Kathmandu to Pokhara

Julie and I had plan for this trip ages ago which this was call off once due to work commitment, we finally made it for real. To start, we need a visa! after reading a few blog that posted some negative comment about applying tourist visa upon arrival, both Julie and I decided to get it before departure day, application can be done quite easily at the Nepali Embassy at RM98/visa, however do expect some drama before you get the visa endorsed.Thanks to Julie for taking the trouble to sort it out in the embassy for us. After the trouble of getting the visa ahead of our departure day, we arrive at the airport only to find out queue to the visa wasn't that long after all, so we then concluded it is not necessarily always the case, it pretty much depends on luck. The next time we return to Nepal, we'll try getting the visa on arrival.

After claiming our baggage, we came to the entrance of the airport to meet the hostel staff from our pre booked guest house in Kathmandu Khangsar, the hostel is decent and clean if you are looking for a budget hostel, hot showers available till late, however not working early in the morning. Khangsar impresses both Julie and I as the guest house owner Raj himself calls me on my mobile within a day after I placed my booking online! How many hostel actually does that? 

Coffee and tea was offerred in Raj office desk upon checking in and things were moving pretty quickly between us, Raj ask about our plan and he probably love visitor that has no plan. So we are one of those without plan, he efficiently drafted a rough itinerary for us on the spot. After some consideration for a little while Julie and I was happy with the deal so we agree!

Here you go, Raj's proposal for us:

Bus from Kathmandu to Pokhora
2 nights hostel stay in Pokhora
4 days 3 nights trekking including hostel & meals with an Englsh speaking guide plus a porter
Bus from Pokhora to Chitwan
3 days 2 nights full package in Chitwan
Bus from Chitwan to Kathmandu
* deal does not include drinks & tips for guide/porter

Khangsar - located across the busy Thamel lanes, slightly quieter and rooms are basic, don't expect additional specs when you pay a budget deal

Our flight reaches Kathmandu slightly after lunch where by the time we finish the many discussions it was already late afternoon nearing past lunch time. After agreeing to Raj that we'll sign up the package with him, we then settling our luggage in the room, change to a more comfortable clothing then out we went down for a walk. we've followed Raj recommendations to go to the Nepali kitchen restaurant under the tree across Khangsar. Our first meal of dhal bhat wasn't pleasant, the night itself I was experiencing some stomach discomfort but I suspect it wasn't the meal but the water that the hostel staff filled into my water bottle. While in Nepal, you should not drink the same water that the local drink as our stomach can't tolerate some of the bacteria, mineral water around Nepal is very cheap, about Nepali Rupee 20 per bottle, but it'll be expensive while in the mountain at about 200 a bottle.

View from Khangsar roof top - Nepali Kitchen under the tree is the area where a big tree is sticking out

Our first meal of Dhal Bhat

After this meal, Julie needed to shop for her gear for the trekking trip and also to take passport photo for her entry permit to mountains. We actually needed 2 but I only brought 1 which Raj said is ok as he'll settle the other permit.

Julie taking her passport photo at a local photo shop along Thamel lane

Shopping in Thamel, Kathmandu

After shopping, we went back to K Khangsar as Julie needed to pass her passport photograph to Raj, there we have some spare time therefore went up to the hostel roof top garden, and indeed it was a very pleasant place to hang out, is a pity we were both wearing shorts at that time, so hard to stay long in the cold.

Roof top garden at Khangsar - on clear skies day, you can also get a quick glimpse of the snow cap moutain from a far

Sunset from our first evening in Kathmandu!

The next day, we got up at 6:30am for breakfast as we are leaving the hostel to the bus station to catch the bus to Pokhara at 7:30am. During breakfast, Raj introduce us our guide Kapil and porter Siva, then he also pass us a piece of handwritten itinerary where he refer to as our agreement :)
With the help of our guide, the journey was very much being sorted by Kapil, all we need to do is to sit back relax and do nothing. Our journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara was rough to me, traffic was bad, as along the way on moutain roads when big vehicle meet each other, at times the bus would just stop in the middle of the journey, leaving us no clue about what is going on. But after while we figure, the bus will eventually move, so sit back and relax, we are not in KL!

Pit stop for lunch on our way Pokhara

We bought banana from this stall

Reached Pokhora safely after approximately 6.5 hours on the road, walked to the Fewa lake for a breather before dinner, the weather was not good that evening, very quickly the dark cloud came and it started to drizzle so we left the lake. Which this end our day 2 in Nepal, a slow walk around Pokhara town, dinner at a tibetan stall, nothing too great, this was also the first and last time we look at the lake.