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...from Jomsom we made our way to Pokhara the adventure capital of Nepal staying over night in Beni. The all to familiar public bus journey was as interesting as ever. Our driver and conductor were quick to seize the opportunity to steal a spare tyre from an abandoned bus just outside the city, 2 bumpy hours later we were glad they did after our rear tyre blew out on a particularly vicious stone. Queue 20 Nepalese and a dozen tourists huddled around the driver flat on his back gradually covering himself in grease and oil. Three flat tires and several head to head show downs later we arrived safely but only just. We'd experienced a 30 seater bus tackled roads that even Colin McRae in a Land Rover with 26 inch tires would have given a wide birth. On arrival we heard of a fatal crash on the same road only a couple of hours after us...phew! (in the nicest possible way!)
Pokhara is Nepals second largest city and is billed as a backpackers paradise, it's situated beside Nepals largest lake and is either the start or in our case the end of an Annapurna trekking adventure. As part of our deal we were booked into a swanky hotel a far cry from the glorified shacks we'd had for the last 2 weeks (as appropriate and fun as they may have been!). Absolute luxury to us, hot showers and clean clothes were by this stage distant memories. Our one and only aim in Pokhara was to paraglide. To run off the side of a mountain with a large bed cloth hung above our head whilst enjoying some of the most spectacular views on offer any where in the world was a must in our eyes. And what an experience it was, Imagine your childhood dream of strapping a hundred helium balloons to a patio chair and soaring above the clouds with the birds. It's a must if you get the chance, we'd do it again in a heartbeat....and plan to!!!!
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