Goodbye Dear Pokhara and On the Move Again

Hello! This morning bright and early, I packed up and left my home of four months in Pokhara to start my exit from Nepal. My visa expires on Nov. 14, so I flew to Kathmandu this AM and then traveled one hour east of Kathmandu to the city of Dhulikhel. I was sad to leave so many friends and great experiences behind in Pokhara but I am excited to start some new adventures!

Much to my delight my hotel is great and it is near to the trekking trail that takes you to Namo Buddha-a famous Buddhist Monastery and Shrine.

Dhulikhel Hotel is built in the old Kathmandu style architecture. Here is the beautiful entrance with Brownie the dog majestically keeping watch. $40 a night buys you a lot here. A special treat for three nights.

This beautiful Blue-Throated Barbet (a sample of the exquisitely colored birds here) was recovering from an injury near the hotel restaurant-that is water not blood.

The flight from Pokhara was short but breathtaking.

After a great lunch of Dal Bhat the Nepali equivalent of an Indian Thali meal -I hit the hiking path.

My target today was to explore the city of Dhulikhel and to visit the Kali Temple. The speciality of Dhulikhel is the 180 degree view of the Himalayan range. I hope to share some clearer photos of it tomorrow.

The Kali Temple is exactly 1000 steps up the side of a mountain. The steps were designed well and not too strenuous. It was a very peaceful 20-30 minute walk.

Along the way, I found another peaceful temple with a big Shiva Lingam.

And then further up the steps a lovely big Buddha with incredible clouds and sunlight forming a beautiful backdrop.

Some wonderful views as I climbed higher.

When I reached the top where the Kali Temple was a Baba greeted me in orange robes and great purple shoes. I teased him about his purple shoes. We struck up a halting conversation in Nepali/Hindi and English. He invited me into his simple room. I am sure he has dreads much bigger than mine under there!

He showed me a book of his artwork. It was very interesting, unique and unexpected. Here is a sample. I was not sure what to say-his style and content was not at all what I expected!. Some of his pictures had cops and robbers, helicopters and chase scenes...quite entertaining for a holy man.

The Kali Temple itself was very small and actually exposed to the elements on a big terrace. I did some meditation there.

There was a fantastic rock just below the temple that everyone was climbing on and taking photos.

This was all I could muster up - LOL. Maybe tomorrow. Stay tuned for tomorrow's hike!