07/01/2014

Arose early to catch the bus to Pokhara. Of course my seat didn't have an arm rest meaning I was constantly nearly slung into the aisle as the bus rocked on by to its destination, up and down mountains on the worse infrastructure known to man. We eventually reached Pokhara and past some of the most amazing views en route I have even seen. Snow capped mountains of thousands of meters high, which we the Anapurnas, which there are 7 in total, the mountains we had came to trek around! Awesome! One called XYZ was particularly impressive and had a really pointy top.

We eventually arrived and managed to find our cheap guesthouse. Found an awesome local place and again got buffalo chowmein, again going for half each. Half the price for the EXACT same size portion. We soon learned this is the same in all places we tried. This means a cracking plate of food cost 18p. hahhhahah. That's cheaper than India.

08/01/2014

The next day was spent getting our visa extensions and trekking permits. This visa was $30 for a 15 day extension. We were planning a big trek which would take up to three weeks, up to heights of 5416m through the Thorung La pass, as well as a detour to the highest lake in the world, Tilicho lake, so we didn't want to be left short on days. We required two permits, a TIMS card and an entry permit, basically just a money making exercise. These were both sorted very easily.

09/01/2014

Today was spent shopping for kit for the trek. I didn't have anything and had loads of stuff to buy, down jacket, light jacket, fleece, hats, gloves, thermals, boots and sleeping bag. Our first shop we priced all this up and it came to a whopping figure, yet his end discount was around a few hundred rupees. It was nothing shy of laughable. Bulking buying and getting everything from one shop and a discount of maybe a few dollars, what a joker. Yet he was happy to let us walk out and go away with nothing. Just really don't get the philosophy of these people some times. Lawrence already had some kit which was mega light weight, insisting he had paid for quality in the states, and echoing its 'heat to weight ratio'. He'd done a lot of trekking before and his air of confidence was beyond superlative. He said he'd have 'enough'. I'd been skiing before and wasn't so sure. I had a s*** load of stuff which was also heavy, but I knew I'd have the last laugh…

We tried another shop a few places down, this time with a little old woman by her self… much more easier to do business with! We racked up all the items again, she was cheaper and also more reasonable with her discounts. I got some new hiking shoes as well, bot boots but they were nice. The big down jacket and light jacket was rented. Later on got a sleeping bag for 50rs a day. Despite EVERY single good in Pokhara being fake, and I mean every good, we still enquired about its heat rating being -20c before patting it several times to feel its thickness. And we were good to go!

After we went shopping for food. Bought many bags of nuts, dried fruit, high energy bars and even a tub of peanut butter especially for the pass as real rocket fuel to get us over.

Later on we bumped into the two froggies and said hi. I think they were planning to do a short trek as well.

Later on Lawrence talked lyrically about 'flashpackers', a term given to backpackers for only a few months or weeks, and basically treat it as a big holiday, eating in the nice restaurants and not trying anything much local. Pokhara is an awesome place full of restaurants and cafes, and I didn't really get his point. What does it matter what other people get up to? If that's their prerogative then fine. Infact if it wasn't for them people spending such money Lakeside (the developed tourist section we were enjoying) wouldnt exist.