Tato Pani, Begnas, and Pokhara

“To travel is to live.”  (Hans Christian Anderson)

"One in three women on the planet will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. One billion women violated is an atrocity. One billion women dancing is a revelation.” ‘1 billion rising’ is a campaign celebrated across the world today. It aims to DEMAND an end to violence against women.” This was the amazing campaign I got to be a part of on Thursday! I went with Sm to Patan to participate in a flash-mob dancing for women’s rights. It was so amazing especially because we had learned the dance! It was a really good way to kind of end TBT, coming together for a good cause that so many people believe in. I was really inspired and happy to have been there.

On Saturday morning I got up early and took a bus to Tato Pani (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatopani,_Bagmati)to meet GB. It is such an interesting place, there is absolutely nothing to do except go to the bathhouses, and there are big mountains surrounding the whole area with China in the distance. We obviously tried to get a border pass but it was unfortunately closed until late March to foreigners. We still had a pretty cool walk and then went to the bathhouse. Tato pani literally means “hot water” and I understand why! It was so hot I could barely breathe let alone get all the way in! When we left it was pouring and the guesthouse didn’t have electricity. Good thing I was tired so I went to bed early. The nest day we walked a bit of the way to Last Resort where GB was going to go bungee jumping. The rain had stopped and has taken all the grey of yesterday with it. Everywhere I looked where mountains and lakes and sunlight. We eventually hitched a ride and flew through the cool morning air being terrified only slightly by the sharp turns. We spent the day there after he jumped and then took a very nice bus back to Kathmandu.

Monday and Tuesday where very strange, I was back in Kathmandu but no one was there (everyone was trekking) and I wasn’t travelling and just felt confused. I felt homesick and even had the notion that maybe I would come home a little earlier than I was originally planning. I didn’t like the feeling and felt bored and lonely. Fortunately GB and I left early Wednesday morning for Begnas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begnas_Lake), which is close to Pokhara and has a beautiful lake. We spent Wednesday and Thursday there reading relaxing and just enjoying the view. Like Tato Pani there wasn’t really anything to do so as much as I enjoyed the quiet I was bored and was glad to be leaving for Pokhara on Friday.

On Saturday O came! She had come back a bit early from trekking and I was so happy to see her! We all spent the day hanging out and then met up with S, El, D, and C who were all there as well. On Sunday we moved to a different and much better guesthouse and O and I had a lazy day. It was grey out and we read and watched movies. That night we all met up and we ended up meeting some nice people from Holland who were really cool and staying out with them for a bit. Monday was really cool because I went paragliding! First I went to breakfast with S, El, and D and then D went with a guy she knew first and the rest of us waited on the landing sight and watched people paraglide which was beautiful! Then O and I went! We drove up a big mountain and before I knew it I was all strapped in and ready to go! It was so crazy to be so high up and see the blue sky and green all around me. Everything seemed so peaceful from up above but in a different way than when you are in an airplane because you are actually outside. Unfortunately the motion of flying through the air made me incredibly nauseous. I advise for anyone who wants to paraglide and gets motion sickness to take something before! I was in bed for the rest of the afternoon but got up to say goodbye to S, El, D, Al (who had come that day), and GB who were all leaving in the morning and who I wouldn’t see. I was so sad to say goodbye (especially to GB who has become such a close friend) and it really meant that TBT is over.

The next day (Tuesday) I got a massage with Sm and M. WOW! It was amazing! It was a good place and they did such a good job! I felt so good and relaxed after and just happy! When I finished we went back to the guesthouse and had tea and relaxed all afternoon. Then we went out to dinner and to the bar where I fell into talking with some of the people I had met with the people from Holland a couple nights before. We had a really good time and planned to meet up the next day! So on Wednesday I went with P, R, and T and rented a boat. We paddled out on the lake and sat there in the sun. I even dove in along with P and R! The water was freezing and I couldn’t stay in! But it was really fun and we only came back when it started to get cool out. I spent the night watching movies and relaxing.

On Thursday we (me, Sh, O, and Ab) rented a boat and paddled across the lake so we could climb to the Peace Pagoda. It was a bit of a hike and O and I were dying a little but we made it. The view was incredible and the Peace Pagoda itself was beautiful. I was really glad I went and the walk down didn’t take very long, however I did feel like my arms were going to fall off when we paddled back. Then we had the most amazing sandwiches at a place called Dafna’s and then went back to the guesthouse to shower. Then Sh and I went for a walk because it was so gorgeous out and then met O and Ab for dinner and after went out with P and R and had a great time!

Friday was not a good day. I woke up with a terrible stomachache and had to stay in bed all day. I slept and showered and by the late afternoon I felt well enough to go and sit with P, R and their friend N. We had dinner (they ate and me not so much) and then I called it an early night. Fortunately I felt much better on Saturday and spent the day walking around enjoying the sunshine with P. Then we met up with R and N for dinner and went out for a bit. I had to call it an early night though because I had an early bus back to Kathmandu in the morning. I am really happy I made new friends! I will be seeing P in India next week and R in Indonesia in May!

 I spent the better part of my day on a bus back to Kathmandu on Sunday. Then I got all my stuff from storage from the big house and took it to the guesthouse where O, Sh, M, Sm, and Ab were staying. Afterwards I bought tickets to Goa with Smadar to Wednesday! On Monday I went with Sh and O to the visa office to drop off my passport and then we got breakfast. After O and I spent the afternoon sorting, packing, and shipping our clothing back to the home. We also took care of some last minute gifts and by the end of the day felt extremely accomplished.

Today, Tuesday, is my last day in Nepal. I finally got my visa for India and packed all of my things. **Getting your visa for India is easy but a pain in the ass. You must fill out an online application and submit it AND print it out. Then you go to the embassy with the application, passport, and photocopies of BOTH your passport picture and Nepali visa, and a 2x2 passport picture. Then they give you a receipt and give you a time to come back (usually 5-7 days). You can come back any time after it’s ready and then must leave your passport there and come back the next day and pick it up. Again, not hard, but a huge pain** I am officially ready! Ab left yesterday and will be going to Lumbini first and then crossing the border by land. Sm and I leave in the morning and will be in Goa by nightfall and O, Sh, and M will be leaving in the afternoon and getting to Chenni at night. We will all meet up in a couple weeks for Passover and then travel north together (at least that is our plan for the moment). I am so incredibly excited to finally start this journey! Ready or not here I come!

Signed,

India Bound