Claire and I got up really early in the morning (not so hard since we were up around 4am every day anyway) and caught a taxi up to Sarangkot to watch the sunrise over the Himalayas. We got up there maybe 10 min before the sun broke the horizon - just enough time to realize that I was really cold and should have brought my heavier coat. But, the view was amazing and worth the early morning excursion.
Because we were up so high, it was light long before the sun actually broke across the peaks, but it was worth the cold wait.
Annapurna in the dawn
Annapurna and Machhupucharre
After we got back from our early morning sunrise vigil, we decided to hike up to a different peak across the lake (Phewa Taal) to a Peace Pagoda on top. It was a long hike but it was a beautiful building.
Hiking back down we tried to find the same bushwhacking trail we took to get up there. Ummm... couldn't quite find our secret trail but we found ourselves down at a boat launch and paid a man to row us across the lake!
When we got off the boat, this cute little Tibetan refugee lady sold us some bracelets and necklaces. I couldn't say no, she was so cute.
When we got off the boat, this cute little Tibetan refugee lady sold us some bracelets and necklaces. I couldn't say no, she was so cute.
Our last stop for the day was a Tibetan Refugee settlement north of Pokhara. We got there early for their "services"... ummm... I'm not sure what to call them. But they do a whole prayer, song, music, worship thing for a few hours each afternoon and we wanted to see it. So, we wandered around and a Monk who spoke English really well for a Nepali showed us around the inside of the monastery. A personal tour. We were that cool.
Prayer flags looking out the door of the monastery
Buddha - there were a 1,000 small Buddhas surrounding the main Buddha. The monk told us why, but you know, I of course don't remember why.
The monk who showed us around. He was 24 and had been there since he was 14. He chose on his own to become a monk at 14.
Some of the cute little monks in the monastery
The monk who showed us around. He was 24 and had been there since he was 14. He chose on his own to become a monk at 14.Some of the cute little monks in the monastery Prayer wheels outside the monastery
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