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Founder's Travel Journal: Pokhara Shopping Trip Day 12

June 12, 2008

-RAFTING!!!

Day 1 Starting point: 28kms upstream of Trisuli Village. Duration 5 hours + lunch.

Day 2 Starting point: Trisuli Village to 28kms downstream. Duration 2 hours + lunch

 

To begin, on June 10th, Ramsaram, Meena and I voyaged to Pokhara to do a bit of shopping. I picked up an entire box of aspirin and four bottles of calamine lotion. Because of past incidents I felt Bandipur needed help with restocking these items. I also picked up 5 outfits from the fabric store: the standard Nepali extende blouse, matching pants and scarf. I picked up three for myself that way I have something nicer and more recognizable for the children when I return to my teaching duties. It will also be a bit more comfortable during warmer weather.

Let's see: paint (water color), 2 boxes of every color in the spectrum, a new potato peeler for next time I'm helping in the kitchen, a CLOUD of a pillow contrary to the slab of marble I was sleeping on before, and other accessories for the outfits I bought specifically to identify myself as being a "Mrs." rather than a "Ms.". Once the garments are ready at the tailor's I'll describe the ensembles in more detail.

After an hour of arguing with two dozen individuals waiting in line to fill up their tanks with petrol (gas to us Americans), we left Pokhara around 4:30pm.

The petrol line...funny thing. Our driver probably wasted more gas turning his engine on and off to move his truck back and forth through the crowd than he did driving to Pokhara. Ramsaram, the driver and his son were out next to the pump tit-for-tating with other drivers all vying for a quick fill-up. I'd say there were a good 20+ people crowded around one pump. One fellow wanted to fill 5 barrels while everyone else was allowed 8-12 gallons (depending on type of vehicle) due to the petrol shortage. Ha! After inquiring with Meena I discovreed what Nepali swear words sound like.

Upon our arrival home we were greeted by a cheerful crowd of locals waiting to lend us a hand with our gear. I failed to mention the foam mattresses we also purchased with Ramsaram. Anyway, I later found out that I would be waking up bright and early for rafting the next day, Meena too! It grows late now and I've got to get up early for school. Rafting details later.

 

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