One of my primary goals incoming to Nepal was to see the elusive Himalayas. After watching movies about Everest, reading books about mountaineering, I was finally afforded the opportunity to see the tips of the Annapurna range poke through the clouds on the way to Pokhara.

Seven volunteers with a variety of backgrounds all went to Pokhara for a three day adventure. Organized by Anish, our coordinator, we were in store for quite the experience. Situated on a cozy mountain lake, Pokhara is a hub for foreign travelers and locals alike. I was immediately impressed with the friendliness of the town and its welcoming atmosphere.

The trip began with a dinner overlooking the lake of either western food or traditional Nepali cuisine. The next morning we visited Devi's Falls, a waterfall of sorts that cascades into the earth, carving out a cave as it does so. We first witnessed the falls from above but then crawled underground to the caverns created by the falls. Nearby, we visited a Tibetan refugee camp where we saw children training to be monks and got to talk to locals who lived in the camp about their experiences. After lunch we started out hike to the top of the tallest nearby hill. The hike took three hours, and after some really hard work we finally got the views we were seeking. Pokhara in all of its wonderful colors at sunset was a sight to see. A night at the top of the mountain was refreshing from the heat below, and a sunrise the next morning really magnified the mystery of the Himalayas as they lurked behind deep blue clouds.



After returning to Pokhara we took boats across the lake and climbed again, this time for a Buddhist monastery. There we were able to see four very spiritually significant statues of the Buddha in different poses, and also had more views of Pokhara from above. After another night's sleep in the guest house we were on our way to the river for rafting.

Along the Narayani river runs the road connecting Chitwan and Kathmandu. Little did we know we'd be rafting on that very river. With nine people in a raft we tried our hardest to keep from being swept out as the waves came raging over the side. Despite the intensity of the rapids, there were nice tranquil parts where we could go for a swim to cool off.



The entire trip was a wonderful experience, in large part because of Hari, our guide. He helped us get the most out of the experience, kept our spirits up and overall was a great friend by the end of the trip. Anish did a great job planning it and after the four days I felt like my experience in Nepal was that much closer to being complete.

Volunteers Details:
1. Michele - ELI medical volunteer June
2. Michael - Volnepal
3. Paul - Volnepal medical
4. Kali - ELI medical volunteer
5. Tabetha - ELI Medical Volunteer
6. Eri - ELI Medical volunteer
7. Shivana - ELI orphanage volunteer

Next Trekking Group on July 15th From Kathmandu to Langtang Region:
If any one wish to join the trip : Welcome!

Anish Neupane
Director (Volnepal)

www.volnepal.np.org
info@volnepal.np.org, volunteer_nepal2002@yahoo.com