Last days in beautiful Nepal

Hello dear people

Time?! It goes fast! After all, more than a month ago I spread my wings! In the beginning I had to get used to it. Especially to life without obligations: the freedom and doing and letting what you want. I soon found my way in that. Honestly?! This was just life!

Here and there people crossed my path with whom I had a chat. Mostly the conversations remained superficial, which I was okay with. I didn't feel the need at the time, maybe because I was too active. Of course it could have been because I had a magical two weeks with Paula, Jacobyn, Lonneke and Maurice 😀. How quickly we got to know each other in a short time was particularly intense 💖.

We had luxury in Pokhara: nice loitering, yummy food, drinking coffee, lovely showers, enjoying all around after such a physical period. One day of rest was enough for me. That's why I couldn't help but go mountain biking around Phewa Lake on Maurice's birthday. We rented decent bikes and a helmet. And thank goodness because oh my, that was a tough course. It took me back in time for a moment: when I went off-road biking with friends in the Ardennes. Technically steep climbing on slippery stones that were uneven, through the mud and through the puddles. We enjoyed this tough challenge. Maurice the cycling fanatic shot up like an arrow! I could barely keep up with him. Although I had to admit that the technique of twenty years ago was still there!

My legs gave up on the last hundred meters of ascent. Especially when I noticed that there was a leech in my socks! Oh help, I couldn't scream loud enough. I threw my bike away and threw my sneakers & socks in the air! Eikes, I thought that was such a scary animal! Damn, the sucker had me good. Luckily, all that remained was a wound. When it rains in Nepal, these creatures come out. Where it is damp they sit, especially between the grasses.

At the downhill we whizzed down smoothly. Shortly afterwards a downpour broke loose. Soaking wet we went to shelter in a typical restaurant where we enjoyed a curry dish. In the meantime the other ladies cooked up riddles for Maurice's birthday. That evening he was presented with a small quiz, presents and a delicious dinner. (Then) eighteenth of October another ten out of ten for fun, cosiness and atmosphere😀!

Saturday 21 October: I waved the group goodbye in the morning. They were leaving on a two-week expedition to Dhaulagiri. Mentally I wasn't ready for a new trek. I went jogging outside that morning, and otherwise had a lazy day. Vegan way was my favourite place in Pokhara. Mmmmmmmm, there I ate another delicious smoothie bowl.

Sunday 22 October : walking outside Pokhara. So I stumbled upon a fantastically nice beach bar in the afternoon. Where no one was sitting except me. With premeditation I had my Belgian magazine and bikini with me. Blissful, I installed myself at Beach Lodge on a lounger by the pool with a fresh mint lemonade with a view of the lake and the hills. It was lovely there, unfortunately it was fully booked. Because the staff was so nice I ate something and enjoyed the wonderful temperature for a long afternoon.

Monday October 23: I took the cable car to the top of Sarangkot. Because I was there early I had a clear breathtaking view of the snow-capped Fishtail (Machapuchare mountain) or rather the entire Annapurna Massif. I could also see the valley of Pokhara with Phewa Lake from the peak. It was amazingly beautiful at that height! This panoramic landscape reminded me of photos of Austria or Switzerland. Only this was real. To keep up with my daily exercise I did the descent on foot. My route was partly through the jungle and through small typical villages. Yes, my kind of days!

I stayed in Pokhara for five nights. Actually it was not the intention but I could not leave Pokhara after three nights because of the 'Dashain festival'. This is the longest Hindu festival in Nepal. It is celebrated for two weeks with prayers and offerings to Durga, the universal mother goddess. Dashain stands for the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasura. For the first time it was quiet and calm everywhere in Nepal. Almost no traffic but there was also little open. Eating out was not so obvious.

Anyway, October 24th was not a great day for me. I felt the urge to leave Nepal all over the place. All sorts of things were going through my mind: I wouldn't be able to get back to Kathmandu, I missed everyone, I felt lonely and on top of that my hormones were bothering me. Well, shit never comes alone! Confronting, but hey, I had those moments at home too and you just have to get through them. Luckily, the guy at the reception told me to go to the bus park on October 25th. I would have a 95 percent chance of getting a spot on the bus to Kathmandu! And guess what, I could get on the bus! Yay, I felt happy again. And fun guaranteed on that bus! Jiha!

In Kathmandu (Thamel) it was lazy! My time there I spent mostly looking for a new destination.

October 27: 'Visit Bhaktapur'! Wow, Bhaktapur is a completely different Nepal. My eyes didn't know where to look first. It's striking how visible the damage from the 2015 earthquake is still alive here: everywhere you see holes as big as houses between the homes, bricks that are ready to be repaired, rubble everywhere, monuments that stand destroyed... In this authentic city, the people are noticeably poorer. That's why I felt both sad and surprised. Curious, I wandered through the streets. On the way, I came across a nice little restaurant. In the Bara Shop I ate bara, a typical pancake made from lentils, ginger, garlic and all kinds of spices. Mmmmmm, and that for seventy (euro) cents!

Tonight at five o'clock I have an appointment with Anita from the Sarmila project . They support underprivileged children in terms of education, housing and health care.

October 28: 'THE DAY! You probably want to know where I'm going now! Well! To HONG KONG! Initially this wasn't the goal, but since I travel by feeling... Why not 😀! Wow, so exciting again!

Nepal, wow how amazing were you 💖! They say about Nepal: whoever comes here once, comes back! Well, I have that feeling too 💞! Namasté 🙏

That's it for my update!

Love & kisses, Helena 💖🦩