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25/01/2014
Woke up and found the bus. We had to pay 1400rs… locals paid 400rs. It even had this marked on their prices list on the wall. Man I was fuming! Frenchie played 'can Frenchie get local price' which involves him trying to pass himself of as a local. He says he can go to most places and do it, hes European of arab decent who could pass as an India as well as a south America. Canny trait. He had pulled it off until he got asked too many questions and didn't know how to respond. CLOCKED!
Our bags got strapped to the roof and we set off on what was the most sketchiest road known to man. The bus was honestly rocking from side to side as we clung to a tiny road on the side of the Himalayas. The $14 dollars was actually worth is for this experience alone! It was absolute hair raising!!! Never did I think a road could get this bad. Welcome to Nepali infrastructure. The views were killer though.
We stopped and I treated myself to a HELP YOURSELF dhal bat. It was embarrassing how much was actually on my tray, I could hardly hold it it was that heavy, but my god did I put it away. I said 'lads… watch this'. They watched on as I scoffed it away and Frenchie was in awe, 'you legend mark…'
Off we set again and we past the Canadians lads en route, I leaned out the window and waved like a mad man. We arrived at Beni before getting another bus to Pokhara where some randomers brought goats onto the bus… of course.
We arrived and walked to Lakeside. Frenchie was a bit further out of town so Czech Tractor crashed at my old digs. Lawrence wasn't to be seen. Before we got there however I went to return the sleeping bag. Not only did I return it early so I was entitled to some of my money back, but for some reason he had put both deposits on one receipt. I handed it over and he knew something was a miss, 'why you talking like this, slow down'. He must have told I was nervous the way I was talking. He reluctantly handed over my money and the $40 deposit. Boom!!! Lawrence will be happy. We mooched back and found there was no lecky on in the hotel. Shock.
26/01/2016
Woke up with the s***s after drinking some dodgey local water. Lawrence had my sawyer squeeze meaning I couldn't filter water. Nothing a tinny couldn't fix though. I went to enquire about Penguin, the guesthouse over the road, as Thomas had decided he was going to go on another small trek before flying home. Keen! Meaning I needed somewhere cheaper with a dorm room. Over I went and there was Lawrence sat out the front. Turns out he had sent me a message on facey that he was over the road but since there was no lecky I didn't get it. Gautama also refused to give us our old room back so we couldn't get wifi in the room, so we decided to move. I packed whilst Thomas went to buy some supplies and a map. We checked in at a new place and got an awesome deal in a lovely hotel with a nice garden with a hammock. We found a new local place too and the three of us got some bait. A half plate of buffalo chowmein for 30rs…. That's 17p. Mind blowing. Also seen one of the American guys off the trek as we ate. Apparently the other one got really ill off food poisoning and had to get rushed to hospital, and is still in there. Poor lad.
27/01/2014
Had a real chilled day after a real hard trek, spent the day looking around Lakeside and shopping and went to get a quote for paragliding and parahawking, which Sam and Simon had pointed out to me on the trek. They had both done it and its basically falconry meets paragliding in the skies. Bought some soap, toilet paper and book, the latter being like all things in Pokhara completely knock off. You could tell as the words went too far into the page, and you really had to rip the book open to read the last few words on each line. Also tried swapping my old India book which I didn't need any more but he would only give me two dollars for it. I also finally made it all become real when I booked my flights to Bhutan as well. Later on on the night Lawrence bought a litre of raksi for $1 as well as some spicey fish. Apparently that's how the locals do it, but I wasn't game for drinking.
28/01/2014
Went and tried a new local place which we discovered the day before. It was in a very small mall tucked away and the very end, and basically resembled a storage room. It was completely white and bare, there was a table, a fridge and a cooker and a few stools for us to sit on. Again we got half and it was really nice. It was owned by a young couple, and they were really happy to some customers, it looked like they didn't get many. They had this awesome home made sauce which they lashed on at the end and it was mega. The place was real odd, it didn't even have a menu. They did just two things, chowmein and momo, which are dumpling like things. The place was called trapori momo. Trapori is a plate made out of dried leaves, which both of the dishes got served in. Very eco friendly.
Later on I got an awesome hot shower back at the guesthouse, and man did it feel good after the Himalayan cold! Booked flights from KTM to Dehli as well.
29/01/2014
So it was either parahawking ($200) paragliding ($75) or the worlds biggest zip line (so they claim)($40). After many trip advisor reviews and youtube videos the decision was simple… PARAHAWKING!! The feedback was absoletly impeccable. When stuff like this arrises its not about the price, its about the opportunity, and you have to take it. Flying over a Himalayan backdrop in tandem with an eagle… huh, yes please. Bargain at $200.
Coming back we bumped into Kurt and Keryn, who were tucking into a full English after the trek. Told us they were having a get together with everyone tonight. Cushty!We also bumped into Simon and Sam when walked around and it was nice to chat to them again. They had just came back from a falconry lesson from the parahawking company. We also got Eduardo's and Ramune's contact detail off them so it was double score.
Afterwards we got bait and this time I tried the fried momos, normally they are just steamed but fried was definitely better!
Later on we seen more people!!! This time it was Cliff and Joyce sitting in a café. Again was really nice craicing on with them. They told us of their plans of going to India. Then when walked back we seen the English couple too, and talked to them.
On the night we got two halves from two different restaurants, haha sneaky, before going to Kurt's hotel where everyone was meeting, with a few beers in hand. Bar Czech tractor everyone was there, frenchie, the Canadian girls, and a few faces I didn't know. Their hotel was really nice and there was a nice garden terrace on the top, full of grass which overlooked the lake and the mountains.
30/01/2014
Got an awesome breakfast by the lake of a croissant, a donut, a cinnamon roll and a chai all for less than a dollar. Waited around until 1pm, which was parahawking time! I walked to the office and there sitting down was a man with an eagle on his hand waiting, 'Are you mark?' he said, and we dashed off into the car as the bird was apparently getting restless. The guy was called scott, a british guy who had invented the sport and lives out here growing his business. I sat in the back with Jessica, a California girl who would be my pilot and another punter from Australia. We then drove up to the hill where you see all the people jumping off. We got up there and Scott taught us how it would work, and about the thermals. Also learnt the bird was not an eagle but an Egyptian vulture called Bob. The take off was amazing. We pulled forward pulling the parachute into the air, we then pushed forward again and the wind took us upwards across the mountain, and quickly we rose earlier as the thermals took us. I then got some meat and perched it on my hand and stook it out into the air when Jessica would whistle. This would attract the birds attention and he would fly over. He would then land on my glove, gobble the food, before flying off. It was honestly the most amazing thing. The bird was so fast. It is easily the closet thing you will get to flying with birds. The go pro captured the lot on camera too, we got pictures and a video. After many feeds and circling around for half an hour we steered over the lake where its impossible to get thermals, meaning the decent was easier. We swirled down and had a smooth landing. Afterwards we went back to a hotel which Scott owns for his parahawking customers where they can stop. We got a complimentary drink and a cake, and one of the employees gave us a conservation lesson on vultures as there is a current epidemic. The cow feed which the vultures in turn eat from the dead carcases is killing the vultures, which then has a dramatic effect on the eco system at large. Was actually really interesting. Looked at my pics and video and had an awesome craic on with Scott, the guys really sincere and genuinely loves what he's doing and he takes great pride in his business.
Later on on the night Thomas also returned from his trek. Haha was so funny seeing this guy, he really is the craziest b****** known to man. He said he was gutted his missed out on the party. We all got food on the night and had a right laugh. Said bye to him as he was leaving in the morn for KTM.
31/01/2014
Went round the couple's hotel later on to have a craic on. known of them had a disk reader so I couldn't show them my photos. Later on met up with Ed and Ramune for a catch up and ate dinner with them at Trapori Momo. Afterwards we found a local place which selled Tomba, a Tibetan hot millet beer. Came in a real authentic flask, and when you were done you would simply add more water and keep it going.
01/02/2014
Wrote up blog. Went to get a map of the Annapurna for a memento. Backed up the pictures of the parahawking.
02/02/2014
Chilled. Met up with Drew, Lawrence's mate who from the states who he had met two years ago in Cambodia. He was in town at the time so we went for dhal bhat meet up. He was a really funny guy with a really infectious laugh. Someone just like you see in the movies, and harmless.
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