Infamous Poon Hill and back down the mountain

Trip Start Aug 15, 2006

159

Trip End May 27, 2008

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Where I stayed

Little Tibetan Guesthouse

(Pokhara hotels)

Flag of Nepal Pokhara, Gandakī, Nepal
Friday, May 9, 2008

I got up at 4:00am to hike to the top of Poon Hill for sunrise only to find I was going alome as Phil had a headache from the altitude. I set off at 4:30 with my headtorch and not much clue as to where I was going apart from the top of town and up the big hill but I soon found some groups of people and the main path. I got to the top fairly quickly and in time to see an amazing sunrise coming over the tops of the Annapurna region. I admired the view for quite a while then headed back to get breakfast so I could set off early and get back to Pokhara in a day.

I had another issue with the bill as it quoted 100 for my room when I'd been told it would be 50 but the owner was fine to rectify this. Again, it's not a huge amount of money but it does make me wonder what kind of reaction you'd get in the UK if you tried to charge someone double for their hotel room!

I set off at 7:15 and soon caught up with Phil and Andrea but pushed on ahead so I could get back

. Before I knew it I was back amongst the kids asking me for money although their parents got annoyed when they caught them doing it! The path was very good and cut into lots of rocky steps going downhill so I enjoyed a bit of a jog for a while although felt a bit stupid when kids shouted 'marathon!' at me!

By 12pm I was back to my original checkpoint at the start of my hike and the office officials were amazed how little time it had taken me from Ghorepanni - I did explain that I ran a lot of the way....

I found myself a cheap bakery, walked back to the main road at Nayapul where I was greeted by taxi drivers offering me a 'cheap' ride back to town at only 500 but i knew the bus back was only 60 and took that! Again I was the only tourist as before which was nice as I got chatting to an man that was telling me he was off to visit hios sister in India.

Back at the bus depot I had the hassle of mopre taxi drivers to get me back to the town cente but managed to get one for 100 which I'd been told was the cheapest toursit rate.

Back at my guesthouse they agreed to let me have my room back for 300 which was a good price for the standard of the place. It's the best place i've stayed in Nepal so far.

Got an e-mail from Dick Gale telling me he's on an exped on Makalu and I should go and join them at basecamp but after a little research I discovered it would require a 2 week totallly supported walk in and a lot of money so that rules that out unfortunately!

Saw the Russians around town. Went to dinner at the Laughing Buddha as I'd been told by Nicola it was cheap and good.

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