Have you ever been on an airplane that threads a valley, weaving between mountains? The two-prop plane from Jomson to Pokhara fits the bill. Today we flew from Jomsom to Polchara. The plane sat twenty people, and the kids loved it! As soon as we got off in Polchara, we immediately felt the humidity. There were palm trees, which we hadn’t seen in weeks, and we loved how easy it was to breathe.

We are staying next to the lake near the town, and wow, is it busy. Polchara is a destination for tourists and locals alike. We walked down the storefronts. You can buy anything here, from gurkha knives (traditional nepalese knives that are used by special soldiers called gurkhas) from North Face knockoffs from China to clothes representing many different trends and styles to solar-powered prayer wheels to attach to your dashboard.  In this land of non-existant road markers or lane dividers, it is tempting to invest in the dashboard prayer wheel. Today we also saw our first solar-powered spinning Buddha!

Doing the tourist thing here in Polchara. Devi’s fall (Patalechhango Fall)...notable for an attempted renaming to Davis Falls after an unfortunate Swiss tourist was swept away while bathing with her husband in 1960’s. She “finally was dead” (I kid you not; this was on the sign at the fall). The Falls sit in a canyon and then abruptly drop underground.  Crossing a busy street, we entered Gupteshwor Cave and witnessed the falls drop downward from a new angle. The cave also hosts a Hindu Shrine celebrating Shiva who is embodied in one of the stalagmites.

Next, we wove our way towards a Tibetian refugee camp. The camp has established itself as a community of weavers.  We observed and interacted with the rug weavers as they pulled from various skeins of wool to create their rugs.  Despite all these people have been through leaving their own country, there were smiles and comraderie among the weavers. We finished today at the Gurkha Musuem, a tribute to this highly regarded section of the British Army. The Gurkhas made this Jared and Greg’s favorite stop. We were all impressed with the civil service including water projects and bridge construction.

Intermittently on the street and in the cafes, we are continually running into fellow trekkers from our trek. We are enjoying the continuity these companions! Lastly, Popy-Don and Greg were sat in side-by-side chairs and got the sharp end of a straight razor. A magical transformation from mountain men and near-Yeti to men ten years younger! Suave, debonair and clean, we are hitting the town for a beer and some traditional music and dancing!

Mt. Annapurna south picture taken from Airplane
Jomsom Airport
on the plane	Tibeten camp in Pokhara
Tendi and Jassica looking a Heandycarft
Davis Water fall	Hair sailon in Pokhara

At Devis fall in Pokhara

In side the cave

In side the cave

Pokhra Phewa Lake