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Published: March 13th 2009
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My journey to Nepal lasted 25 hours and as usual was not without incident. I took the overnight train from Varanasi to Gorakhpur which was 1.5 hours later and set off at 02:00, I got about 4 hours sleep before waking up at Gorakhpur to be told that there were no buses to the border town of Sunnauli. As usual I took what I was told with a pinch of salt and set off for the bus station anyway. Gorakhpur is an awful place and I did not not want to stay there overnight which was was the only option left if I couldn't get onward transport.
As I was walking along a guy started shouting Sunnauli at me and pointed into a jeep - result! - so my backpack was flung on he roof and I was shoehorned into a jeep with 12 other locals. As the Indians were in full party mood I knew this would be an eventful journey and as we were approaching the border a group of around 30 drunken men forced the jeep to a stop opened up all the doors and pelted us all in fluorescent powder and water. Soon after we were
allowed to go on our way. On arriving at Sunauli I made the bad decision of getting a cycle rickshaw - a slow moving target was perfect for the would be revelleres and I got pelted with more powder, more water and even dyed water - the result you can see below:
After getting through immigration I then had to wait 4 hours before the last bus of the day arrived to take me to Pokhara, it was cramped, had no legroom and cold on the bumpy, windy road through the Himalayan foothills. During my journey I wasn't trying to think of the sheer drop off the side of the road, it didn't help that most of the journey was at night either. After 8 hours of this I finally arrived at Pokhara but the bus dropped me at a "convenient" hotel so I then had to get a taxi to the hotel which the driver couldn't find, in the end I found it.
I stayed at the Orient Youth hostel which for 400 rupees (3 pounds) a night ain't bad at all, its even got hot water so I have had my second hot shower of the
trip, I needed two showers just to get rid of the paint!!
The next day I decided to chill and I met this nice English girl who asked if I wanted a free massage - obviously this was an opportunity I couldn't decline so I headed off to the seeing hands massage clinic. This is a great place where blind people are taught how to massage by UK volunteers and it brings in an income for themselves that they wouldn't otherwise have. Unfortunately the nice English girl - Vanessa didn't give me the massage it was a bloke - just my luck - if you want to find out more go to www.seeinghandsnepal.org.
Nepal is so different to India, it is far more laid back and its full of bars!! so I had my first proper drink with a group from England, America and Nepal, one of the guys is volunteering as a teacher here in Pokhara and has asked me to visit the school to talk to the kids about computers!! I said of course I would but don't blame me if they start falling asleep as this normally happens.
I have a few extra days
here as there is a bit of trouble on the road to Chitwan and I can't make the journey until 15 March. Not really complaining though as this is a great place to chill, plus there are a few short walks I plan on doing.
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Sylvia
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Your Trip
You are certainly having a ball and seeing how the other half live. You will be dining out!!! on this holiday for a long time to come. Especially the story about the powder and paint. Keep smiling and continue to have a good time.