A setting to die for, on the Georgian Military Highway from Tbilisi to Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda. Behind the crash barrier you can see meadows of lush grass with haystack pyramids, fields and beautiful houses. Wonder how it is here during the winter. I was sometimes wondering why the hay is required when there is so much fresh grass all around for the cattle to eat. But I then realized, the fresh grass is in the summer. During the harsh winters, the livestock will probably live off the hay- all those hay pyramids you see in the distance. (Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda, Georgia, Sept. 2016)

More haystack pyramids for livestock in the distance and beautiful Georgian mountain scenery on the Tbilisi to Kazbegi road. We can now see several local homesteads in the distance. Isn't the setting to die for? Between us and the grass with the hay on it is a wide river gorge. (Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda, Georgia, Sept. 2016)

The end of the steps- well, almost- to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Neoal. I have been huffing and puffing for a while now and the arch up front was a ray of hope that the climb was finally over. Sadly, not quite. You can see that the steps continue on a steep incline even beyond the arch, and the summit is actually just beyond the tree you see at extreme right. The Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda-style monument on Anadu Hill of the former Pumdi Bhumdi Village Development Committee, in the district of Kaski, Nepal. The area is now a part of the city of Pokhara. More notes about the World Peace Pagoda appear later in this album. (see subsequent pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Landslide (don’t worry, it’s an old one) at the base of the Phangrei hill near Ukhrul in Manipur, NE India. No, this is actually a section of the mountain being cut away for road construction. We also saw a lot of water logging on the road around this blemish on the beautiful hill, so the eyesore apart, it was also mysterious due to the water on the road. (now don't ask me to explain that- I just felt fascinated, that's all!). My son and I are here in Manipur, NE India to attend a wedding. That over, (see previous pictures earlier in this album), we are not proceeding towards Phangrei hill, a popular picnic spot in this region. We will talk about Phangrei when we get there. (see previous pictures earlier in this album). (Ukhrul, Manipur, NE India, Jan. 2020)

This image was created by merging two overlapping slides in Photoshop.

My guide snaps me pushing my luck with the spectacular Himalayan views from atop the Anadu Hill behind the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal. Of course, the views are pretty cloud covered, and I am not actually photographing in this picture. Pokhara actively promotes two major hilltops in the city as viewpoints to see the city and surrounding panorama: this one right here at World Peace Pagoda, across the southern shore of Phewa lake and Sarangkot, which is northwest of the city. We will get to Sarangkot for some fabulous sunrise views later in this album. (see subsequent images). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

A slightly less zoomed shot of the early morning sun lighting up the peaks of the snow-capped peaks of Annapurna range in the Himalayas, as seen from the sunrise point at Sarangkot, near Pokhara, Nepal. You can see part of the crowd ahead of me already. I am safely tucked in at a small space on the viewing gallery, having clawed my way past a Chinese couple, facing the other way. Fortunately, the sunrise took place from where I am standing- that side that is, and not on this Annapurna side, much to the disappointment of all members of the human zoo crowded that side. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

The morning sun lights up the tops of the mountain peaks of the Dhaulagiri ranger in the Himalayas at the sunrise point in Pokhara, Nepal. Now isn't that a truly breathtaking scene! I will now ease off a bit on the commentary and simply let you enjoy the lovely Himalayan views. We are at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara, Nepal, and while the actual sunrise is still some way off, the sun has already marked it's presence by lighting up the peaks of the mountains, like the icing on a cake. Notes about the Sarangkot sunrise point appeared in previous pictures earlier in this album. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019) Pokhara, Nepal. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

At my good guide's insistence, here is another full length selfie in front of the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Stupa atop the Anadu Hill in Pokhara, Nepal. I was surprised at how spacious it was on top of the mountain. There is a Buddha statue behind me on the Stupa- there are four in four different directions in four different styles- from four different countries. I did not go up there as one had to remove footwear at the base and photography was prohibited up there anyway- a major turn off for me wherever I travel. Notes about the Vishwa Shanti Stupa appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

The Flåm Line is a 20.2-kilometer long railway line between Myrdal and Flåm in Aurland, Norway. A branch line of the Bergen-Oslo Line, it runs through the valley of Flåmsdalen and connects the mainline with Sognefjord. The maximum gradient is 5.5 percent (1:18) . The line has eight stops, twenty tunnels and one bridge.

Rated by The"Lonely Planet" as one of the worlds greatest train rides, it is a must do when visiting southern Norway. It is an ear popping and at times ear splitting climb up 800m as the train turns 180 degrees at one point. It is largely a "tourist" line but as it is a fully functional branch line you will see regular travellers with their luggage mingling with the hoards of camera toting tourists that frequent this spectacle.

Just as we are about to start our climb downwards back to terra fima from the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal, the clouds move just enough to reveal the tip of Machapuchare or fish tail peak once again. Enough already, I've spoken enough about this peak (see previous pictures earlier in this album). I did manage to get some real clear uninterrupted (by cloud cover) photos of The clouds move just enough to reveal Machapuchare later on- the following day in fact- at the sunrise viewing point at Sarangkot. (see subsequent pictures later in this album). So let's leave it at this and get a move on, shall we? (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I am now completely done with Bandipur, and the detour has cost us nearly three hours. It's time to move on. I generally have absolutely terrible luck with mountainscapes as the mountains- snow capped or otherwise- generally seem to disappear within nanoseconds, even as I switch on my camera. There views were so so, but the cloud cover is still pretty dense. And just as I was hoping the views would clear as the sun was really up now and it was getting hot, more clouds appeared to move in. That's it- I quit! So here is a final view of the Annapurna range and the Marsyangdi Valley below before we roll out of Bandipur for good. Once a commercial centre along the Indo- Tibet trade route, Bandipur is a beautiful town situated at around 1,000 mtr on a ridge part way between Kathmandu and Pokhara. The ancient buildings in the hilltop town are excellent examples of traditional Newari culture, and the town itself seems completely untouched by modernisation. The hilltop town not only overlooks the incredible expanse of the Marsyanngdi river valley, but also offers a breathtaking sweep of the Himalayan range. I did not visit the town itself for want of time, and stuck to this Himalayas view point during my time in the village. (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

The picturesque Georgian Military Highway we are on, and which runs between Tbilisi and Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda is beautifully scenic like this for much of it's way. We have climbed the highest part of the road (see previous picture with the beautiful mountain scenery previously in this album), and we are now descending a bit into the town of Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda. The river follows us for much of the way after we descend, You can see the river behind the clump of trees in the foreground just before where the mountain rises. (Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda, Georgia, Sept. 2016)

By this time I have caught my breath and am quite pleased with the glimpses of the snow capped Himalayan mountain range as seen from the Anadu Hill, atop which is the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or the International Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal. Mountains are incredibly skittish and can disappear behind clouds in mere nano seconds- the max in the 60 years of my life so far (around the world) has been a mere minute and a half). The Himalayan range seen here was fortunately a long stretch so while one part disappeared behind clouds, you could still see other bits. or the mountain tops when clouds hung low. Somewhere there in the distance are Dhaulagiri, Annapoorna and Machupichhre- all of them named Himalayan peaks. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

More exotic local Georgian houses in an alpine setting. I envy those locals living in such idyllic surroundings, far away from ugly skyscrapers and the concrete jungle. Note the meadows with haystack pyramids and agricultural fields half way up the mountain, in front of and behind the beautiful houses. (Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda, Georgia, Sept. 2016)

The ITV News Central reporter Keith Wilkinson in the Austrian Alps where he filmed the Human Guinea Pig fitness series on ITV Central Tonight

Done with the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda atop the Anadu Hill in Pokhara, Nepal, I decided to concentrate now on the Himalayan views from behind the stupa. Hence, this vantage view being fairly close to the mountains, I decided to push my luck a bit- there appeared to be some hope as the clouds were in motion. We will get to more of these Himalayan views- albeit under heavy cloud cover- as we go along in this album.(see subsequent images)- this one is in fact one of the better views. The Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda was built by a group of Japanese Buddhists as a symbol of peace. Situated at the height of 1100 mtr on the Anadu Hillin Pokhara, Nepal, The Japanese Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fujii laid the foundation stone along with relics of the Buddha on Pagodas in the world: one in Lumbini- the birthplace of the Buddha and this one right here in Pokhara. Apart from the pagoda itself, this one in Pokhara has also become a tourist attraction in itself due to the panoramic view of the Himalayas, specifically the Annapurna mountain range, like this one right here, as well as of Pokhara city and the Phewa Lake. (see previous pictures earlier in this album). As long as you can brave the long, strenuous climb here, that is. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

We pass many small towns and villages on the way to Kazbegi/ Stpantsminda, and while the town names are displayed on white signboards with black lettering, the end of town limits is always denoted by a red slash across the town name. So this kind of a sign is installed at the other end of the town. So we are now driving out of a little town called Meneso. (Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda, Georgia, Sept. 2016)

As we have been admiring the magnificent view of the majestic Himalayas with their peaks lit up by the soon to arrive sun, a slight gasp from from members of the human zoo all around me made my eyes turn right. And there it was, that magnificent Himalayan sunrise this spot in Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara, Nepal is so famous for! I have never had luck with mountains- the clouds always come in the way. Whatever be the type of mountain, my luck is barely a minute and a half at the very latest- cloud cover obscures the view in seconds, even as I am switching on the camera. Apparently someone up there is pretty pleased with me today. For not only have I got some gorgeous Himalayan views (see previous pictures earlier in this album), here is the sunrise, right in front of me, and at exactly that point of the viewing gallery I was standing on with no interruptions or anything (or worse, anyone) coming in front of me! (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

With the promised el dorado of superb Himalayan views from the other side of the hill still a pipe dream, thanks largely to my poor luck with mountainscapes- they disappear in nano seconds even as I am switching on my camera, the view here in front of us is very pleasant indeed. This is a view of Pokhara town and the Phewa Lake (known to some simply as Pokhara Lake) seen when standing on top of the Anadu Hill, on which is located the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda. The hilltop provides a splendid view of sunrise and sunset as well, but there is a better place to catch the sunrise- Sarangkot- where we will go a couple of days later. (see subsequent pictures later in this album). TripAdvisor has ranked the Vishwa Shanti Stupa as the second top attraction in Pokhara. (no, don't ask me which is the first- I really haven't researched that yet). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Holiday, Urlaub, Meran-Merano, Bozen-Bolzano,

Enough already! Let's get a move on shall we? We still have a nearly seven hours drive ahead of us! I know this is one shot too many but my good guide was hoping the clouds would clear a bit as the sun was pretty high up in the sky now, and I could get a better view of the Annapurna range and the Marsyangdi Valley below. And he took yet another selfie of me while I was at it, probably to cheer me up. Well, I was in high spirits already, thanks to a good drive since morning, and meeting the local lasses and having a photo shoot with them, and at any rate there were still plenty of mountain views to be had on the following days from Pokhara. So we decided to call it quits here and move on. Pokhara, here we come! (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I will now ease off a bit on the commentary and simply let you enjoy the lovely Himalayan views. We are at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara, Nepal, and while the actual sunrise is still some way off, the sun has already marked it's presence by lighting up the peaks of the mountains, like the icing on a cake. The pyramid shaped mountain at the right is Machapuchare or Fish Tail peak. We will talk about this in one of the subsequent captions later in this album. Notes about the Sarangkot sunrise point appeared in previous pictures earlier in this album. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

It's no use- cloud cover always spoils the broth for me, I was grumbling to my good guide, rather pooped and out of steam after the long trek up the stairs leading to this point on top of the hill where the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda is located. No sir, you will get better views from the other side, my guide assured me. He still appeared fresh and none the worse for the wear! Rather tired and sceptical about those fantastic views, knowing my bad luck with mountainscapes all over the world- not only with these Himalayan views- I agreed to walk round to the actual Pagoda itself. Well, I had to see the pagoda anyway, having trudged all the way up here, right?(Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Another take on the local (or Indian) family trying their luck with the mighty Himalayas as a backdrop to their group photograph. Mt. Dhaulagir is to the right- that's the one after the ice cream scoop or finder shaped cloud at the centre- right. You can also see part of Pokhara town and the Phewa Lake (also know to some simply as Pokhara Lake) in the background. We are on the Anadu Hill atop which is the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or the World Peace Pagoda. Notes about all these mentioned above appeared earlier in this album (see previous pictures). We will talk about Phewa Lake later on, as we go along in this album. (see subsequent images). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

This is the Rimbi Bridge, a wooden suspension bridge on the way from Pelling to Khecheopalri Lake (another tourist spot, pictures later in this set). It was one helluva drop down. (May 2009)

I will now ease off a bit on the commentary and simply let you enjoy the lovely Himalayan views. We are at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara, Nepal, and while the actual sunrise is still some way off, the sun has already marked it's presence by lighting up the peaks of the mountains, like the icing on a cake. The pyramid shaped mountain at extreme right is Machapuchare or Fish Tail peak. We will talk about this in one of the subsequent captions later in this album. Notes about the Sarangkot sunrise point appeared in previous pictures earlier in this album. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Signage just short of the World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal. It is quite a climb to get here. Some sage advice on that sign there- isn't it surprising that some people have to be told everything? Notes about the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda appear later in this album. (see subsequent images). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

A pleasant hilltop village seen just as we start the climb onto the Phangrei hill near Ukhrul in Manipur in NE India. The walk starts off with a gentle uphill trail- almost like an unsealed road. Although I have done a fair bit of mountain hikes in my younger days, I am way past my prime now and don't do very well with steep inclines. I was initially surprised at my level as fitness as I could go about ten minutes without a break on the steep trail without a break. Little did I know how bad it was going to get as we climbed higher! Lunghar Sihai Phangrei popularly known only as Phangrei is a long flat hill range and is one of the favorite picnic spots in Ukhrul district. Located about 35 Kms from Ukhrul, in NE India, the hill range joins with the Shirui Peak/Shirui Kashong, which is home to the famous Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae) flower, which is unique to this region and is de facto the 'national flower' (so to speak) of Manipur. (Phangrei, near Ukhrul, Manipur, NE India, Jan. 2020)

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Magnificent alpine scenery high above Zermatt in the Swiss alps. (The Alphubel 4206m (13,799 feet) Taschhorn 4490m (14,734 feet) and the Dom 4845m(14,911 feet) in the background.

After a pretty stiff climb up the hill which had me completely out of steam, I eventually found the strength to walk around a bit at Phangrei, beyond the lake we saw at the very top. There is also a waterfall somewhere around here but we could not spot that. I am an the Sihai Phangrei hill near Ukhrul in Manipur, NE India. This hill joins the Shirui Hills which is famous for the famous Shirui Lily, which is the de facto national flower of Manipur. Imagine a hillside covered in pink. droopy, pale bluish-pink bell-shaped petals (that's how the flowers look), which can only be found in the Shirui Hills in the Ukhrul district of Manipur. The Shirui Lily is Manipur’s state flower. What makes it so special is that it has never been successfully transplanted. Endemic only to this particular region, the Shirui Lily grows only at an elevation of around 1,730- 2,590 mtr above sea level. (Phangrei, near Ukhrul, Manipur, NE India, Jan. 2020)

Reindeer Festival (skipped...) at Khovsgol lake, Northern Mongolia

On the way from Kathmandu to Pokhara is Bandipur. Bandipur is located on a mountain saddle (Mahabharat range) approximately 700m above the Marsyangdi River Valley, 143 km to the west of Kathmandu and 80 km to the east of Pokhara. Since 1998 it is connected by an 8 km access road from Dumre (Prithvi Highway). Until then there was only an unreliable road, in monsoon usually not accessible or only by tractors. The mountain saddle, just 200m long, is barely wide enough to accommodate the main street lined by 2 –3 storey buildings on either side. At the backsides of these houses the mountainsides steeply descend and the gardens are only accessible by stairs. But historical value of the traditional market and houses on the mountain saddle aside, Bandipur is also known for it's fantastic Himalayan views. Don't you simply love this scene of the vast Marsyangdi Valley in the foreground and the beautiful snow capped mountains in the background? Pity about the cloud cover, as usual. (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

A spectacular view of alpine forests from one of the vistas on the way to Paradise Inn inside Mount Rainier National Park.

Mount Rainier established on 02 March 1899, contains vast expanses of pristine old-growth forests, subalpine flower meadows, spectacular alpine scenery, and great opportunity for stimulating outdoor activities. Mount Rainier National Park is the fifth oldest national park in the United States. The park has the greatest single-peak glacial system in the United States.

Mount Rainier is an active volcano and has the greatest single-peak glacial system in the United States and also the highest - 4392 m (14,411 ft) volcano in the Cascade Range, towering over a population of more than 2.5 million in the Seattle Tacoma metropolitan area.

The Mt.Rainier NP is part of a complex ecosystem. Vegetation is diverse, reflecting the varied climatic and environmental conditions encountered across the park’s 12,800-feet elevation gradient. Approximately 58 percent of the park is forested, 23 percent is subalpine parkland, and the remainder is alpine, half of which is vegetated and the other half consists of permanent snow and ice.

Sources: www.mount.rainier.national-park.com, www.nps.gov/mora

May 15, 2010, Mt.Rainier NP, Washington. Satellite image.

Local village in a beautiful Alpine setting on the Tbilisi to Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda road, which is also the Georgian Military Highway. I will save you the commentary- just enjoy the scenery as we go along. (Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda, Georgia, Sept. 2016)

Sage advice there which some would do well to emulate! As we move on towards the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda atop the Anadu Hill in Pokhara, Nepal, we came across this very small but extremely meaningful sign, almost nondescript, fitted to one of the railings around the stupa. Indeed, although the place was pretty crowded, most people appeared to be following the silence rule and we could hear very few human voices around. And those that were talking were doing so in a generally hushed voice. Gone are those days with total imbeciles and morons trampling around with ghetto blasters ruining the peace of tourist spots! (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

A selfie before the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda atop the Anadu Hill in Pokhara, Nepal. I didn't go up as you had to remove footwear and no photos were allowed inside anyway. People also refer to t his stupa as the Japanese Peace Pagoda or simply the Peace Pagoda. Behind me is one of the four Buddha Statues at the Stupa- there are four different Buddha statues facing in four different directions, each one representing a different style from a different country. Notes about the Vishwa Shanti Stupa appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Lovely scenes like this were a distraction at times on the long, steep climb up Phangrei hill in Ukhrul, Manipur, NE India. Somewhere in the distance you can see the mountains of neighbouring Burma- though I'm not sure which direction those Burmese mountains really are. Those may be in a totally different direction to these, but the fact remains that you can see the mountains of Burma (Myanmar) from here. Lunghar Sihai Phangrei, called Phangrei for short, is the mountain we are on now. It is a long, flat hill range in the Ukhrul district of Manipur NE India. Sihai Phangrei is a popular picnic spot for the locals but is also frequented by tourists. The Sihai Phangrai, also spelled as Sihai Phangrei joins the Shirui Peak which is famous for the Shirui Lilies- the de facto symbol of Manipur. Lunghar Sihai Phangrei is very rich in flora- a big variety of flowers and fruit grow in the hill range including rare orchids and fruit such as grapes, passion fruit, apple, pear, plum, peach, etc. (Phangrei, near Ukhrul, Manipur, NE India, Jan. 2020)

A beautiful scene as we look across the hill from atop the Sihai Phangrei hill near Ukhrul in Manipur, NE India. Phangrei is a favourite picnic spot among the locals as well as tourists, the steep climb to get up here notwithstanding. This mountain joins the Shirui range, which is known for it's Shirui Lily flowers which are endemic to Manipur and are so well loved in this region that the locals even celebrate the Shirui Lily Festival during blooming season. To the West of Phangrei is Burma (Myanmar)- you can see the mountains of Burma from here, but we really never got to see those. Detailed notes about the Sihai Phangrei hill as well as the Shirui Lily flower appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Phangrei, near Ukhrul, Manipur, NE India, Jan. 2020)

Inter-locking spurs on a beautiful valley on the road from Pelling to Gangtok. (May 2009)

Another look at the hilltop village as we begin the long, strenuous trek up the Phangrei hell, a favourite picnic spot for the locals and tourists around Ukhrul in NE India. Don't you simply love this scene! The full name for the Phangrei hiss is Lunghar Sihai Phangrei. Apart from being a favourite picnic spot, the hill is also very rich in flora. A variety of flowers and fruit grow in the hill range including rare orchids and fruit such as passion fruit, pear, plum, peach etc. The hill also joins another one- the Shirui Peak- which is home to the famous Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae) flower, which is unique to this region and is de facto the 'national flower' (so to speak) of Manipur. (Phangrei, near Ukhrul, Manipur, NE India, Jan. 2020)

Even dried bushes can add beauty to the scene- mountainscape and add atmosphere to otherwise mundane scenes. I am on the Lunghar Phangrei hill near Ukhrul in Manipur, NE India and this is yet another of my now increasingly frequent rest stops on the pretty steep uphill climb up the mountain. Directly in front of where I was sitting was this bunch of dried bushes. Despite my being totally out of breath and completely out of steam, and face with the uncomfortable thought that we are only half way up as yet, I involuntarily reached for my camera and snapped this shot. (I got better colours with my iPhone- that picture appears immediately after this- see next picture). My son and I are here in Manipur to attend a wedding and now that that is behind us, are on a picnic to Phangrei. Detailed notes about Phangrei hill appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Phangrei, near Ukhrul, Manipur, NE India, Jan. 2020)

After coming down from the steep and slippery mountain slope (see previous picture), the cows walk back to their homes in a perfect line, in true military fashion! Small wonder, we are on the Russian Military Highway after all! This is the last photo from Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda, and indeed the last photos from Georgia. Hope you enjoyed the albums and thank you for reading this far! (Kazbegi/ Stepantsminda, Georgia, Sept. 2016)

Just as we begin our trek down the steps back to terra firma from the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal,I spotted this local (or probably Indian) tourists trying their luck with taking selfies agains the backdrop of the mighty Himalayas. Mt. Dhaulagiri is second from left. Now I have spoken enough about the stupa and the Himalayan views and Dhaulagiri etc. in previous captions earlier in this album, so I will save you the commentary and just press on ahead, down the hill. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I am now on the Anadu Hill on which is the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal. So much for impressive views of the snow capped Himalayan range- thanks to the ever present cloud cover throughout the length of the mountains. But for now, here is the best of both worlds- so to speak- the clouds notwithstanding. This view is of the Phewa Lake (known to some as simply Pokhara Lake), Pokhara town, the lower hills around Pokhara and the mostly obscured snow capped Himalayas in the background. It was been worth the arduous climb up here. Notes about Phewa Lake appear later in this album. (see subsequent pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

The Großglockner, standing at 3,798 meters, is Austria's highest mountain and a prominent symbol of the Alps. Located in the Hohe Tauern range, it attracts numerous mountaineers and nature enthusiasts each year. Its distinctive pyramid-shaped peak makes it one of the most famous mountains in Europe, with the first recorded ascent dating back to 1800.

At the base of the Großglockner lies the Pasterze Glacier, Austria's largest glacier. Stretching about eight kilometers, it is an impressive natural wonder. However, the Pasterze has been significantly affected by climate change, retreating considerably over the past few decades.

The Großglockner and the Pasterze are not only popular destinations but also visible reminders of the impacts of climate change. The Großglockner High Alpine Road offers visitors a direct view of the shrinking glacier, highlighting the need to protect these unique natural environments.