REST DAY (AT LAST)!

The day started very early for some of us - 5am to be exact. Our bus driver had decided earlier on in the week that he would take us to Sarangkot to view the sunrise on our rest day - and I thought sleeping in was a rest!!! Unfortunately Julie, Sarah and myself (Kylie) didn't make it onto the 5.30am bus due to illness (some self inflicted). But the others explained the view of the sunrise coming up over the himalayas and the visit to the Hindu temple and witnessed a prayer session, then ventured to breakfast at a German bakery. The team's next stop was Devis falls, named after a Swiss tourist who was killed whilst bathing in 1961. Lastly the team visited local caves before heading back to the hotel, which included climbing down several hundred steps (glad I wasn't there) to see a Hindu statue.

After everyone arrived back at the hotel it was officially free time. Most of us had lunch at the most westernised restaurant we could find given that this was our first day to choose our own lunch food. Matthew, Julie, Scott, Jason, Sarah and myself ate at a lovely place by the water called "Mike's". Most of us had hamburgers and we all agreed they were delicious. We then decided to walk down the main tourist part of Pokhara to do some shopping. Scott and Julie headed back to the hotel after this as they weren't feeling well. On the way up the main street we passed John S who was also browsing the shops following his lunch at Newars Kitchen, Indian cuisine. To everyone's amusement a local was walking down the street exposing himself. We thought that he must have arrived from Gosford also!!! Christine and Rajash went for a trip across the lake in a small boat to view a Hindu temple which is regarded as extremely holy. JB and Annette hired a scooter and went for a ride around town. JB had trouble starting the scooter, but of course it was the scooters fault. Dean was glad to have the chance to speak to his wife and kids today also.

As the afternoon progressed some went for a rest back at the hotel, but more than half of the team headed off for massages. Some comments were made about these being the best massages that they had ever had. Christine went for a hot spa in town, and described sitting in a steamy box, with a cold wet sponge dripped over her head. She really enjoyed this.

As our free day was coming to an end we all sat down for a nice meal of roast chicken and vegies at the hotel, however JB and Annette missed out on gravy because they were too late! We discussed what we did on our day off. The common theme was that everyone had a great day, even those who were feeling sick (self inflicted or not). We are all looking forward to getting back on the building site tomorrow, hard as it may be, and realise that we are more than halfway through this journey. Most of us are going trekking at some point and will continue on in Nepal for a few weeks, but we have passed "hump day" for the build. Its a quite night for us tonight because we know what to expect tomorrow.........

Kylie