Yesterday Ray had recovered from heatstroke, so we decided to visit the Gurka Soldier Museum. It is at the north end of town so we decided that we would hoof yet again. We set out after breakfast at what is becoming our regular haunt, and went on our merry way taking in Old Pokhara which was just lots of little shops selling food and every day items for locals. I managed to purchase a cheap thermos flask which is a god send as the electricity seems to be more off than on! For some strange reason the dried noodles here were coloured vivid pink, green or yellow l have not seen these any where else.

We finally arrived at the museum, this was right up Ray's street as he had served along side them in Hong Kong many years ago. I found it more interesting than I thought and it was facinating to read all the heroic stories of these plucky little men.

On the journey back we went via a different route, we crossed yet another bridge, there is not much water but as usual plenty of rubbish. I just cannot get my head around this as water is the source of life.

We came across an area where all the businesses were either repairing cars or motorcycles or making things out of metal, we watched a man in a little shed with a furnace making bill hooks. They seem to be able to make anything with very limited tools, they just have a can do attitude.
Finally we came across Pokhara town as opposed to the tourist area we are in, it was packed so did not stay long, then finally back to guest house. I think we covered at least 15K so a well deserved chow mein calling.

Today we set out to visit Tashi Ling a Tibetan refugee settlement that we visited nine years ago. We had brought with us crayons, pencils, pens and paper to take, but I wanted to take a football so spent about one hour searching, when we finally found one I realised why the kids have to do with scrunched up carry bags,they are mega expensive.
We set out on foot again as the camp is only about 3K away. Did not see another westerner until we arrived when we met a young german girl.
We wandered around the camp, watching the old women spinning wool and the young girls weaving it into carpets. They are so nimble with their fingers!
It is a source of income for them set up by the Swiss goverment as the do not have the right to work here. We purchased a small rug then went to the SOS school to take our gifts, it was lunch time so the children were asleep on the floor in a couple of rooms. They looked so sweet. A teacher showed us around the class rooms and the work the children do, bearing in mind this is primary school they learn Nepali, Tibetan and English. Each child had a draw with their name and photo on it because some are to young to read. The teachers seemed genuinely pleased with our gifts.
On the way back we saw some down and out in the storm ditch scavanging food out of a discarded bag only to see and smell a dead dog covered in maggots 4ft up stream from him. How sad the world is when this is happening and we all walk by and just get on with our own lives.