Day 8 February 23, 2024 Bandipur to Pokhara
Breakfast was served individually rather than a buffet. After breakfast it is back down the hill to the bus and off to Pokhara. Back down the mountain. Sure hope the brakes are working. There are no run away ramps. Then back on the highway. This section is the same as the last. The distance is not that far but we rarely can drive over 10 mph. We drove in and out of small villages and through farm country. Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and home to several of the tallest peaks. The vibe here is quite different. This seems more a tourist spot. Lots of shops and restaurants cater to the tourist. Most signs have at least English subtitles. The script here is very different. Looks more Arabic. It was derived from Sanskrit. Our hotel is down a narrow street so the bus can’t take us to the entrance.
After lunch on our own we take the bus to the Gurkha Museum. The entire museum is dedicated to the military troops that have served for over 200 years in the British Army. They are known for their bravery and have fought in all the major conflicts. The museum is three stories tall so a lot of pictures and displays. From there it was a short walk to a deep gorge where you can’t see the bottom. Rainy season is most likely different. Then to the lake for a boat ride described as a leisurely cruise around Phewa Lake. This is the second largest lake in the country. The boats are only slightly larger than the canoes so Connie stays on the bus. We drove to the exit point and parked. In just a few minutes the group was coming back. They weren’t gone long enough for a cruise. The rest of the afternoon we are on our own. We did walk along the main shopping street near the hotel. The shops have lots of cold weather clothing. Hikers come here to tackle the nearby mountains. There are also a few souvenir shops but no one is pushy. Business must be good overall. Rob bought a North Face jacket for $40 US. We are expecting some colder temperatures. They had lots of choices of weight, color and size. Then we ate dinner at a nearby restaurant with windows looking out on the street. About 30 scooters and motorcycles are parked below. They are lined up and we are just waiting for the domino effect. That never happened. Parking seems to be free since there are no meters nor any place to pay. We learned that if there is not space you simply move the nearby bikes and squeeze yours in. The traffic just goes around without a problem. As is common the perpendicular street has no traffic signs. Vehicles just come and go with minimal stoppage. Dogs on the street is a common sight but they are never aggressive. They all have homes but are not allowed in.
Spoffords Travel 