Pokhara

We've been pretty lazy in Pokhara, pampering ourselves before our trek, which begins tomorrow. Lazy mornings on the rootop restaurant of our guest house overlooking Phewa Lake, window shopping (OK - and some actual shopping!), a little yoga, and 2 long day hikes to local sites. Pokhara is the base for all of the treks in the Annapurna region, so it's a comfortable, easy blend of Nepali culture and Western tourism, nestled below awe-inspiring, snow-clad mountains. The photos here include: 1) one of two adorable brothers (with matching skeleton necklaces) who paddled us across Phewa Lake to the beginning of our hike to the World Peace Pagoda, which can be seen in the distance atop the green hill, 2) view of the mountains from a city street, and 3) a shot of Rachel climbing the stairs to Sarangkot, a local viewpoint at about 5500 feet elevation, which was the destination of another day hike.

Tonight, we will have our first meeting and group dinner with the 9 trekkers, 9 porters and 2 guides who will be on the Annapurna Circuit together. We leave for the trek early tomorrow morning. I don't anticipate having email access before November 20.

Talk to you all then!

Kim