I was about to take a tour of Istanbul in a few hours. My phone battery was running low so I managed to charge it a little bit at the hotel. I knew it would not be enough to capture pictures and videos of this beautiful city.
On the scheduled group tour starting at 8:30am, I keenly listened to our tour guide calling out the boarding passes. He called out Amr Ismail who was heading to Miami after Istanbul. Once the tour started, I started talking to Amr and we talked about our travels and experiences so far. I also mentioned to him that my phone battery is running low and won’t be able to capture any pictures/videos of Istanbul. He quickly assured me that he can take the pictures and email them to me later on. Amr not only shared the pictures with me later on but now we have decided to stay in touch half way across the globe.
Sometimes reaching out for help is all you need to do. What’s the worst that can help? They can say no but anything beyond that is a better outcome. Sometimes we tend to get caught up too much in our differences that we don’t realize how understanding, caring and helpful people are.
Pemba was telling stories one after another. He had our attention and was enthusiastically sharing tales-tales of dolphins, fish, lions, superheroes and all. We were amazed by this four year old who kept us entertained during our dinner at Kutumsang Yak Lodge & Guest House. Just that afternoon, our eight people trek team (Akhilesh, Nirmal, Pujan, Rijna, Rupak, Salvi, Soyesh and Unika) had reached Kutumsang and made ourselves at home.
Leaving from Kathmandu on Friday morning, we took the bus to Sundarijal, hiked to Chisapani and made our way to Chipling by the evening. The next day we hiked for five hours from Chipling to reach Kutumsang. We spent the afternoon and stayed overnight at Kutumsang and took the bus back to Kathmandu on Sunday. This is how we got here…
the explorer
Rupak brought lunch from home most of the times. This particular day, he had brought chicken curry and rice. Today he had an agenda. His agenda was to get the lunch group to go to Kutumsang for a weekend preferably for two nights and three days. An avid traveller who had recently visited RaRa lake during the Dashain break, Rupak was always energized to explore new places and meet people from around the world. Rupak’s eyes lit up as he spoke of Kutumsang, a place his friends had travelled back in 2008 and he had missed the chance to go with them. Nevertheless, he had not given up hope and was convincing this lunch crowd (Akhilesh, Binny, Durga, Manjul, Nirmal, Pujan, Rijna, Rinesh, Rita, Ruby, Salvi, Soyesh, Unika) to trek to Kutumsang.
The lunch crowd was keenly listening and then asked questions about the route, sightseeing places, days, budget etc regarding the trip. Rupak had done his research-he came prepared. The lunch hour finished with the group semi-convinced on the trip. Next up was talking to our parents and getting their permission for this trip and also getting the Friday leave approved at work.
On Monday, while nibbling on lunch, the conversation came back to Kutumsang. Rijna inquires about the route to Kutumsang. She had done some research on the destination and had queries. Rupak answered them. Soyesh inquires about the budget and Unika adds her two cents in the conversation as well. Akhilesh checks Google maps of the whereabouts of Kutumsang and its routes. After some discussion, the budget for the trip is decided: 2000 Nrs per person. The group finishes lunch and agrees to collect 2000 from each person by Thursday. Conversations regarding the trek ensues on chat and the group members are anxious for the trip. By Thursday’s lunch time, everyone had handed the money for the trip. It was happening. Rupak had convinced the group and now we are about to make the trek to Kutumsang a reality. Rupak prepares the itinerary.
On Thursday night, I’m starting to pack. Warm clothes, medicine, chargers etc. I message Rupak on the exact location to meet for the bus on Friday morning. I setup the alarm at 5am and get to sleep. After getting up, I pack the rest of the stuff, grab the safe tempo and head towards Chabahil Stupa. The rest of the group would catch the bus at the Old Bus Park and would pick us up on the way to Sundarijal. I call Akhilesh and he updates me on the whereabouts of the bus. He texts me BA 3 KHA 9277-the bus number. I called Rupak to meet me at the corner and he says “Dai countdown till 10 and I’ll be there.” The bus approaches Chabahil Stupa, we aboard the bus and reach Sundarijal.
the breakfast
At Sundarijal, we had two options for breakfast. Eat at the bus stop area or hike up a little bit and then have breakfast. We decided for the latter. As we approached the first stop, Rupak recognized the lady as Bimal dai’s wife and inquired if there is breakfast available. For breakfast, we get roti, vegetable curry and tea-the typical Nepali breakfast.
Everyone’s getting ready for the day. I’m about to charge my phone. Pujan, Salvi and Rijna are going through their trek bags and some are about to wear sunscreen. Unika is searching for her glasses. Rupak is taking out his camera. Akhilesh is setting up his headphones. Soyesh is relaxing on the seat. Rupak announces “Oh I missed my lighter at home” and goes to the shop to see if the store has a lighter or a matchbox. Breakfast arrives and we devour what’s on the plate. The seating area overlooks a gorge and there are big rocks below. I head down to check out the spot and Rupak has ample opportunities to capture these moments in his beloved Canon camera.
the “30 min hike”
We are about to enter the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. The person on the desk inquires about our trek and suggests us to also check out some spots along the Kutumsang trek. We state that we have to return to Kathmandu by Sunday but thank him for the suggestion. We tread on. I confide in Akhilesh that hey we made it happen-we are actually here hiking today. Akhilesh tells me about another possible trek next week-Mardi Himal. Akhilesh is ardent about trekking-he’s just about ready to go anywhere if you make it happen. A vegetarian who has the appetite of a sumo wrestler and the metabolism of an olympic swimmer, Akhilesh is a calculative hiker and will lead the group in many parts of our trek. There are hordes of domestic tourists hiking up just as we are. A group of young kids pass us by and I inquire about their destination. Sushil was hiking up the hill as part of his annual trip from his hostel in Boudha. He asks me tapai haru kaha bata aauna bha to which I swiftly reply Kathmandu. Sushil in dismay says tapai haru english ma boldei hunuhuthiyo tesai le sodheko. I smile and we continue our hike. We make a short stop, fuel ourselves with water and Snicker bars.
The sun is out and its getting hotter. I had to change into a t-shirt and trekking shorts. Now I felt like I could fly. The breathtaking views are all around us. Clear blue skies, hills around us and 100% fresh air-something missing in our capital these days. I was thinking to myself how beautiful a place there is not so far away from Kathmandu. A pitch road comes by and few kids are coming down the road. They’re asking pach rupaiya…chocolate. Soyesh grabs a Snickers and hands one of the kids the bar. The kid is happy and returns to his group. We snap a group picture and then continue our journey to Chisapani.
Chisapani, Chisapani, Chisapani…I had heard a lot about this place and now I had made it here. A security personnel asks about our destination and we state that our final destination is Kutumsang. He nods his head and we carry on. The first thing I notice as soon as we get to Chisapani is the sight of the buildings. It looked like we travelled back in time to April 2015 when the massive earthquake took place and the buildings were shaken from the ground. Two buildings were titled and seem ready to fall on any minute. What a sight…
Rupak and Salvi had already reached Chisapani before us so they ordered lunch for the whole group. For lunch we would be having rice, dal, vegetable and achaar. I immediately search for the power outlet and charge my phone. When you hike/trek it’s crucial to keep your phone charged whenever possible especially in treks like these. As we wait for the meal to arrive, we take pictures and inquire with the local people about places to stay in Chipling-our final destination for the evening. Our lunch arrives and we’re busy finishing our plates. I tell the restaurant owner, a middle aged lady khana mitho thiyo. She responds maileta chini haleko thiena. We both giggle after her response. Now we’re ready to continue our journey ahead. Rupak notices some kids watching us and reaches for his camera.
We make our way to Patti Bhanjyang. Salvi notices a group of people on the rice field and inquires the way for Chipling. They murmur something amongst themselves and then reply Chhaang khane baye aaunus yaha. Salvi says thanks for the offer. I look back and ask Rupak is he’s ready for some local chhaang. Rupak is excited and says to the group that we’re coming down for some chhaang. When we meet the local group, they kindly offer us a cup of chhang. Chhang is a popular beverage mostly among the Newar, Sunuwar, Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Magar, Sherpa and Tamang communities. The millet flavored chhang is slightly strong and delicious. They offer us more chhang as we chit chat for a few minutes. The elder in the group points to the other hill as Chipling which we have to reach before night falls. The rest of our group has carried on and me and Rupak head back on the trail to catch up.
We met some locals and they say that Chipling is just 30 minutes away. I’m saying to myself “Wow another 30 minutes……hmmmm” We are anxious to reach Chipling in 30 minutes or so. We climb some steep hills and I’m starting to get tired. My pace is slowing down. After a steep climb, we find a water station. I’m craving for some tea to quench my thirst and to take a breather. The group decides to continue on and is optimistic that we’re almost at Chipling. I ask the locals in this village how far Chipling is and they respond with 30 minutes. 30 minutes for a local of this area could mean a couple of hours for us. In this part of the trek, we don’t find any other trekkers; just locals going about their day. Rupak is at the front of the pack rushing to reach Chipling and find us a good place to stay. Then there is Akhilesh and Rijna followed by me. Salvi is right behind followed by Pujan, Soyesh and Unika. We reach Chipling right before sunset.
We made ourselves at home at Lama Guest House-owned by a middle aged round figured man. He was soft spoken and working at his own pace. We warm ourselves with a cup of tea and then request for dinner in an hour as well. In the meantime, we’re chit chatting with each other. Rupak is mingling with other guests at the guest house and meets Viola from Italy. She had traveled to Nepal with her brother some time ago and was staying in Chipling teaching kids at a local elementary school. We have dinner and after that play some cards. Then we are done for the night and everyone gets their much awaited sleep. The next morning as I’m brushing my teeth at the water station, Viola says she’s also interested in heading to Kutumsang with us. She had not been out of Chipling much and wanted to discover the villages nearby. We have breakfast, leave Lama Guest House around 8am and prepare for a 4-5 hour hike to Kutumsang.
the destination
The hike feels good. It’s refreshing to trek early right before the afternoon sun scorches us. A steep hill greets us and we make that climb. Viola’s already at the top. Viola and Rupak meet an Italian couple and learn that they are returning from Gosaikunda-the popular lake. A few porters are making their way down. It always amazes me on how much porters can carry and how fast they move in the hills and mountains. As we get higher, there is a stupa followed by a wonderful viewpoint.
A flock of tourists are taking a breather and observing the serenity and beauty of this view-mountain ranges and dense forest. From here on, it is mostly downhill-there are pitch roads mixed with off roads. Rupak’s at the front followed by Rijna, Akhilesh, Salvi and I and then Unika, Pujan and Soyesh. We talk about anything and everything on our way. The hike is more smooth and easier compared to the long hike we did yesterday. We had covered a lot of ground in the prior day. As we pass by villages, we inquire about the bus to Kathmandu. We climb some steep hills, pass through a grazing field and hike down.
We reach Kutumsang around 12:30pm.
At Kutumsang, we talk to several hotels on their lunch/dinner options as well as accommodation rates. We quickly learn that most or all of the residences and hotels in Kutumsang is powered by solar energy and there is no electricity. At one hotel, an owner said he would get the generator on to charge cell phones if needed and a hot shower would cost 100rupees/person. Also we had been craving for a chicken platter for lunch since we left Kathmandu. However, there was scarcity of chicken in this area and one chicken would cost between 2500 to 3000 rupees. Akhilesh and Rijna had found Kutumsang Yak Lodge & Guest House which had the needed amenities for us-comfortable stay, hot shower, reasonable lunch/dinner rates. Run by a hospitable Sherpa family, Kutumsang Yak Lodge felt more like a homestay to me. The lady was versed in Nepali, Sherpa, English and Hebrew languages. She delightfully interacted with some Israeli trekkers as they came to the lodge. Now the lodge had two groups-our group and the Israeli trekkers.
What better way to top our trek than a warm and delicious lunch at our destination. The rice platter with vegetables, papad and aachar was the icing on the cake. Even Viola ate with her hands. We talked about the right way to eat a pizza, types of pasta and anything Nepali/Italian that came to our minds.
After lunch, we relax on the porch and also resume our card game. Rupak decides to venture to the stupa with Viola and we continue our card games. Within a few hours, I’m feeling tired from the accumulated trek and take a nap. As a group we watch a movie and then head to the kitchen/dining area of the lodge where the Sherpa family is cooking dinner. It’s a cozy atmosphere and feels like we’re a big family. Pemba is running around the room and starts telling stories to us. He’s animated, energetic and has everyone’s attention. We have a great dinner and then head outside. The sky looks so open and we can see thousands of stars. This is the closest I felt to the sky and was just amazed at the beautiful view. Over in the room, we recall our individual travel stories around Nepal and humble ourselves to know there are still so many places to visit in this beautiful country.
The next morning before breakfast, we hurriedly hike up to the stupa, take pictures and head back down to the lodge. We bid goodbye to our hosts, catch the bus and head back to Kathmandu.
Travelling takes you out of your comfort zone and into new places and situations. You make adjustments, meet people and gain a new perspective on life. Exploring a new place always excites me. The excitement comes from witnessing new landscape, architecture, cultures and experiencing something different.
Back in college, I made a bold decision to study abroad in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. That decision was one of the best decisions I made. Studying abroad in Amsterdam allowed me to meet dynamic individuals from around the world, explore the amazing city of Amsterdam and travel around Europe. I picked Amsterdam because the classes at Hogeschool van Amsterdam would be taught in English, Nike’s European headquarters was close to Amsterdam (in Hilversum) and no one from my college, State University of New York (SUNY) at Potsdam had studied abroad in The Netherlands.
I caught the travel bug from Amsterdam and then became enthusiastic to travel to many states once I returned back to New York. So far, I have visited 25 states in the US, many parts of Nepal and have been to over 16 countries.
There is still so much to see and explore and I hope to do so in the coming days, months and years.
A few things I learned from my travels:
–Start travelling. Don’t plan too much and don’t wait for everyone’s schedule to work out.
–Enough money to travel is an illusion. If you really want to travel, you’ll find a way. Money will come but first you need to make up your mind. If something else seems to occupy your time to travel, then travel is not in your priority.
–Start small. If you have plans to travel around the world, take the first step. You’ll be on your way.
There are plenty of blogs, articles, videos on the web for you to get started on travelling around the world or in your country. Travel to live.
Located in a few hours hike from Kathmandu are the beautiful villages of Chitlang and Markhu in Makwanpur district. Filled with abundant homestays, Nepal’s first goat cheese factory, pear farming, beautiful landscape, Chitlang contrasts the capital Kathmandu yet is so nearby. Markhu has an amazing viewpoint of the closeby hills, temples, boating facility to Kulekhani dam and fish farming. Chitlang and Markhu are both seeing a boost in internal tourism with people hiking or going there on their motorbikes, mountain bikes or bus.
With four of my friends, we made our way to Markhu from Kathmandu on a bright Saturday morning. Our budget for this trip was 1500 Nrs. Here’s what our itinerary looked like:
Day 1:
Catch the bus to Thankot from Old Bus Park (around 30 minutes without traffic)
Get off at the stop for Chandragiri Hills
Take one way cable car to Chandragiri Hills (You can also hike from Tribhuvan park, Thankot)
Chandragiri Hills to Chitlang village (around 1.5hrs to 2hrs)
Lunch at Goat Cheese Home Stay
Hike to Markhu (around 1hr to 1.5hrs)
Dinner and lodging at New Pareli Guest House
Day 2:
Tour the temples and the pedestrian suspension bridge
Boating to machaghar (fish house) from Markhu lakeside (around 45 minutes)
We first met in late January
Bright sunny day, blue skies hovering the clean city
Temples and shrines on each corner
Like a living museum
Growing up on the cusp of the Himalayas
I always aimed higher than the sky
You pushed me to fly and kept me down to earth
Gave me a higher purpose since birth
Took your love and care to places I traveled
You held my arms as I faced life
You gave me choices to become better
Opportunities to grow and be a leader
Everytime I came back, you looked a bit different
The identity was the same however I saw you in a new light
Proudly say your name whenever someone wants to know my roots
The kid from Nepal strutting my boots
Years later, I realize how much you had shaped what I stand for
You gave me that smile that many have complemented for
You’re beautiful even though the dust sometimes gets in your face
Life happening at a serene pace
More of the world is getting to know of your beauty and charisma
Which I had already known decades back
Stay as beautiful as you are
I’ll always remember you no matter where I am.
We met in early August
Summer coming to an end
Concrete buildings reaching the sky
A teenager with dreams up high
I got to know you better in high school
Off to college but we kept in touch
No matter how far I was
Distance made the heart grow fonder
I miss the hustle, grit and charm of the big city
Took the attitude and mentality always with me
Your tough love made me stronger
Kept me going through challenges and struggles
Always that city kid no matter what village or corner I went
Living proof that if I made it here that I could make it anywhere
Thanks for introducing me to people from all walks of life
Kept me humbly confident inside and not get carried away with hype
Thanks for raising me to be the person I am today
Your DNA is with me everyday
Thanks for making me dream big
It was all a dream, Big
Blue colored Royal Enfield. 200 kms one way from Kathmandu to Pokhara. An adventure of a lifetime!!!
On the eve of the Nepali New Year 2074, I travelled with my brother, Amul Hamal Thakuri from Kathmandu to Pokhara on his Royal Enfield. The 200 kms distance took us past rice fields, small mountains, rivers, villages, towns and natural beauty only found on the base of the Himalayas. I had been to Pokhara before but not on a bike. Thus, the excitement to go on this bike ride was more for the journey than the destination.
It was Thursday morning. Around 9:15am. I’m doing my final checkup on the items to take for the trip. I meet Amul in front of his house, check that we have everything we need and take a selfie before embarking on our trip. Amul’s mother wishes us a safe journey from the rooftop. We are on our way. After getting the bike checked at the Enfield workshop at Balaju, we leave the capital a little after noon. Kathmandu is currently busy with a lot of vehicles and dusty from road construction and pollution and I say to myself “it would be great to get some fresh air and come back to Kathmandu refreshed.”
The roads leading up to Thankot, the exit point of Kathmandu are not that smooth. Thus, I felt like I was going to get thrown off the bike a few times. With Amul driving and a backpack between us, I was at the edge of my seat and felt the discomfort in my lower back. Occasionally, I kept moving back and forth from my seat to ease the situation. As soon as we passed Thankot (video above), we were going downhill and it was more easier for me. On our way down, we drove past a forest fire that was being taken care by the firefighters. There was a lot of traffic-mostly from people leaving the capital for the New Year weekend. There was no way of reaching Pokhara before dusk on a car or bus with this kind of traffic and I was thankful that we were on a bike. We were able to maneuver through the gridlock caused by road construction and move faster. At one time, we trailed an ambulance which was given room to move ahead. After two hours on the bike, I suggested Amul to take a break and stop for lunch.
Our lunch-a platter of rice, vegetables, carrot and chicken curry was the perfect meal for us. I could not have been more satisfied and decided to go for a second serving of rice and curry. Our lunch meal comes out to less than 800 rupees (about $8). With our stomach filled, we head back on the road and the journey continues. Along the road, we stop to pay the road toll which is only 5 rupees for a two wheeler. We continue on our adventure and drive past Enfield riders who were participating on the Enfield Poker Run. Amul had wanted to participate in the Enfield Poker Run for a few years now and he was ecstatic to see the riders on the road. We stopped by a restaurant along the highway where hundreds of riders had convened and took pictures with them. It almost felt like we were on the poker run with them. Seated in the back, I took videos along the way and my phone was almost out of space by the time we reached Pokhara. As we go past bridges, curves, hills and valleys, we see a big sign welcoming us to Pokhara. It’s closer to 6pm and it took us over 5 hours to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu.
A few of my friends from Kathmandu to whom I had shared that I was going to Pokhara for the New Year weekend did not think Pokhara would be so busy as it is for the English New Year. I was surprised and far more delighted to see the throngs of people on the street as we made our way into lakeside. Pokhara was buzzing. Literally. We waited for Amul’s friend, Nitesh Shrestha at the parking spot to take us to the hotel. We reach Traveller’s Guest House and freshen up quickly before heading out to enjoy the evening. Nitesh recommends us to go to Trance, a restaurant cum lounge for dinner and to enjoy the New Year’s eve atmosphere. As we walk past the festive crowd on lakeside, I see hundreds of people reveling in the eve atmosphere. We order sphagetti and pizza at Trance. People are dancing outside on the grass and others are joining them. Amul and I decide to head back to the hotel to recharge our phone before stepping outside for the New Year’s Eve scene. At lakeside, I run into my coworkers, Sunita and Anjali who were also in Pokhara returning from their Mustang trek. We were both surprised to meet each other and decide to grab lunch the next day. We tried to enter Busy Bee, a popular restaurant/live music place which is packed tonight for New Year’s Eve party. Amul and I wish each other Happy New Year 2074 as we walk around lakeside and revel in the New Year atmosphere. This was my first time spending New Year’s Eve in Pokhara and it was a memorable one.
New Year Day 2074. We get up around 9am to the views of mountains and the Phewa lake. We walk past many restaurants and decide to have breakfast at Mike’s Restaurant, located on the edge overlooking Phewa Lake. This is a great view and we order Mike’s breakfast platter and start to make plans for the day. My coworkers whom I met last night text me saying that we will be meeting at Roadhouse Cafe for lunch. As I sit at Mike’s Restaurant, I reflect on the flexibility and peace of mind of not having planned too many things for this trip. I can actually relax and enjoy each moment without having to rush. After finishing breakfast, we walk around lakeside and see many tourists visiting shops and eating out at restaurants. Pokhara for me seeks like a very laid back version of Thamel. At Roadhouse Cafe, we surprise two other coworkers, Sushan and Sujan who had arrived Pokhara few hours ago on a scooter. We share with them the experience of riding on a Enfield to Pokhara and decide to later meet at Busy Bee. For lunch, we head to Pokhara Thakali Kitchen, a place that Amul was very impressed with the last time he was in town. Pokhara Thakali Kitchen is packed with tourists and locals alike. We get a platter of rice, lentil, cauliflower, chicken curry and papad. After lunch, we stroll the streets of lakeside and take pictures overlooking Phewa lake. The weather looked like it was about to rain so we head back to the hotel and rest. Later in the evening, we head to Nitesh’s home for dinner. His parents were gracious to host us for dinner and we had a variety of delicious food. We then make our way to Busy Bee.
There is light rain tonight in Pokhara. I’m thinking Busy Bee will be averagely packed but am surprised to see the place just buzzing. My coworkers from lunch are already at Busy Bee finishing their dinner. There is live music playing on the right side of the restaurant’s entrance. We head over there and enjoy the live music with Nepalese rock stars-their hairstyles reminding me of Axl Rose from Guns N’ Roses. After enjoying a few hours of live music, we danced our way into the night with the club music playing. People from different races and ages are all dancing in their own tunes in the dance floor. It was a night like no other and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We returned to our hotel and slept like we had just conquered the night life of Pokhara.
Mornings are such a beautiful treat in lakeside-the views of the mountains, clean air and almost no noise pollution makes any traveller extend their stay. Our friends in Kathmandu had recommended us to visit Dunga Restro and Lounge Bar on lakeside which was supposedly the new restaurant to check out in Pokhara. We make our way to Dunga (meaning boat in Nepali) for breakfast. The stairway leading to the restaurant situated on the 1st floor gives a pleasant view of the lakeside streets on one side and the view of Phewa Lake/mountains on the other side. We order ourselves the Dunga Breakfast platter (about $4) and take pictures around the restaurant while waiting for our food. The Pokhara hospitality is on display as the restaurant staff politely ask where we are coming from and provide us information on the bands that played on New Years Eve at the restaurant. Our breakfast platter is here and we devour it. We rave about each item on the platter – toast, sausage, eggs, potatoes and coffee. We head back to the hotel, pack and pay for our stay (about $30 for two nights). Then we head to Pame, located on the outskirts of Pokhara’s lakeside. On our way to Pame, we notice many people paragliding and park our bike where the paragliders land. It’s almost like a beautiful dance to see the paragliders move in the sky and land effortlessly on the grassy land at Pame. As we spend close to an hour at Pame, we see between 25-30 landings and each photograph turns out to be an amazing postcard representing Pokhara.
Hoping to reach Kathmandu right before nighttime, we head back to the hotel, pick up our backpacks and leave for Kathmandu. We drop off a backpack at Nitesh’s premise and thus the ride back home is more comfortable. We fill the petrol, get the tires checked and head to Begnas Lake, another popular freshwater lake which is located 10km southeast of Pokhara. Begnas Lake was filled with many locals and a handful of foreigners. Many locals were getting ready to get on the boat while others were walking around the lake. After strolling the elevated pitch around the lake, we get back on the bike and on the road again. We stop at Mugling, a well known junction for travellers commuting between the three major cities-Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. We had a late lunch of buff momos and chowmein-both tasty and filling. After few more hours on the bike, we reach Kathmandu a little after 8pm and the journey of a lifetime comes full circle. I’m tired, hungry and exhausted by now. However, I will forever cherish the experiences, memories and adventures from this Royal Enfield trip from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back. Happy New Year 2074.
Things I realized or discovered from this trip:
Most of us go on trips with an itinerary on hand and want to check off all the things or as many things as possible on the list. Yes, there are times to do that but once in a while you should go on a trip without planning too much. I was sipping the coffee at breakfast besides Phewa lake and enjoying every sip without feeling the rush to move on to the next activity. The whole trip felt like that breakfast moment.
Life is a journey not a destination. The adventure and excitement of going to Pokhara and coming back to Kathmandu on the Royal Enfield was definitely the highlight of the trip.
Go with your intuition and the rest will follow. Going on this trip just felt right from the beginning and we were very lucky to receive many help from people along the journey (friends, locals and strangers).
It was still wee hours of Friday, March 10. Having woken up at 4:30am, I got ready quickly and was walking briskly towards the microbus and tempo station in Old Baneswore. I had to reach the bus station before 6am to meet my other friends. We were all very excited for this trip to Sailung and could not afford to miss the only bus to our destination.
A few days earlier, there were rumors of a strike. We did not know who was planning the strike or what their motive was. That morning there were no signs of a strike just yet. At the microbus and tempo station, there was a man with his family and a lot of luggage by the side. He approached me and said “There are talking about a strike today. Where are you going? Are you also heading to the bus stop?.” I said “Yes, I am heading to the bus stop.” As we’re talking, a blue microbus turns the corner and stops a few steps from us. I hurriedly get on that microbus not sure whether this is my only chance to reach the bus station. Although this is a 8 seater microbus, there are already more than 11 people inside. The tight space inside with commuters along with their backpacks almost gave me claustrophobia. I sat on the little space between an aged woman and a young commuter. Within 15 minutes, I reach the bus station and am glad to be the first of my friends to arrive. I call some friends and learn that they are on their way to the bus station. Some were on their bike while some were still at their homes. As I await at the bus station, I search for food to fill my empty stomach. There are fruit sellers with their bicycles and small snack vendors around the bus station. I scour the area and decide to buy grapes and water bottle. A friend arrives and now we’re awaiting for 11 others to join us at the bus station. As more of our friends arrive, we search for our bus to Sailung and get on it. All 13 of us are now on the bus, seated and awaiting its departure.
Our bus leaves the station. We leave the beautiful and dusty capital, Kathmandu for a few days. We are on the way to Sailung!!!
