Remember that time when you’ve just gotten done playing outside in the snow. You’re hungry, cold, wet, and you can barely feel your toes, ears and nose. It is during this moment when the simple pleasures like an ordinary bowl of chicken noodle soup tastes like the best most satisfying feast in the word. Well after this multi-day hike up the Himalaya Mountains, daily lunch/dinner meals of Dal Baht, cold rooms, and aching muscles, the relaxing town of Pokhara is that warm satisfying bowl of chicken noodle soup that I’ve been craving.

The weather is nice and warm. Tshirt and shorts suffice.  Our accommodations are as close to the ranks of a western hotel as I’ve seen since Dubai. It feels like paradise. After a morning of sleeping in I pull myself out of bed for a nice warm shower. I wonder around the touristy part of town and realize what a change it has been since coming down from the rustic mountains villages of the Annapurna Circuit. I visit coffee shops and gorge myself in western cuisine. I have discovered that the Italian restaurant around the corner has awesome clay oven baked thin crust pizza. Who would have thought I’d be able to get a good Italian pizza in Nepal!

In addition to the Italian restaurants there are other dining venues from all over the world. Due to the popularity of the Annapurna Circuit in the international community and the fact that trek ends in the town of Pokhara there is an abundant amount of western conveniences. They range from budget minded backpacker to high end dinning so there is quite a variety to choose from. It is only here that I would actually trust the meat dishes.

The town is decorated in bright red banners. Happy 2066! Huh? How long have I been gone? It appears that the Nepalese still celebrate New Years or “Navavarsha” during this time. Everyone is outdoors in groups and there’s quite the hustle bustle in Pokhara. That night we decide to visit a Nepalese night club to celebrate. Shots of Nepalese Whiskey and dancing to western music are a nice welcome from our regular nights of relaxing after a grueling day’s walk.

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