Wed 27 Feb 2013 Return to Pokhara

We are to catch the local van partway down the hill and then walk the rest of the way to the footbridge. But first the ladies of the village turn out to anoint us one last time with the red tika dye and hang garlands of flowers around our necks.

It turns out the "van" is a Land Rover type vehicle with the back converted to two long bench seats the length of the vehicle. Normally the vehicle is only used for cargo but as the main highway (for which read, rocky road) is closed for repair the van also doubles as the local bus. Our bags were loaded on the top. Mike jumped into the front and the rest of us with Major Lil and Capt Laxman plus our hand luggage jump into the rear. Two young lads also stood on the rear. With the driver there were 9 of us bouncing our way down the hill in relative "comfort". However at various points down the hill the driver tooted his horn and people would come out for the bus. By the end there were 19 of us on the bus. 3 in the front (including the driver), 2 on the roof, 3 hanging on the back and 11 squashed in the back with all our rucksacks and whatever else the other travellers were carrying. Oh and not forgetting the dog!!

Apparently some of the passengers were taking the bus to Syangja the closest town and also the main town of the Syangja district which includes the Panchamul valley. There they will visit the doctor then wait all day until the bus makes the returned trip to the valley. If they are unwell, the bus drive down and back up the rocky road is not going to help.

Eventually we reached a junction where disembarked as we had decided to trek down the rest of the way to the valley floor. The weather was sunny and warm as we walked downhill past the houses, cowsheds, haystacks and terraced fields taking the opportunity to turn around and look back at where we had been. High on the centre ridge stood the white buildings of Daraun School and Egrets flew over the farmland. By 11am we reached the bridge at the shop and waited there for a short time until our 4x4 arrived to drive us back to Pokhara.

The difference down here by comparison to the hill villages is marked. Whilst they still use cows to pull a wooden plough we never saw any vehicle in the hills apart from delivery trucks. Within 5 minutes on the valley floor we passed 3 fairly modern tractors.

After about 30 minutes of rough track we reach the blacktop road. This doesn't mean things are any smoother as we try to dodge the potholes and bumps. Mike sat in the front again and whilst he endured the same white knuckle ride we did, he could see what was coming. Not sure that is a good idea and I am sure he tried to stomp his foot to the floor in an effort to brake.

We arrived back at the Temple Tree Hotel about 13:15 and after quickly dropping off our bags and washing our faces of the red tika dye we meet in the bar for a drink and a Club sandwich and chips! Bliss.

In the evening we meet up with Binod and 3 other Rotarians from Pokhara Fishtail for a meal at a local Chinese restaurant. We persuaded them not to take us to a Nepalese restaurant after our week in the hills. Binod and two of the others have been to Bingley and we had a lovely evening with them.