Stu was scheduled to go paragliding this morning, something I decided to pass on. He set off bright and early, but when they got there it was raining so it got cancelled. I wandered along the street looking for something to eat that didn’t involve fried eggs or boiled milk. A cinnamon bun and black tea at the German bakery was just the thing. I bought an embroidered carry-on sized bag to carry all my new acquisitions, and chatted with the guy in the store for so long that he gave me tea. I bought some small gifts, and he gave me a yak wool change purse as a gift, and the morning was well spent.
This afternoon it started to rain in earnest. It’s remarkably like standing in the shower fully dressed, and the water is warmer than some of the showers that we have had during this trip. Seems like a good afternoon to read our books and veg.
It’s our last night in Pokhara before heading for the jungle, so we decided to brave the rain and meet Kory and Mel one last time for dinner. Many of the restaurants her have an second floor that is open to the street so we sat and watched the world go by in the rain. There are actually storm sewers in Pokhara, but there is so much rubble along the side of the road that the water can’t get to them, and consequently forms puddles that stretch across the road. Life goes on as usual. cows and dogs seek refuge under trees, and occasionally under the awnings in front of shops. The electricity is very uncertain here, and it is the low season so not many people. Because there is no light in the shops, and no customers, the shopkeeper sit on their front steps and chat with each other or watch the world go by.
Nepal’s time zone is 15 minutes different from India’s. This is a political decision to make it clear that it is not part of India…I wonder if they have a joke like, “The world will end at 10 tonight, 10:15 in Nepal”?
I wonder if any would head to Nepal thinking they might have an extra 15 minutes?
Well, perhaps that illusion of extra time represents Nirvana for some people?