Tag Archives: Epic Adventures

Pokhara – Nature and Adventure

It had been 3 nights in the himalayan hills and I was covered with dirt. BIG amounts of dirt. NO shower for 3 days, working with soil and concrete,  sleeping in a tent and even experiencing my first earth quake! Fortunately only a 4.5 and no damage.

Fast forward an 8 hour very bumpy 4 WD trip into Pokhara and I feel like I have landed in an oasis.

Pokhara is a beautiful city boasting a beautiful lake called Phewa Lake.

Pokhara Temple tress
Temple Tree Pokhara

Checking in to the hotel Temple Tree, feels like a surreal dream and then I spot my bath in my room. Squeals of delight and I didn’t realise how much I was missing the luxuries of home…hot water, big fluffy bed and free wifi!

My appreciation for life’s luxuries sky rocket.

This town is pretty awesome. It oozes with natural beauty and is a hub for action & adventure. The Annapurna range can be seen first thing in the morning – they don’t go anywhere but a fog consumes them as the day goes on.

I am craving a day off though and spend Sunday checking out Devi’s Waterfalls and caves. Remarkable and worth a visit if you are in town.

After that, back to base, a few mo-mos to tie me over for a lazy lunch at Mike’s Restaurant which is on the lake. The food is awesome and it ticks a few boxes… great margaritas, views, good food and a chance to do some painting which I have been missing.

Mike's restaurant pokharaLakeside Pokhara – Mikes restaurant and doing some art

A late afternoon visit to Tal Barahi Temple, to make a blessing, then off to a bar lakeside for Sheisha and a Chillian sav blanc. The Busy Bee Cafe captures my attention and is a great meeting place for travellers. It’s here I learn about walking up to the Peace Pagoda and score a live band playing Cold Play Nepalese style.

paragliding
Paragliding Pokhara

 

After a big sleep I fulfil an urge which is to parachute, but this time is paragliding. After a panic attack some 16 years ago, I have been too scared to do parachuting but this seemed safer – or something. Anyway we go, and it is a hoot. Everything you would expect gliding like a bird through the Himalayas.

Slightly motion sick at the bottom, I am determined not to let it mess my day.

I am determined to climb up to see the pagoda and hire a kayak (costs 800 rupee) for the afternoon. It’s very dodgy but somehow I don’t capsize and find my way to the other side!

kayaking
Kayaking in Pokhara

The trek to the top doesn’t take 2-3 hours only 30 minutes up and another 30 mins back down. It’s a great walk and just what I needed. The pagoda is ok… it’s closed today but the views are worth going for.

Everything else is accessible from here – white water rafting, trekking, ultra light flying, jungle experiences and more. I love the lake side vibe, the diverse food and great bars and am definitely coming back again.

My friend runs a tour company in Kathmandu and can help you arrange your flights and adventures and is good to go through as he gets great rates. His name is Shree and this is his company. 

 

Devastation after the earthquake in Nepal

My first trip to Nepal was in 2013 and it is the first time coming back since the earthquake.

A fallen home in Nepal after the earthquake
A fallen home in Nepal after the earthquake

Visible, painful devastation everywhere.

And then to get a deeper understanding, an earthquake of 4.5 occurred while camping on the ground in Fulkharka. I woke to the earth grumbling and moaning and SHAKING! at 1.08am. I knew after the first (very long) second, what was going on. An earthquake.

I was gripped with awe, fear, excitement, confusion.

Was it real? Did I imagine it.

Then in the distance I heard some birds fly off and other animals break out in their tongues. I knew it was a quake.

earthquake damange
My friends home in Fulkharka – now unliveable

Fortunately I was in a tent. No real harm could come to me, unless there was a land slide. And I rationally thought if that was to occur then my number was up and that was that.

Back off to sleep I finally went with a new appreciation of what really must have happened last April when the big earthquake of 8.5 hit.

People say the earthquake shook the ground up and down by a foot and side to side, so much so that they were brought to their knees. It lasted 55 seconds.

Buildings would have been tumbling around them and surely they must have thought the end of the planet was nigh?

earthquake nepal
The randomness of the earthquake

This visit I am here to help people after the devastating earthquake that hit here on 25th April 2015. While 8800 people were documented to have died (many wouldn’t have been documented in the villages), three times as many were injured. And with the hospitals pushed to limits anyway, many died in the fields.

For months people lived on the streets of Kathmandu, too scared to go back into their homes. No electricity, no warmth and still today they are suffering.

Nepal Earthquake
Earthquake damage on the streets of Nepal.

Kathmandu earthquake

In 2013, I came along with a charity organisation called Journey Nepal.  A not-for-profit headed up by now close friend Anne and her Nepalese off-sider Shree.

When I describe both of these people I simply say, “they are the closest I have meet to living angels.” Both people are remarkable souls and very dedicated to helping the women of this magnificent land.

The first time I came I visited orphanages and hospitals and have made a post on this here:

India has put an embargo on the boarder so no fuel for cars can come out of India. The black market is thriving and fuel is now three times more than it used to be.  This is crippling the country.

Nepal has to import most of it’s goods – and need trucks to  distribute water – despite having the rivers of the himalayas. Electricity is limited and power black outs are a daily occurrence.

Cooking is limited as there is no gas coming into the country and people are relying on butan bottles.

It is cruel, bizarre and heart breaking to know we share the same planet but with different avenues to resources.

I wish to reshuffle just a few of those resources and help a few people.

Nepal spirit
Two friends in Nepal

 

If you wish to make a donation you can do so here. 

Come to Nepal, meet the people and change your life! Something magic happens in this land of smiles and acceptance. My friend Shree has the best tour and guide company in Nepal and you can find out more here.