To Trek or not to Trek

Well it seems like forever ago that I was in Cambodia and so much has happened. First, my visit to Kathmandu and Pohkara and then the ten day retreat at the Kopan Monastery.

My first introduction to Nepal was when my flight was canceled. I wondered then if that was a sign, especially when I found out that the reason was because there was a mouse on the plane. I guess it must have been akin to "Snakes on a Plane" because it stopped Nepal Airlines from flying for days. When I arrived in Kathmandu and got into the taxi that looked like my 1962 Valiant that I had hand painted red and white, again I questioned my decision to go but it is a journey, right? And I wanted to embrace it.

Another tidbit I found interesting was the time difference. For whatever reason, it was an additional 15 minutes. I am sure there is logic there but after being in Nepal, perhaps not, it's just Nepal.


After going through the noisy, chaotic streets of Thamel, I arrived at my hotel. I, again, wondered what I had gotten myself into. As you can see this has become an ongoing question and will continue throughout my stay. I dragged my stuff up four flights of stairs and when I asked for a fan, since a $10 room barely gives you a bed, I had to hardwire it into the socket. Gee, I wonder if I will get my hair straightener to work :)?

I decided I would go and see the sites and so the next day, spent all day visiting their temples, both Buddhist and Hindu










and then to Pashupatinath where they cremate the bodies. Being witness to that was tough on all the senses.


After a couple of days in Kathmandu, I decided to go to Pohkara.


Most people go there to trek, but I did not have the clothes or the mindset for that kind of adventure so I went to see the Himalayas, but from much further away. This was my view sitting having a cup of coffee.



On the way back from Pohkara, our bus broke down. I stood in the street hoping to catch one going into the city and finally I got lucky. It was like a bad movie. An American with all of her bags trying to get down the aisle, with already too many people and hitting them all in the process. I saw an empty seat and so I went for it. I was happy to see a lovely English girl sitting there and we got to talking. As Life would have it, she was going to the Kopan monastery and we were instant friends.

Until tomorrow..............








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