A Deep Breath

*This post was originally an email sent on the 19th of July


*Pictures to come


Wee hoo. Just arrived in Yangshuo; it's late but this place is open 24/7 and I don't feel like sleeping. I have four days here, so tomorrow is for sleeping in and resting, and remember when I said the two most beautiful places in the world last time? Yeah, I hadn't seen the view from atop my hostel here by night. I cannot begin to describe it, so I'll just show you this picture by way of explanation: 

Pokhara-by-the-Lake

I was in Pokhara for 4 days, Tuesday through Friday, before beginning my Annapurna trek.

Immediately I liked it more than Kathmandu - Lakeside (ingeniously named for it's colocation with Phewa Tol) is amazingly beautiful, and on my first evening I got great pics of the sun setting over the lake, and a few hints of the mountains in the distance through the clouds.

I had met a few Canadian girls on the 7-hour bus ride here, and so didn't have to spend the four days alone. We had some great food, some good drinks, decent music, and I got disgustingly ill on my last day. Special thanks go to the merciful creature who stayed awake on Friday night to nurse me through my sickness.

Other highlights: Climbing to the Peace Pagoda overlooking Pokhara, and renting a motorbike for the day to take out into the countryside. Sorry ma, it was worth it.

Photos after the jump: