Pokhara

Finally, thank goodness we arrived! No more banging bus. All there was left was a short taxi ride to our hotel, which unforutnatey our hotel forgot to send for us. So we got a local taxi and made the hotel pay. It's great being in Nepal in the low season, we're pretty sure we've been the only people staying in this rather large hotel, so we managed to barter down the room price from 700 to 500 rupees a night. So, a double room, with ensuite, tv, balcony, and views of the himalayas, we're paying about two pounds twenty five each a night. Cracking.

We woke up the next morning with a hot shower and breakfast in the hotel before setting out to explore. Within 5 minutes of venturing out, we were both in heaven. The large main street in lakeside (part of Pokhara) is full of bustling shops selling the most wonderful array of clothing, traditional buddhist items such as singing bowls and prayer wheels, book shops, music shops, as well as the huge variety of restaurants. The most incredible part of Pokhara is the laid back and relaxed atmosphere, no touts, no horns, no tuktuks nothing but tranquility and the occasional sound of the Chillies coming from a nearby restaurant. We spent the day shopping, buying jumpers made from 100% yaks wool and traditional nepali hats, which felt like we were breaking the bank but I guess for a jumper and 3 hats for 1800 rupee isnt too bad, seeing as that comes to around 16 quid! In the evening we ventured out to find some food, by venturing out i mean going next door from our hotel to the better one which has a very chilled restaurant with guitars and drums you can play freely and great food. We did feel slightly cheeky walking outside and literally across the road but whatever, we now do it every single breakfast and as I write this we are relaxing across the road too. The hotel is called Peace Eye, which is recommended by the LP as the best budget hotel in town.
The following day we spent finding out what to do in Pokhara and a bit more window shopping. We then took out a boat on the Phewa Tal lake for 3 hours, soaking up the rays and reading up on the famous Ghurka soldiers. That evening we went to the LemonTree restaurant and had our first carnivorous meal in over 2 weeks, relief! James had a locally caught fish from the Phewa Tal lake, whereas Tim had the Chicken sizzler, which literally sizzled as it was brought to the table.
The next few days should be good fun doing some hill treks to specific points around Pokhara, bit more shopping - Tim's going buy a few Khukuri knives - also going on an hours paragliding flight over the Himalayas!!!