Camo: Super sneaky or super creepy?

Throughout the years I've always had some kind of irrational (or maybe rational) fear of people wearing camouflage. Maybe it's one too many psycho-commando movies, or the fact that some of them carry big weapons and don't tend to smile a lot. But I'm starting to get used to seeing people in camo. Here the National Parks are all overseen by the army, there are military posts and checkpoints in various places and in the city many of the police types wear blue/grey camo -- perhaps would be more effective on the water than in a city, but I'm not going to tell them that. At least I've gotten to see some of them as real people, talking to friends, hanging out, having a smoke or a laugh. I can even walk past without shuddering now. On the other hand I should clarify that this absolutely doesn't apply to civilians. Civilians should never, ever, no never be seen wearing any article of clothing in camouflage (unless of course they're hiding in the woods, and then I don't want to know about it). It's just creepy. I was trying to think if I'd offend anyone by writing this, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone I know wearing camo. Maybe because I've never talked to anyone wearing camo long enough to get to know them. Because they scare me. Apros-pos of nothing, a word to the wise. Just don't do it.

 

My head started to clear a little the other day [if you're seriously doubting this after that last bit, so am I] and I realized that I only had a few short days before I had to get back to Kathmandu for my onward flight. I've been itching to get back into the hills but, having to spend some more time sleeping off the cold (think I'm finally winning!) combined with an upcoming departure didn't leave enough room for another trek. Hopefully there will be a next time so I can really delve into the area. This is a gateway to the Annapurna ranges, which means there are sooooo many good walks to be had!! People you meet always ask if it's your first time in Nepal; I can only think this means that everyone who comes once comes back, it's just that kind of place.

 

In the meantime, fortunately Pokhara is a great place just to hang out, even just to wander around town and grab a meal somewhere. I've been looking for little out-of-the-way nooks in hopes of finding less touristy restaurants, sometimes with great success. Cheaper food and yet so much better, simple and home-made. Yesterday I found a restaurant (a little more touristy scene) with a lakefront garden, sun shining down and great views. There are all kinds of Tibetan ladies wandering around town with backpacks full of handmade jewelry & things; one of them found me yesterday and asked me to look at some stuff after lunch. Why not? As I went out onto the lawn and she spread out her blanket-full, some locals started a game of cricket right next to us. Suddenly I felt like a little kid on the school playground, sitting on the ground playing with beads and shiny things. Except that instead of little kids it was me and this sweet Tibetan lady, and her collection was about 100 times bigger and better than mine. Fun.

 

Today I got out for the first time of actually doing something. The guy from the hotel where I'm staying offered to go with me up into the hills, so we headed to Sarangkot which is supposed to have some of the best views around. It's not the best season for views and the sky is always veiled in some humid haze, but we did get to see some big white mountains. Some amazing big white mountains that don't even look physically possible. There are dark mountains below, and then it looks like somebody cut out the Annapurnas and just stuck them on top. They're huuuuuge!!! And the shape of Macchapucchre next to the other mountains... it's possibly the most spectacular peak I've ever seen. They say it's a holy mountain and nobody is allowed to climb it. No wonder.

 

I neglected to take another great photo, thinking I'd get it on the way back down, but we went down a different way. An up-close view of a typical farmhouse like some of the ones we saw from the bus window after the trek last week: bright green terraces with bright yellow mustard flowers, in front of an orange clay-looking house. Amazing colors in a totally subdued setting. Some of the mustard fields last week were flanked by light purple flowers, completing the canvas. Pictures worth thousands of words that I can't even begin to come up with.

 

After enjoying views from the top of Sarangkot and watching 7 eagles soaring around in the thermals, and then a bunch of paragliders crossing their paths, we headed back down into town. A nice walk to stretch the legs. In the afternoon another lakeside lunch at a different place, watching birds and butterflies and sparkly water. Could get used to this for sure. Did I mention it's warm?

 

I was going to make this a short entry but maybe it's getting long. And kind of scattered. Like my trip. Lots of things to cram into a short space. World a la carte... travel dim sum.... a sushi train trip... or as a hilarious Greek once put it, a spaghetti odyssey. (Yeah, Greek, odyssey, I thought it was pretty ironic too.) I think I like that one best though.

 

Hey did I mention that I saw Tibet? On the way out to Langtang we stopped at a checkpoint to sign in, and then walked up the road and D pointed to the mountains in the distance and said, 'That's Tibet'. Talk about cool.