Backpacking in Pokhara

The days fly by in no time. Somehow, every day is packed. Sounds strange, but it's true. I'm staying at the Little Tibetan Guest House, which stands out because it's at the end of a hidden garden, a bit off the main road and therefore a bit quieter and greener. So it's right up my alley! During the low season, I only pay a cheap 1000 rupees (7.50€) per night for a double room with a balcony and bathroom. Can't complain about that, right?

In the backpacker life, things like searching for food, going to the laundry to drop off or pick up clothes, editing photos, looking for stable Wi-Fi, or sightseeing are usually on the agenda. And everything takes time here. Nothing happens quickly. Today, the alarm clock rings at 4:30 am so that I can be on the street by 5 am to catch a taxi to Sarangkot. From this mountain, the sunrise with a view of the Annapurna, one of the Himalayas' eight-thousanders, is supposed to be breathtaking; and of course, I want to see that. The weather forecast, which I check daily, promises a dry, partly sunny sunrise. That doesn't sound bad at all. After a 25-minute drive through the bumpy off-road section on the steep slope, we arrive at the destination. Thick heavy clouds are everywhere, and unfortunately, the Annapurna is only vaguely visible as the sun can only send out occasional rays through the thick cloud cover. Very disappointing! It just isn't the best time to travel.

Afterwards, I have to recharge.

I'm meeting up with Aaman, a native of Beganles and currently a student in the States, for tea and chatting about photos. I know Aaman through Couchsurfing. He's so easygoing and funny, like a little brother I never had, so it's just fun to spend time with him. And that's how I actually get some photos of myself.

Every day has something different on the agenda. One day, I go with Aaman to the World Peace Pagoda. Since we've heard and read that tourists have been robbed there lately, we leave the camera, phone, and credit card at home and only take a little cash with us. Fortunately, Bengala Nepali seems to be somewhat similar, so Aaman understands a few words. He also knows some Hindi, so he keeps asking about the right bus and where it departs. This proves to be relatively complicated, as we have to change buses twice and walk through the city. In the end, we arrive safely and without any threats. We take a great downhill hike through the pleasantly shaded forest and cross over to Pokhara by boat. A perfect outing! Unfortunately, there are no photos. But we have a nice snack by the lake. Isn't that a great view?

I'm lucky. A Saddhu comes by. I love these colors!

And on the way home, there's another round of photos.