So how long would you think it would take to drive the 200km to Pokhara from Kathmandu? Surely not 6 hours right? Wrong. Six very long hours stuck in the back of a small car, dodging trucks, potholes and cows. The roads were two lanes, but very busy, and parts were definitely limited to one-way traffic.
We'd given ourselves lots of time in Pohkara with the plan to do an overnight trek. Given the weather and one or two other issues we flagged it, so had a relaxing first day sleeping in and walking around the little town.
Pokhara is on the side of a lake, and usually very pretty. Unfortunately we were still having weather issues so couldn't even make out the far side of the very small lake!


...and then across the round, and down into the cave to see it from underneath.
Back into town for a pre dinner drink, drinks over dinner, and then a few more drinks. Loving the two for one cocktails!




With plenty of time, we made it around the lake to the site of a pretty impressive waterfall. The river leading from the lake twists its way along a little gorge before disappearing into the earth.
With one of us keen to stretch our legs, and one of us keen for a sleep in, we parted ways in the morning. Warren made it down to the lake to get a local to drop him on the other side for the hour or so trek up to the world peace pagoda.
Normally it would have spectacular views, but it was another misty cloudy day in Pokhara, and at the top you could barely make out the town below.
A very nice green walk back via an alternative route to town.
As I cam back into town, I crossed the river upstream from where we had seen it the previous day. Turns out the river plays a key role in Pokhara's laundromat industry.
More greenery.
Back to the hotel to pick up the wife and make our way back down to the lake for lunch and a short paddle in an old canoe. Out on the lake and finally, in the distance, the snow covered mountains started emerging from the wall of cloud.
Guess who did all the paddling?
More shopping back on the main strip overlooked by the fishtail.
We finally work up to a blue sky, on the final day in Nepal and with an early flight back to Kathmandu. So we got up even earlier for a nice little stroll along the lakeside, which only made us realise how pretty the place is!
We made our way to the airport thinking surely with such blue skies our flight back to Kathmandu would be ok. But it wasnt - weather in Kathmandu had delayed all flights out, and so once again we were stranded at the airport.
After stressing for a few hours that the flight would be cancelled and we wouldnt be able to make our flight later that night back to Dubai, we finally heard the drone of an incoming aircraft. More spctacular views the entire (30 minute) flight - if only the weather was like this all week!!
Back in Kathmandu with 3 or 4 hours to kill and facing the prospect of at least a 30 minute trip into the centre, we decided to take a learning from our time in Dubai and hit a nearby hotel for lunch. We went to Dwarikas, which is one of the nicest hotels in Nepal, and had a great meal in the courtyard.

A quick trip back to the airport for the 4 hour flight back to Dubai.
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