Nirvana

We have returned to Pokhara after fifteen days of trekking in the mountains. We've been on level ground now for two days and boy does it feel good.

Our last day of trekking was long, maybe that's because I knew the end was near. Anticipation of relaxing in a nice hotel room with running hot water was lengthening the trail. After five hours we arrived in Naya Pool and started the bargaining for a taxi ride back to Pokhara.

The man who walked toward us on the road looked vaguely familiar but I couldn't quite place him. "800 rupees for a taxi," he said. I shook my head, "500," I said. We'd asked a Nepalese guide earlier what we should pay and he'd said no more than 600, so I thought I'd start the bidding at 500. "750 rupees," the man responded. "600 max," I said. It was his turn. "700." "I haven't got 700, all I have is 600," I said. Which really was the truth. We were running very low on funds and our first order of business upon getting to town was to find a bank. "700 rupees is as low as I go," the driver said. "Ok, if that's as low as you go we'll wait for the bus." I started to walk away. This was the clincher. Sure enough his 700 rupees went to 600 and we climbed in the car. As soon as we were loaded, I realized why this man had looked familiar. He was the same taxi driver who has driven us to Lomlie when we started our trek two weeks ago. He'd gotten 700 out of us then. "It's Saturday, prices are higher on Saturday," he'd said. Sitting in his car this time, I had the satisfaction of getting this ride for only 600, though the trip from Naya Pool was longer.

He dropped us at the Nirvana Hotel, on the other side of the flute man. We'd gotten another tip from a porter to stay at the Nirvana and what a tip. The Nirvana was beautiful. A double room, clean, spacious, comfortable was only US$6. I recommend it highly. The first thing we did when we got there was order breakfast and hit the pillows. The rest of the day was pure recuperation.