Namaste!

I'm sitting in an internet cafe on the shores of a lake in Pokara. We got here by bus from Kathmandu earlier today. The bus ride was long, bumpy, and very slow going on the mountain roads, but we finally got to see the mountains!! Kathmandu was very interesting. Probably too busy for me, but worth seeing and I'm glad I was able to spend a few days there. We visited a few stupas (Buddhist temples also combined with some Hindu elements), saw monkeys, and spent plenty of time just wandering around the city and seeing the different areas of town. The streets are absolutly insane...cars, people, trucks, and motorcycles everywhere!!! And all of them honking constantly. Here the honking isnt angry like it is in the states though, its more of a "Hey I'm here! watch out so I dont hit you!"

 Street vendors and crazy and obnoxious here and refuse to take "no" for an answer. They also try and sell you things way over priced just because you are American, but you can usually talk them down to at least half of what their original offer is...sometimes they will ask for $50 USD for something and you can even talk them down to about $5. People otherwise are very friendly and helpful. Food is great and extremely inexpensive. We can usually each get a full dinner for about 180 Nepali Rupees or $2.50. You can buy anything and everything here...lots of fun things to just look at.

We start our trek tomorrow and I am so excited!!!! The mountains are beautiful and there area we start hiking in has banana trees everywhere, tropical birds, and great views. Looks like we'll be hiking for about 24 days total. Its going to be difficult to pack tonight for such a long trip, while making sure to keep my pack light enough to carry for three weeks! I bought a down sleeping bag and coat in Kathmandu that I'm excited to use on the trek too. always dreamed of owning a down jacket :) haha.

I really miss everybody and hope things are well back home!!!