As our students were faced with three weeks of grueling exams, we had no option but to skip town and go on a little vacation. Destination: Pokhara. Back to a world of hot showers, toilets, spinach and goat cheese raviolis, and Nepali cover bands cranking out 'Hotel California' at all hours of the day and night - we found the perfect spot for some rest and relaxation. Over the last few weeks we have found ourselves canoeing, trekking, paragliding, volunteering, meditating, practicing yoga, making new friends and reminding our taste buds of the culinary world beyond rice and lentils.
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Welcome to Pokhara!
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Although it was difficult to spend the holidays away from our friends and family, we found a community of like-minded travelers who were equally eager to develop a surrogate family and celebrate together. We were endeared by all of the Nepali holiday cheer as well!
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| Nepalis love any excuse to celebrate. Although we were asked on more than one occasion what Christmas was a celebration of (even by a Nepali dressed up as Santa), the whole town was decked out with trees, lights, garlands galore |
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| Even Santa found his way to this Hindu country |
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| And filled our stockings with care (hanging next to our christmas tree/coat rack) |
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| Friends and fellow travelers |
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| Cassie enjoys the Himalayan views from our guesthouse rooftop |
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| Big mountains = happy Avi |
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| World Peace Pagoda sits atop the serene Fewa Lake |
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| Avi enjoys an afternoon canoe ride |
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| Dusk on the lake |
After not leaving each others' side for almost three months, we decided we could stomach being apart for 2 weeks. While Avi ventured off into the hills to sit a 10 day silent meditation course, Cassie took a job working for Empowering Women of Nepal, a non-profit that educates and trains females (with little other economic opportunity) to become trekking guides, porters, midwives, and businesswomen.
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| Some of the women engaged in a community building game |
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| Cassie quickly felt right at home with the staff of EWN |
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| It wasn't all peace and serenity at Avi's mountain view retreat center. 11 hours of silent meditation each day is no easy task! |
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