Thursday April 17, 2014, NEPAL continued
What to do with our first afternoon in Pokhara? Of course Alexandra had done her research. "We can row across the lake and walk up the Ananda Hill to the "World Peace Stupa"" she told me.
5 minutes walk from the hotel we found these vibrantly coloured timber boats for hire.
Phewa Lake is a freshwater lake. Boat were available to hire for $8 if you want to row yourself or $9 to have a ferryman... What to do???
I think the answer is obvious...
He was a cheery chap with several stories to tell. He earned a tip and a tract.
Looks like rain in the distance.
Yep, that's rain.
Across the lake we left our ferryman (who said he would wait for us) and headed up what the locals call "jungle" path.
Half way up the steep 45 minute walk 2 things happened. We decided we were not fit enough to climb all the way up Sarangkot tomorrow...
Secondly, strong winds came bringing dark clouds and huge drops of rain. Before we knew it we were soaked through.
The beautiful green lake turned dark and choppy. So choppy that some of the row boats capsized.
We decided to press on in the rain. Sure enough, the storm blew over, we began to dry out and eventually...
We reached the top of the hill.
And the "World Peace Stupa".
Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist monument built in the early 70s. It is one of a series of 80 such peace monuments around the world intended to inspire world peace. A noble ideal.
Sadly, world peace hasn't materialised...
But the view is good...
As we hurried back down the hill we were anxious that our ferryman may have left without us. The evening deadline was fast approaching. You know what they say about paying the ferryman before you get to the other side.
Happily he was waiting for us.
Away we went.
Another adventure packed day...
Lloydnalex
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