DRIVE TO POKHARA

Today was the day we drive to Pokhara. This is the city where the mountains loom high and treckers meet to begin their wonderful journeys into the clouds.  But before we left our day began in a most unusual way--we took an oxcart to experience a local village. The ride was fun but being able to interact with the people and understand their way of life even better.  It is simply amazing what people can do with only the basics.  I loved the museum where we could see the everyday household implements. Who has thought that a tree could be a coat rack?  

                                      

The above shows how the villagers used to live and how many still live but also illustrates that there are some rural villagers who have electricy and appear to lead a much more modern existence even while raising their own crops and poultry for meat.

After this great experience we started the 5 hour drive to Pokhara.  It sounds really long but there are so many sights to see as you travel through colorful small towns with local markets.  This being Saturday we quickly learned that it is wash day for both people and laundry.

As you can see laundry can be hung on clothes lines as we are used to seeing, but it can also be spread out in the beautiful countryside.






We had a chance to stop as we drove.  There are amazing suspension bridges that allow people and livestock to cross rivers in Nepal.  Here is a look at what one looks like as we took to the air to experience the crossings the way the locals do.

The scenery on the drive was amazing but the moment that stands out is when we went around the corner and the mountains came into view.

This is just a teaser of the beauty that we will experience at our destination.




The most fun on the drive was when the bus stopped and we were invited to crash a wedding.  We were able to join the group watching the ceremony of the bride and groom becoming wife and husband.  We were also allowed to watch the groom's friends dance to celebrate this exciting event.  I never dreamed of being a wedding crasher but here I was!