So what are we going to take? We had this dilemma as we reached the bus station. Taking a bus would save us perhaps Rs. 300 or so while taking at least an hour longer. The going rate for taxis was Rs. 150 per person or Rs. 600 per taxi. As we were discussing our options by the taxi queue, we were offered a ride for Rs. 450 (without a 4th passenger). Apparently, the driver had been waiting for a long time. Soon we exited the bus station in a 1970’s Corolla. Following the course (and the dam nearby) of the Seti, we passed Simpani and exited the city area shortly thereafter. Soon, we left the Seti and started following its tributary Yamdi (kasaile Ghatte Khola, kasaile Harpun Khola pani bhaneka chan tesailai…Harpun ta sidhai Phewa ma milcha haina ra? Kun khola ko cheu lagieko ho kasaile prasta paridiu na). Ani Hengja ko Tibetan Camp hudai chhitai Phedi pugiyo. We must have overtaken at least 2 or 3 buses to both Baglung and Phedi by then. Bus ma gaeko bhae 3 ghanta lagthyo bhanthyo driver le. Phedi bata laamo thaado ukalo chadhnu thiyo. Despite its age, our taxi handled the steep climb very well. We praised Toyota for its excellence. The driver proudly added that he had recently made an almost 400 km trip from Pokhara to Gorkha and Narayanghat (I wonder if he really drove an extra 100 km locally in addition to the 300 km highway distance) and back the same day without a problem. Mero gadi pani ta Toyota Corolla ho ni, ramro maintain gariyo bhane arko 20 barsa kaso nachalla bhanne sochay man manai. As we gained altitude, the view became more and more spectacular. Phewa Taal ra Pokhara upatyaka ko manoram drisya dekhina thalyo. The vegetation soon changed from tropical to subtropical/alpine with an increased dominance of pine trees. Naudanda bata ajhai ukalo lagay pachi Khare pugiyo, from where we exited the Pokhara Valley and began our descent. Ghumauro bato ma Lumle hudai Nayapul jhariyo. Nayapul must have sprung up as a transshipment point (and a popular alternative to starting treks at Naudanda or Phedi) after the construction of the Pokhara-Baglung highway. Bato ko daya tira sana sana chhapra haru thie, baya tira ta bhir matrai. Our driver made a very quick and sharp U turn, missing the cliff by perhaps only a few centimeters, and said “Jharne bato yahi ho hajur”, as he stopped. Kramasha