March 15 Saturday 2014
Dhan our local contact in Pokhara picked us up at 7:30 to drive up, up, and up to the World Peace Pagoda built by a Japanese monk after WW2 to inspire people of all religions to promote peace. The white dome sits on the horizon overlooking the lake. The road necessitates honking before rounding every bend to avoid a collision. The view at the top is worth the risk. To paraphrase Dhan: when it's your time to depart, it's time.
Paragliders leap off mountains in the distance, flying and floating over the lake, more than a hundred a day. Guess it's not their time either. No way I'm testing the gods.
We saw a portion of the Annapurna range which stretches 1000 miles from Bhutan to Afghanistan. Fishtail is a triangle pointing to the heavens - a sacred mountain that can not be climbed. Then there's Dhaulagiri to the left that looks lower, but is the highest peak resting entirely within Nepal - Everest has a corner or two in former Tibet.
Our last day in Pokhara. Our 59 mile drive tomorrow is supposed to take 3-4 hours but we have been forewarned it may be longer because it is Holi holiday and also there may be protests against a recent 10 percent fuel increase. Gas is around 6 dollars a gallon.
It will be an interesting drive from this valley to the jungle of the Terai where we are staying outside of a national preserve. Dhan said whatever we do, do not allow our elephants to give us a bath. Not hygienic.
Your elephants! I want one too. So good to see you in the photo. The snow here is melting a little.
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