Hotel Lake Palace Pokhara

We just got back from our trip around the Annapurna circuit, a 120-mile hike that essentially circles the famous Annapurna range of mountains (and other impressive sub-ranges). This trip was certainly one for the books! Of course, we enjoyed, relished and were downright awed by the big Himalayan mountain ...

... lost and lots of little Nepalaese boys were willing to show us the way ...for some money...but we found our own way. We also took an early morning taxi to see the sunrise over the Himalayas at Sangragot...wow!!! We (I mean Mike) also rowed a boat out over Fewa lake but mostly we began each day having juice and making plans for rafting, trekking and paragliding.<br><br>A ...

Transferred to hotel &amp; Meredyth arrives with loads of our mailed out clothes &amp; shoes. William's arrived yesterday. My new linen jacket has no buttons or button holes &amp; Alex's bridesmaid dress needs altering so it's a dash across town to the tailor for alterations. Meredyth is now a native driver - much horn blowing. She is also well, tanned &amp; healthily slim.<br>With Meredyth's inside knowledge (&amp; some of our party craving Western) we have a great pizza experience at ...

... craving for rapids, and once the rafting is finished you are left considering signing up for another and more difficult one as soon as you are back in Pokhara. The experience of camping overnight on one of the white sandy beaches that populate the river bends, it feels like south-east Asia but without coconut palm tress, with the instructors recycled to professional cooks, chatting around a bonfire and sleeping under a canopy of stars is unbeatable.<br>

... top of Poon Hill all to ourselves, all the effort had been worth it. <br><br>Day 3 at 4.45am, it was a crisp, clear and cold morning, the stars were bright as we followed a long line of early riser trekker lights up the mountain to Poon Hill for sunrise. At the summit where we had stood the evening before alone, it was crowded and avid photographers bustled for the best view, we were a little smug ...

... tonight.<br><br>I have spent today relaxing by the lake as the weather is so stunning and although the clouds have come in over the high mountains it is still blue sky and sunshine here in Pokhara so I am not expecting it to rain tonight. I am planning to get up early and go climb Sarankot tomorrow morning as I have done nothing since we got back from Langtang a week ago! I also need to go to a briefing ahead of the rafting trip later in the day. It will be interesting to see who my ...

... yak **** to heat up the place because there is no fire wood... smells funny but ur so cold u dont care.<br>Once we got there we couldnt rest once again it was several hours up rocks and dirt trails all the way up. we had to acclimatize so we went even hire on a hike and went exploring at this point walking and breathing is impossible but it has to be done zero OXYGEN!!!!<br>but i went to a top of a hill overlooking a valley and got to sit ...

... for the day to cook.  There's a beautiful garden with an array of veg, herbs and flowers.  So all the food is fresh as, just like the families live , 'this is normal'.  Lemongrass tea and juice seemed popular and delicious.  There is recycling and composting which is amazing where in a culture throwing rubbish on the ground is still normal for the most part.  However, Nepal is much cleaner than India.  <br><br> Then there's the setting...i dont know how anyone could ...

... the festival on, they didnt bring enough in and as nepal is a closed currency (can only get it in nepal and is made in france), went to a few before i could get some money. back to guesthouse for an afternoon milk tea before wandering around a bit more and then heading out to the International mountain museum, within 5 mins of being there the power wne out (it has gone out 2 times since i have been wirting ...