Wednesday 2nd Nov

My most ethnic day so far. Taken by taxi and guide for 35 minutes to see the "sunrise" at 6:15 over the Annapurna Range. Very misty but still a great experience. There were hundreds of people up there at Sarangkot. We were early enough to get a good seat at the front of a balcony  overlooking the local country-side. There has been misty weather for 6 days now,  but you still get a feeling of what the view would be like. 
Back to the hotel quick breakfast then off on the city tour at 9 pm, to the Tibetan refugee camp where I met a lady of 55 who had been a refugee for 52 years. Kicked out by the Chinese. She still has a brother alive in China. Then to the Hindu Temple, Devil's Falls, Hydro Electric Gardens, a very large steel rope bridge beside the British Gurkha Army Camp. Only the temple was non touristy. Then off on the large lake with an island temple on it, where if it is clear weather you can see the mountains. It was noticeable that only the Japanese were offered life jackets. The rest of us, including my guide Sebar who could not swim, were just pushed off from the side for the half a mile paddle by a lady in the back. Good photos though. A little shopping then back to the hotel for 12:25.
My next trip started at 3 pm so a little shut eye was called for. Waited till 14:45 to ring Lesley where is was 9 am. She informed me that Matthew had made a short-cut on the ipad to enable Lesley to proof read & correct this blog.  Good idea that. 
Set off about 15:10 for the trip for the early evening trek on to a local trekking trail. At the very least 40 minutes drive up rough but mostly sealed roads to the village where Sebar lives. The village school children were just walking home. No school run here. Some of them are up to an hour away from home. When my dad lived in yorkshire he had to walk miles to school. I decided not to witness the killing and plucking of the chickens that were laid semi lifeless on the pavement outside the chicken shop. Then another 20 minute walk past loads of children to whom I was a great novelty. So into Sebar's farm and house, past the two water buffalo, cow, dog, to find a very comfortable cat sitting on the very chair I was offered to sit on. I chose the one next to it. Sebar has a lovely 26 month old daughter, plus his wife who is due to give birth any week now. Unless there are difficulties she will have the baby at home. They live In the two rooms plus kitchen with Sebar's parents. In the summer the veranda and outside stove area are used as living accommodation. .
Then another 30 minutes walk up to the trekking trail. The trekkers  carry their whole kit and just camp on flat ground by the side of villages. You are never very far away from anyone here. Dusk was upon us so into the taxi that had followed us via the road. We dropped Sebar off in what seemed like nowhere, and went quickly down the dark road into Pokhara, very polluted with evening traffic and fires the locals use for cooking. On the way back to the hotel I stopped off at the lake-side shops which I had seen earlier in the day. The taxi driver waited while I did some shopping then back to base by a very dark 6:40. Shower, booze, food, then bed & ready to leave at 8:30 tomorrow to go to the Chitwan National Park..