Pokhara

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Pokhara is worth a day or two. If you're planning on doing some walking, when you arrive, consider asking the cabby to take you first to the permit center -- it's right near the airport.

Pay no more than 300 from the airport. If they want more, start walking and one of them will follow you and give in. It's only about a 30 to 40-minute walk to the town, so to save a few bucks, walk it.

Basically Lakeside, the main road, goes like this: Trekking store, bank, Westernish restaurant, souvenir shop, Internet access, travel agent, Trekking store, and so on. Because of this, it's easy to get lost: everything looks the same.

Don't stay on the main drag. Go to the city center and walk 50m or so away from the lake -- there are many guesthouses here that are vastly superior to the choices in Kathmandu.

Celesty Guest House

It's clean and simple. A room with two beds is 500, and he has cheaper ones for 300. It's a five minute walk from Lakeside Rd, which is perfect -- quiet, but close to the restaurants, etc. The owner is helpful and there are all sorts of convenience stores and laundromats nearby.

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Photos

Lake
I feel bad about not getting out onto the lake -- it looks pretty nice.

ATM
I really needed money for the mountains.