Tim's Sidebar - post trekking fun in Pokhara

by guest blogger Tim

3 Oct - Pokhara

After Mike, Angela, Bharat and Phillipa left for Lumbini,  Jeanette, Anita, Tim went tandem paragliding. Some delays were experienced at the paragliding company’s offices, but late in the morning we were driven by another racing car aspirant up the tortuous hill to Sarangkot. We turned off the main road and continued up to the highest point, some 810 metres above Lake Phewa, where approximately 20 other customers were randomly launching themselves into the big air. After the compulsory 1 minute tuition by our pilot, we were off and heading smoothly along the hillside towards Pokhara. After 10 minutes we reached a place where there were some cliffs below us. These produced strong thermals and the sky was filled with at least 20 paragliders in close proximity trying to take advantage. At this point the paragliders started turning tight circles as they rose above the height of the starting hilltop and into the light clouds. The view over Pokhara and Lake Phewa was magnificent and all was quiet except for the occasional shrieks of excited customers.


Some nausea was experienced by all and Tim led the way by top-dressing many of the local farmers' fields. The explicit video footage of this has regrettably been censored.  After about 20 minutes at high altitude we descended to a landing area at the western end of Lake Phewa. Phew! After a short shuttle trip back to Hotel Grand Holiday, Anita and Tim spent the rest of the day recuperating. Tim was treated to his first ever shave with a cut-throat razor…. dicing with death twice in one day.

Meanwhile Hai and Tracey hired a small boat  to cross Lake Phewa to the World Peace Pagoda which is located at the top of a long flight of steps. Temperatures were in the high 20s making the climb quite a challenge.

Barb went with guide Ram to the Tibetan Refugee Village in southwestern Pokhara. She spent a significant length of time with a stall holder hearing about the refugees story.

For most, the rest of the day was spent shopping in Pokhara.

4 Oct - Davis Falls and Tibetan Refugee Village

Ram took a group comprising Tracey, Jeanette, Hai, Anita and Tim to Davis Falls and on to the Tibetan Refugee Camp in western Pokhara. We travelled by there and back in the rickety local buses. Davis Falls comprised a small fast flowing river that suddenly disappeared into a hole in the ground. We didn’t visit the nearby caves where the river would have reappeared. Some fun was had at the nearby small “theme park” where tourists could stand behind headless statues dressed in a variety of local costumes. The Refugee Village had a great selection of rugs for sale and a museum which clearly documented the struggles of the refugees and their leader the Dalai Lama. The local stall holders were very articulate and skillful, and no one left empty handed.

The rest of the day was spent doing last minute shopping in Pokhara where our guides helped negotiate good deals for us.

5 Oct - Pokhara to Kathmandu

Anita & I took the bus to Kathmandu. Due to Dashain Festival, there were fewer trucks and buses on the road so things flowed better than previously. The rest of the party took the plane to Kathmandu and saw distant views of the upper mountains.