On the walk back to the hotel upon arriving in Pokhara, I noticed a baby monkey being played with by the locals. So, what else do you do when you see a 6 week old wild and potentially rabid monkey? Well, you go and play with it, too. Robyn, want a new pet?
The next day, I rented a bike to tour the city and the rural areas of Pokhara. At first, I came across a film production. It looked really interesting, then I started asking questions only to find out that these actors and actresses were the most famous in Nepal. Just watching them shoot a film brought me laughs. It was lightly raining out, and when they would shoot one scene with the actress running and jumping for joy upon the slick mountain, she would slip and fall over and over again.
I continued on my bike adventure. Pokhara has a giant lake next to it where one can go boating, hiking around some of the trails, or even biking around the lake. Well, I wanted to bike around the lake, and that's exactly what I did. Only I didn't end up back in Pokhara. I simply went up some rice paddies, and continued to go up more and more rice paddies until it was around 6pm and starting to get dark. I was far away from home. Luckily, some kids mucking about the paddies found me, and I was tired. Of course the kids wanted to take the bike for themselves to ride around. I said sure and let them ride around. I was too tired to worried about them fall because the brakes didn't work. One thing I've learned out here: never expect brakes to work on a bike. Thus far I'm 0-2 on working brakes on bikes.
Well, luckily the kids brought me to their small village home, fed me, and prepared a place for me to stay the night. The family is not well off at all. They would be considered poor by any western standard. But the family still welcomed me in and took care of me. Of course the next morning I left with little sleep and plenty of mosquito bites, but that's all part of it. Waking up bright and early by the kids pulling me out of bed was met by a sun rise lighting up some of the highest peaks in the world.
I finally made it back to Pokhara. I took a nap, then got back on the bike to further venture the city. I made it to where the more local/non-tourist area is situated. I visited a local Tibetan Camp and monastery. In Marpha, I befriended a Tibetan woman who told me one of her sons lived here. So, I went and had a small chat with him. Small because he spoke Tibetan, and I didn't. Nonetheless, it was really nice meeting him and getting to know his lifestyle. Basically, the monks wake up early, meditate, perform chanting, eat, meditate, study, and perform more chanting. What a life!
This is the skull of an elephant. Massive.
A cultural program where people in the audience had the choice of participating in the final dance. Obviously I had to join in on the fun.
I stayed with a friend who lived in Kathmandu (below) and his neighbors invited us over to celebrate. These two girls are all festive with their many bangles coating the little ones arm and dancing and smiles all night.
Meet Hrikesh. I stayed with him at his place for my two weeks in Kathmandu. Maybe I'll see you in Colorado, Hrikesh.
This day was an awaking of the yin and yang, the black and white, life and death. Here you see life. All the women in red, happy and dancing until the morning breaks. What you don't see is the latter of the two. The main celebration occurred along the burning ghats. The burning ghats is where Hindu funerals take place. We sat on the other side of the river while observing the colorful women in red as well as the man draped in while robe being dipped into the river for a pre-burning cleanse. He was then carried to the pyre where the flames were lit, and he returned to the earth. A celebration of life and a mourning of death in one sight allows for the deep investigation of purpose in life. If we simply die after life, is our purpose just to die? Is death really bad? If so, is our purpose in life bad or negative? Why is death typically associated with negativity. Can we not embrace death and allow for a positive association to manifest from our loved ones passing on? What can we truly learn from this? Life goes on, the investigation continues, then we die. Simple yet beautiful, right? Why not?
Prayer flags coating all the trees along a Buddhist shrine.
Gotta climb a tree whenever a tree is climbable.
Buddha with the statue painted with puja's or prayers. 
More stupa shots displaying the beauty and sereneness of the monastery.
Some friends I met at the monastery. It was Rosh-Hashana, and I thought it would be nice to spend the new year at the monastery and get apples and honey, and share my culture with people from around the world. And it was delicious. Note the two in the front; they are bald.
Huge slug living at the monastery. There were plenty of these slimy creatures to meditate on. These leafy looking backside is not only a thing of beauty, but also a thing of brilliance, allowing them to camouflage and survive. Although, at a Buddhist Monastery, with the precept of no killing of any creatures, it didn't seem as if anyone was out to get them.
Remember the two in the picture? They were bald, and then they shaved my head. Now I am bald. Inspired by none other than Buddhist Monks. Thanks guys in maroon robes!
Not balding, Bald! I figured I hasten up the process, and I haven't looked back ever since. Love the feeling.
Mother and child post puja, receiving tikka as well. So cute!
I walked around the city Patan, which is a neighboring town of Kathmandu, and entered a Buddhist temple during Lord Krishna's Birthday, where I found the guard to the gates of heaven - a tortoise.
More shots from Lord Krishna's birthday and tikka on the forehead. Lord Krishna is the god who plays the flute, and my understanding of Krishna is that he is the god of love and music. So, right on, they dance and spread the love!
