Ace Ventura Drove me to Sirubari, Nepal

My bus to Sirubari.

I prayed to myself as the bus slowly made its way down the mountain side. I wondered how safe it was for a bus to be on this mountain side path, but you know how it is in Nepal. As we stop for a 20 minute break, I’d realized that the passenger next to me had moved to the back row. I was a little curious as to why, but not enough to investigate. I later found out why as I pulled my backpack up and found a puddle of vomit on the floor next to me. It didn’t surprise me since a lot of people were throwing up throughout the ride. It was more like a roller coaster ride then it was a bus ride. As we made it to Sirubari I kissed my bead necklace that I am alive. There were’t any guesthouses in this small town of 42 houses. When I’d thought my adventure had ended, it had only begun. Sirubari is a small village about 6-7 hours from Pokhara, depending on the amount of stops taken by the bus driver. Great place to get some rest away from the tourist crowd.

This morning after breakfast, Kashi told me he was taking his granddaughter to Pokhara tomorrow to buy school uniforms. He insisted that I should stay another day and come with them. After thinking for a couple of minutes, I decided to stay. I think most barriers between human interactions stems from lack of understanding of each others. Whether it be language, cultures, customs or lifestyle. Just because the other person is not acting or reacting the same way as you do or how you’d expect, doesn’t mean they don’t share your feelings or thoughts. The essential key to a constructive and working relationship is a deep understanding of one another.

Journal Entry: 04.24.2017

Sirubari below.

My Homestay for the visit.

Many thanks to Kashi and his family for their wonderful hospitality.

Another angle of the Homestay.

 

The making and distillation of “local wine.”

Future fried chickens.

Pokhara, Nepal

Paddle boat rental are 750 Rubies a day.

Pokhara is a lakeside town at the base of the Himalayan mountain range. Local Nepalese come here to relax.

Took a stroll around town…

Where there is art, there is life…

One of the most pleasant soap I’ve ever used.

Bonny’s Hotel, Pokhara.

Before I left this morning, I had a talk with Razu. The person who runs Bonny’s Hotel. He’d told me his story. Of how he met his wife and how they were told by doctors that they were unable to have a child. He then went back to his hometown and had a talk with a Lama. The Lama told him he would have one son. They had a son. They named him Buddha. This story made me realized that religion/spirituality and science sometimes contradicts one another. What science say is impossible sometimes spirituality has the answer to and vis versa. I believe that we need a balance of both science and spirituality. Life is balance.

Journal Entry: 04.22.2014

Downtown Pokhara.

Buddha getting his bath.

Pokhara sunset.

Where to?

Simplistic beauty that is Nepal.

My hike up to Shanti (World Peace) Stupa.

Across the lake and up the mountain, stands Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda) overlooking Pokhara Lake and the Himalayan mountain range. There are 70 of its kind around the world. This was the first one in Nepal.

 

As I observed the elderly lady rowing that boy to sleep, I’m reminded of my nanny. I miss her. I wish I was able to visit her while she was still alive. She raised and cared for us, as if we were her own. The 5 years old boy named Buddha, at Bonny Hotel, Pokhara. If only he knew what life has in store for him. If only we all did. I was once five and in his shoes. Had all the affection and attention any kid could ever asked for. Then one day four years later….life as I knew it would never be the same. The journey that is life….

Journal Entry: 04.19.2014

 

Shanti (World Peace) Stupa, Pokhara.

Visitors admiring the Himalayan range.

Overlooking Pokhara.

Leaving Manasulu Guesthouse…Again

I left Manasulu Guesthouse for the second time yesterday morning…It was extremely difficult and heart wrenching for me. She was right, I am very lucky. My inside feels like it is in a knot. I wonder if I will ever see them again..? I wonder if I will be able to send the kids the books I promised? Only time will tell what the future brings. I can honestly say that I miss them and the mountain. I miss the quite nights and the cold morning. The sound of the river. They were like a family to me…I was such a fool for thinking what I thought…I have so much and they have so little. I want to do something to help give her the life she never had, but right now we are at stage one and the future looks a bit cloudy and uncertain. Now I wish I had never met them because it is so hard to try and forget them…

Journal Entry: 04.19.2014

Annapurna Trek Day: 4

On day four I trekked from Danaque to Chame. As soon as I’d reached Chame, I lost interest in the trek and decided to head back to Danaque the next day and hang out with the Tibetan family that hosted me, for a bit longer. Originally, I’d wanted to return because of the girl, but then I lost all expectations. Maybe things would have gone differently had I trek with a partner, but then it would be about someone else motivating me and not me pushing myself. One thing that I’d learned from this trek is that when you lose interest in something, then its time to do something else. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t feel like a quitter, but I am going to accept the fact that this is where I am at, at the moment. I am proud that I gave it a try and went this far. There is no shame in walking away from something when your heart is not in it….

Chicken coop?

Leaving Manasulu Guesthouse was one of the hardest things I’ve done on this trip…I find myself looking back and contemplating whether or not to head back for one more night. My weak mind is doing whatever it could to find comfort, but I know that my mind can be deceptive when it is seeking comfort. Who knows, that girl could have a boyfriend. I was simply smitten by their warmth and hospitality. It was the warmth of what I once had…The urge to medicate the loneliness…I told them I’d come back. In my mind I’d say I’d come back to marry the girl, if she was still single…But who am I fooling…? I know that I won’t be back…So I look straight ahead on this lonely road and move forward to my next destination….

Journal Entry: 04.15.2014

 

And so things turned out how I’d never expected it to. This family is just like all other poor people in Nepal or the world. They try to milk the most of your generosity. Kind of like what I was doing to them. I was trying to find a family’s love. They were trying to survive. They were not discrete at all in asking for help in sponsorship. Ultimately, this all came down to money. It is what it is. Lesson learned. I guess that’s how it is when you travel as an American. The world see you as a walking bank. It is what it is. It is understandable. When survival is a concern, human bond and compassion goes out the window. They are a polite family. I’ll admit that. I’m just disappointed when others tried to capitalize on your kindness, but we all do it. Its human nature.

Journal Entry: 04.17.2014

 

My trusty walking stick and backpack. To say I was under prepared was an understatment.

Annapurna Trek Day: 3

Everything looks so small from up here.

Lunch stop.

Time to refuel.

On day three I trekked from Tal to Danaque. It was about 10km and took me about five hours to complete.

Cute but yummy.

Umm…excuse me Mr. Horse, but you are blocking my way.

Finally made it to Danaque…

Dried Yak meat.

The Tibetan family that hosted me.

Manasulu Guesthouse, Danaque

Annapurna 1.

Waking up early on cold mornings can be nostalgic. The comfort of the warm bed is comparable to that of the warmth of one’s mother. I remembered my pop nagging my brother to get up. Despite pop’s nagging my brother did whatever he could to stay in bed for a bit longer. That summed up our lives after mom passed. We all clung onto anything that would give us comfort..giving up comfort would be to wake up to reality. Getting out of bed means facing the cold reality that mom’s warmth was gone forever….

Journal Entry: 04.15.2014

Annapurna Trek Day: 2

This is officially my first day of trekking. I trekked from Syange to Tal. It was about 10 km and took me six hours to complete. I had a little scare when I lost my way and wondered off path. Luckily, I ran into some trekkers and followed them for a bit. Tal is a town at the bottom of the valley surrounded by mountains. It was the epitome of nature porn.

My first official day of hiking.

The route was filled with these markers to help guide hikers.

The herbs guiding the way…

Completed my first day of hiking and arrived at my first check point.

Definitely not something you see everyday.

Annapurna Trek Day: 1

Syange, my starting point.

Day one was mostly busing and jeeping it to the location where I will start. I took a six hours bus from Kathmandu to Besisahar. Besisahar is the town where most trekkers start the trek. From Besisahar, I took a 2-3 hours jeep ride to Syange, my starting point. Syange was very beautiful. The small town is located next to a clear blue river. It was somewhat cold.

Nepalese bus.

Annapurna Circuit Trek

The entrance and exit of every town.

This is the trail market that tells hikers that they are on the right path.

After visiting a couple of Nepalese cities, I decided to check out Nepal’s beautiful Himalayan mountains. Annapurna is one of Nepal’s and world’s highest peak, standing at approximately 8100 meters. As tempting as it was to climb Annapurna, I thought it would be better if I did a trek around it, sort of. This trek itself takes an average of 15 days to complete, but I’ve met people on pace to do it under 10. There are small villages at every check point that provides guesthouse accommodations. A quarter of the way thru the trek I stopped at a mountain village named Danaque. There I met an amazing local family and decided to stop the trek and hang out with them instead. As for right now my Annapurna trek would have to be conclude with To Be Continue…

Cookie Walla Cafe, Kathmandu

The place.

The people.

The product.

There’s a charming little place in Kathmandu called Cookie Walla Cafe. Its pretty much a hole in the wall that serves proper Israeli/Middle Eastern food. They also have a popular Indian dessert called “Say Hello to The King” and many other variations of it. I had the Say Hello to The Joker. It had crushed cookie crumbs, served with whipped ice cream. Topped off with caramel and sprinkles. Really hit the sweet tooth. I also had the Sabich. A popular Israeli street food wrap (See picture above). This place is quite popular amongst Israeli travelers. Ironically, I was introduced to this place by an Israeli traveler.

Bhaktapur, Nepal

Panoramic view of Bhaktapur.

Pottery square

Took a day trip Bhaktapur. It was a pleasant little town with cultural remnants of its past. There was also a clay village area, where clay pot are made daily. This town is known for its arts and crafts.

 

Just chillen on a hot day.

Local kids charming tourists for chocolate.

Clean water is a luxury in this part of the world. This is a community water hole. Very typical around Nepal.

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He proceed to inform me about brothels along the outer regions of town. My ears have never heard so clearly before. If there was a switch that commanded my attention, that would have been it. I must make my visit to Bhaktapur quick and depart before sunset. Or else I may find myself in another night of self indulgence….

Journal Entry: April 8, 2014