Soon after leaving the border town of Siddharta I drive into the mountains, towards Pokhara. This city is best known by many tourists and mountaineers who go climbing or hiking in the Himalayan mountains from there.
There is only one road from the border to the city of Pokhara, which is a 180 km route with thousands of curves. I'm glad I'm on an all-road motorcycle because in many places the asphalt has been seriously damaged or completely disappeared by landslides and falling rocks. The average speed is very low and I drive almost the entire route in the first 2 gears.
On the way I stop at a gigantic suspension bridge over the valley. The bridge is only accessible to pedestrians and next to it is a small restaurant with a terrace where I enjoy a delicious noodle lunch for € 2.10. The landscape is different than I expected: high steep mountains with lots of green vegetation, palm trees, bamboo, shrubs with flowers and terraces in the valleys with fields full of colorful mustard seeds. It feels tropical and is very nice to drive through.
Late in the afternoon I arrive at the guesthouse in Pokhara with tired arms and hands from driving. In a quiet area with many hotels, a very nice family has 2 large 'hotels' in their garden. My room has a view of the Himalayas but unfortunately the sky is not clear enough to see white peaks. The garden of the guesthouse is a real oasis with coffee bushes, flowers and even papaya trees that I can taste the fruits of at breakfast.
Nepal is a relief after hectic India: less hectic traffic, less noise, less rubbish, but (much) worse roads. I am very curious whether this will also apply to a large city like Kathmandu.
By sunset the sky has cleared and I can see the 7km high Fishtailmountain from the guest house. A sacred mountain in the Himalayas, which may not be climbed. It is strange to see the white mountain peaks so high on the horizon.
Together with Rik, the motorcyclist I met at the border of Nepal, I have dinner in a restaurant and we enjoy a nice fire. After this our paths separate again, he goes deeper into the mountains, I head for Kathmandu.
Wow Nepal! What an adventure. Nice to see and interesting to read your travelogue. Have a nice and safe time in Nepal!
Hello Veronique, I don't remember if I already responded, but thank you! Nepal was great, but Thailand (where I am now) is even more beautiful. I'm lucky to be able to experience this!