There’s a saying:
“The best things in life happen unexpectedly. The best stories begin with, ‘all of a sudden.’ The best adventures were never planned as they turned out to be. Free yourself from expectations, the best will come when you least expect it.”
These words are not my own, but after 13 days in Kathmandu I know exactly what they mean. I fell in love with more than the city and its people during my time there- this, however, is perhaps another story, for another time.
Leaving the hostel long before the sun had even begun to think of stretching its gaze over the Himalayas, I gathered my things as quietly as possible and set out for the tourist bus station. (Sounds fancy- I promise it wasn’t.) Being a little over one mile away I opted to hump it, (get your mind out of the gutter), in an effort to stick to the 8$ daily expense budget I have set for myself while here.
In the early hours of the morning, Thamel, normally bustling with life and color is cold and subdued. Sleepy dogs lay curled, conserving as much warmth as they can while tired rickshaw drivers rub heavy eyes. Women sit holding children in the street, sucking heat from humble fires while fleeing winter’s bitter sting.
Nepal is painted in deep contrast. From the way Kathmandu fumbles through the early morning mist, to the way it roars throughout the day, to the way that endless mazes of narrow alleys, separated by smog and dust slowly give way to paddocks of green at the feet of the Himalayas.
It’s a contrast that I was able to absorb and appreciate well as the bus I had boarded joined the fray of honking horns and screeching brakes, slowly making passage towards my destination, Pokhara. As we churned through the ranks I settled into my seat and let country slide by my window.
A Street in the Thamel District, all hustle and bustle and flow.
Slowly making our way out of the city, the landscape begins to change.
From outer lying city suburbs,
To the notorious Privthi Highway and through the Himalayas,
Until we finally reached the Pokhara Valley.
After the 8 1/2 hours it took us to make the 200 kilometer journey, I got settled straight in to my room and took a hot shower. I was pretty tired from the cramped, bumpy transit, but I had been hearing so much about Pokhara’s beauty that I wanted to stretch my legs and see it for myself.
I was not disappointed. The view from the guesthouse in which I have booked a 30-day stay is more than enough to keep me happy.
Getting to wake up to this every day? Yes please!
But the scenery here is simply breathtaking. Just a 200-meter skip from my room and I can kick my feet up lakeside.
But even just wandering the streets is enchantment enough.
After only being here for a few days, Pokhara has already stolen my heart. A theft I’m sure you can understand from these images.
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