers, the challenges they had to overcome, and the gear they used. It was also a little sad to learn about the huge problem that garbage has become in the mountains.
On our fourth day in Pokhara we moved uphill, and ever so slightly closer to the mountains, to Sarangkot. Again, we had no real plans except to enjoy the scenery. At the top of this hill there is a small outpost that has amazing views of the Annapurna mountain range, if the weather cooperates. We frequented this outpost for a couple of sunsets and a sunrise. Luckily we got an amazing sunrise and an unbelievable sunset. A favorite activity of thrill seekers in Pokhara is paragliding. The layout of the hills allows paragliders to catch updrafts and remain in the air far longer than one would think possible. While we didn't bring ourselves to try it we were right in the thick of it and could even hear them float above us.
After two days on the hill we walked ourselves back to our original hotel. We were passed countless times by drivers of vans and pickups offering to give us a ride but after having walked almost daily for the past month, we just wanted to keep walking. It was a bit further than we were used to though with our full packs, but we made it.
We stayed another two nights in Pokhara before we headed back to Kathmandu. We stayed only one night but we managed to stop in to say hello and goodbye to nearly everyone we met before we packed our bags for the last time in Nepal and meandered into Malaysia.
Pokhara is Nepal's third largest city located 200 kilometers, or anywhere from 6 to 10 hours on less than ideal roads by bus, to the west of Kathmandu. By air the time is reduced to just under an hour. We took the plane. An added bonus of this flight was amazing views of the Himalayas as they towered above the clouds.
 A look out our plane's window |
 Around Pokhara's lake |
 Boats on the lake |  Dinner at our Korean restaurant |
Our plans while in Pokhara were quite limited. In fact, all we really wanted to do is a little hiking and relaxing. On our first day we walked along the lakeshore and found a wonderful Korean restaurant near our hotel that we would continue to frequent in the days to come.
 View from the hotel roof |
 Annapurna range & Pokhara |
The next morning we managed to get ourselves to the rooftop of our hotel to watch the first rays of sunlight strike the Annapurna mountain range. While the views were fantastic, we knew that the views would be better in a couple of days when we were higher and closer in the nearby village of Sarangkot. But for today our plans were to walk 4km up a nearby "hill" to the World Peace Pagoda. Our map wasn't the best, nor were there any trail markings, and try as we might to get "misplaced" we managed to get there without any major incidents. On our hike we passed by a family of monkeys and came across a scary looking spider or two – larger than my hand. A local student who joined us on our way said that the one spider on the web was "OK, no bite" but in reference to the other spider on a brick wall he said "bite" and quickly walked away. Enough said.
 Overlooking the lake (Pokhara on the right) |
 World Peace Pagoda |
 A scary-looking spider ("no bite") |
 Pokhara from the World Peace Pagoda |
We took a less adventurous route down and decided to follow the road. Along the way we stopped in a cave-turned-temple, and also saw a nice waterfall. By the time we got back to town we couldn't muster the strength to go to our hotel and instead had a late lunch at our Korean restaurant.
 Matt and our new friend walking back down |
 Beautiful Pokhara valley |
The following day we decided to check out Nepal's International Mountain Museum. It's a relatively new museum that is dedicated to the Himalayas and to those who have climbed them. It was really interesting to learn about the first climbers, the challenges they had to overcome, and the gear they used. It was also a little sad to learn about the huge problem that garbage has become in the mountains.
 Annapurna range from the climbing wall at the Mountain Museum |
 Inside the museum |
 Annapurna range from a random lonely road |
 River valley near the museum |
On our fourth day in Pokhara we moved uphill, and ever so slightly closer to the mountains, to Sarangkot. Again, we had no real plans except to enjoy the scenery. At the top of this hill there is a small outpost that has amazing views of the Annapurna mountain range, if the weather cooperates. We frequented this outpost for a couple of sunsets and a sunrise. Luckily we got an amazing sunrise and an unbelievable sunset. A favorite activity of thrill seekers in Pokhara is paragliding. The layout of the hills allows paragliders to catch updrafts and remain in the air far longer than one would think possible. While we didn't bring ourselves to try it we were right in the thick of it and could even hear them float above us.
 Epic Sarangkot sunrise over the foothills |
 Eerie fog in the valley |
 Striking view as the sun hits the Annapurna range |
 Sunrise on Mt. Machhapuchare |
 Sunrise with the Annapurna range |
 Amazing clouds around the World Peace Stupa |
After two days on the hill we walked ourselves back to our original hotel. We were passed countless times by drivers of vans and pickups offering to give us a ride but after having walked almost daily for the past month, we just wanted to keep walking. It was a bit further than we were used to though with our full packs, but we made it.
 Statue near the temple at Sarangkot |
 A few of the many paragliders |
We stayed another two nights in Pokhara before we headed back to Kathmandu. We stayed only one night but we managed to stop in to say hello and goodbye to nearly everyone we met before we packed our bags for the last time in Nepal and meandered into Malaysia.
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