Pokhara day 1

Well, that was the worst night's sleep I have ever had in my life.Awoke approx midnight.Bed was like a rock, you would not hav made a dent in the pillow with a hammer, so was awake all night!

To cap it all a cockerel started crowing at 4.30am.

Reggie knocked on my door at 6 am to tell me you could see the mountains! Main one we could see was Machapuchere (fishtail).They are truly magnificent.
Went to our original hotel for breakfast and the Indians were leaing!They were a noisy lot, shouting,walking to and fro,generally creating havoc.If we had stayed here we wouldn"t have slept anyway!
Decided to take a cab up the the peace Stoupa on the other side of the lake. Got a taxi and the driver has 4 children all in private school. Just like cabbies everywhere, make loads of money!!!
The road up to the Stoupa was very hilly and winding, all of a sudden we turn of onto a dirt track! This was really steep and bumpy, do not know how he didn't stall it!Taxis out here are all small Suzukis. They take a real battering!

The view from the Stoupa across to the mountains definitely ahd a "wow" factor.Can honestly say the only place elsewhere I have been that had that effect was the Grand Canyon!
The weather was a bit hazy, but took some shots. Should be ok.
The Stoupa was very relaxing so I spent some time to reflect on my trip so far.These Buddhists knew where to build temples that give peace and solitude!
I updated my journal and generally chilled out in readiness for the descant to the lake.

The path done was very steep and tricky in places.Met a lot of people walking up. All very hot and out of breath! Everyone asked if it was much further, but I said the view was worth it!

At the bottom there is a cafe(naturally) so I had a snack and a beer then got a water taxi back to lakeside (Pokhara).
Met Sue and Reggie and they had arranged with a boatman to take me out tomorrow at 5.30 am to see the sunrise over the mountains.
Met a friend of Sue's who has lived out here for approx 15 years.Bridget and her husband arrange trekking and trips around the Himalayas and the Indian sub continent.
She was very nice and had some good stories to tell.
Ate at a restaurant called Moondance where we had grilled chicken and mashed potato followed by apple crumble and ice cream!!It was delicious.Arranged to visit Bridget's for tea tomorrow, very British, and went back to the hotel.
Had an early night as tomorrow is a very early start.