March 23rd, 2008 
Sheila Simkin Handshakes, hugs and goodbyes to the staff en route to Pokhara while we drove on to the Moonlight Resort, staying for one night only. The Moonlight Resort was luxurious after spending two weeks in teahouses. A Western toilet, bathtub BUT…the sink water just ran out the bottom of the sink on the floor…no pipes. It’s always a surprise when you turn on the tap and suddenly feel water on your feet…
There was time to walk around Pokhara set in a valley at the foot of the Machapuchhre with spectacular views of the mountains from everywhere. It was quite different from Kathmandu. There were some interesting short walks, bicycle rides, you could swim and canoe on Lake Phewa or relax. Our choice. Along the lakeside road was a continuous stretch of small hotels, restaurants, massage parlors and shops (seriously bargain) with a hippy feeling….
We ended up just picking a restaurant for dinner that had the most people eating there. Laxman Restaurant, with excellent chicken tandori. (laxmanrestaurant@hotmail.com)
We had to find a local pharmacy for more bandages. My arm was still healing and there was only one bandage left in our medical kit. Better hope that you never need Antibiotics or anything important in these countries. Everything sits in open cases, under the hot sun, with expiration dates from prehistoric times. However, they did have bandages…
Some Pokhara musings:
- Strange to have our own bathroom after sharing for 14 days
- It was a good thing we withdrew more money than expected from the ATM. With all the different airline departure costs and money for food, we needed it.
- The food on trek was much better than anticipated.
- It’s very easy to arrange your own trip. Costs will run about $32/person/day for a teahouse trek including three meals a day, guide, and porter from Pokhara. A little more if arranged in Kathmandu. A bus runs $15 from Kathmandu to Pokhara. A plane, $152 round trip.
- Annapurna Sanctuary is considered a “low-altitude trek.” This fact, and the fact we ascended gradually, enabled the entire group to complete it.
- After a few hours in Pokhara, the past 12 days already seemed like a dream that never happened…
With that, we flew back to Kathmandu for one last day…
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