Here is a brief Hyperlapse view of an ice cream vendor making his own ice cream cones on the steps leading up to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal. I generally suck at steep mountain climbs, even if there are steps or stairs leading up to the top, but am on my way up here as my good guide assured me that the views of the Himalayas from the top were amazing. Well, having undertaken the trek,a cold dessert was in order when I was a lttle over half way up to the top. This kind gentleman had had other fascinated guests before as well, and one Italian man was so impressed that he made a Hyperlapse video of the cone making process. Although I had no data, I managed between him and my guide to have him send the file to me on AirDrop- fortunately the ice cream vendor was using an iPhone as well- and so here it is. Enjoy! (my Facebook viewers will find this video in a separate Videos folder under my Profile). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

There it is, thn the glorious sunrise over the Himalayas at the sunrise viewing point at Sarangkot, just outside of Pokhara, Nepal. Magnificent vista indeed, but before we go on, I simply must show you this. I have got some truly great views of the sunrise from my position at the viewing gallery, having been lucky enough to claw my way right up to the front past a kind Chinese couple. After the photography, I purposely fell back a little to take this picture of the sheer herds of humans around me. This indeed was the biggest off-putting factor for me, for enjoying this magnificent sunrise. Pushing and jostling aside, the most irritating thing was when scores of them stuck their hands up in the air, cellphone cameras in hand, obscuring the view for everyone behind them. I even had to bark at one stupid moron who was in that position for a good fifteen minutes, without moving. But for now, I am lucky to have got a positon right against the railings with no inconsiderate people in front of me holding up their cellphones in this fashion. In fact the idiot I had to bark at was actually standing on a raised balustrade, so apart from his camera, his body too was obscuring the view. Ouch! (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Misty morning over the Himalayas with the Pokhara (Phewa) lake in the foreground at the sunrise viewpoint at Sarangkot, just outside of Pokhara, Nepal. The viewing platform had got hopelessly crowded despite our very early arrival- but I managed to claw my way past a Korean couple to get this nice space. To our left, as we view this picture, are the Himalayas and their snow capped peaks. Much of the crowd was facing those mountains. I was not too sure which side the sun would rise from- this spot or from the mountains. I ended up waiting my time here, and the sunrise too fortunately happened at this very spot. (see subsequent pictures later in this album). Now isn't that a positively magical spectacle? The fog adds an aura of mystery to this grand spectacle. But just wait till you see the sunrise! (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I am at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara, Nepal, enjoying a magnificent sunrise with no clouds, or inconsiderate humans holding up their cellphones to obscure the view. I had to actually bark at one stupid moron who stood transfixed for a good fifteen minutes, hands and cellphone up in the air, for a good fifteen minutes. Lucily for me here, I happened to be at the right spot, with nothing, and no one in front of me, having clawed my way past a kind Chinese couple right up to the gallery railing. And with no cloud cover obscuring the view either- though you can see some clouds at waist level, which moved in almost immediately after. As the sun rose higher, the colour of the sky began to change as well, from a pleasing and subtle mauve to a take on a distinct orange tinge. Magnificent, isn't it? But wait, more gorgeous views to come! (see subsequent pictures later in this album). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

At Bandipur I was set upon by these lovely lasses wanting a photo shoot. Indeed, this was a completely new adventure for me on all my years of solo travel! This lot of college students were taking selfies of each other at the Himalayan mountains view point at Bandipur. They were all over the place- you know how young girls are when it comes to selfies! Spotting me with my large Nikon D750 dSLR, one of them told my good driver- guide something, which he translated to me as 'they want you to take pictures of them'. Oh well, why not? What followed was over half an hour of group shots, shooting the girls in pairs, individual portraits etc. etc. It was good fun- of course I am not posting those photos here to protect the privacy of the ladies. But I think a photo of them as a group would still be in order, to record the moments! Indeed, this was a first for me and it was good fun. And it met my usual mantra of 'interaction with the locals' down to a t. (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

After barking at an absolute selfish moron who was obscuring everyone's view of the majestic Annapurna massif and the snow capped Himalayan mountain range view by holding up his cellphone in the same position for over fifteen minutes, all the response I got from him was a grin, like an idiot. I marched ahead of him to get some shots myself, without him obscuring the view. As a photographer myself, I can understand the anxiety to get a good picture, but to hold up a phone in one position for a good fifteen minutes with no concern for those behind! Indeed, what an idiot! After barking at him and making him put his phone down, I later managed to move a little ahead of him, and then made that stupid fellow take a selfie of me with the mountain backdrop. The moment he was done, he put his hand up to continue his photography again. Wonder what he was up to- it's not such a fast action sequence to make a movie out of! And a time lapse is to program your phone to take pictures at fixed intervals, not to stand like an idiot holding you phone up and obscuring everyone's view. I am at the sunrise point in Sarangkot, Pokhara, Nepal. I was getting increasingly irritated with the herd of humans pushing and jostling for space, and while they all crowded the side where you saw the mighty Himalayas, the sunrise fortunately was right in front of my, where I was standing, overlooking the valley. (pictures of the sunrise appear later in this album). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Posing with the lovely lasses after the photo shoot at the Himalaya mountains view point in Bandipur, on the way from Kathmandu to Pokhara in Nepal. I have just had a very enjoyable photo session with these lovelies, taking several group shots, shooting them as a pair as well as doing individual portraits of them. They were a very friendly bunch and there were several squeals of delight on seeing some of their portraits. Of course, I do not want to post those pictures here to protect the privacy of the lovely ladies, but my good driver-guide managed to talk to them in the local language and had them pose with me for a group shot. Not all the girls are here though, two of them opted out. (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I am at the Himalayan mountains view point just outside the hilltop village of Bandipur, on the road from Kathmandu to Pokhara in Nepal. Five local lasses set upon me for a photo shoot, asking me through my guide after they spotted my large Nikon D750 dSLR. Session over, three of them eventually melted away, but two of them still pose with me for a selfie, courtesy my guide. Sadly he did not zoom in any closer, resulting in to much foreground. Oh well. I am not posting the many portraits of the ladies to respect their privacy but I think this group shot should be in order. (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I am on the long trek up the stairs to the top of a hill in Pokhara, Nepal, to see the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or the World Peace Pagoda. I generally avoid long climbs as I am a bit past my prime, but my guide has brought me here, assuring me that the beautiful Himalayan views from on top of the mountain make the climb every bit worth it. So as I trudge wearily along, huffing and puffing, an oasis in the desert- sort of- was this ice cream vendor when we were almost there. A refreshing cold dessert is just what the doctor ordered! What added to the fun was that this gentleman makes his own ice cream cones. From wheat, so very healthy, he said. So basically, the gentleman makes ice cream cones while his wife fills out ice cream orders. A brief Hyperlapse video of the actual process appeared just before this. (see previous picture- my Facebook viewers will find this video in the separate Videos folder under my Profile). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Budding genius or blooming idiot? My good guide was so enahoured of this scene that he insisted on taking a picture of me against it. We are at the top of the Anadu Hill in Pokhara, Nepal, atop which is perched the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda, which is just out of the picture. Behind me are freshly bloomed what I think is a strain of Coreopsis grandiflora sunflowers, and beyond that the cloud covered (as usual) snow capped Himalayan peaks of the Annapurna range. I have braved the strenuous trek here for these Himalayan views, too bad they were hiding behind cloud cover most of the time- just my usual luck with mountains anywhere in the world- they reveal themselves for barely a minute and disappear even before I switch on my camera and lock focus on them. Oh well! It was a glorious day though. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

The clearest view I could get so far of Machapuchare (fish tail) peak from the sunrise point at Sarangkot, near Pokhara, Nepal. Mere seconds later, the peak was mostly obscured by cloud cover. Due to its southern position in the Annapurna range, and the particularly low terrain that lies south of the Annapurna, Machapuchare commands appears taller than it actually is, thanks to it's great vertical relief in a short horizontal distance. This, combined with its steep, pointed profile, make it a particularly striking peak, despite a lower elevation than some of its neighbors. Its double summit resembles the tail of a fish, hence the name Machapuchare, which means Fish Tail in the local vernacular. Machapuchare is also nicknamed the Matterhorn of Nepal, due to the striking resemblance to a Swiss peak of the same name. The height of Machhapuchhre is around 6,993 mtr. More notes and views of this peak appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). One picture also appears later on in this album. (see subsequent pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I am at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara, Nepal, waiting for the grand spectacle of sunrise over the Himalayas. While it is not yet sunrise, the sun has already announced it's impending arrival by lighting up the peaks of the Annapurna range in the Himalayas. The sharp, pointed peak at extreme right is Machapuchare, or Fish Tail Peak, about which we will talk later. No one really knew which side the sun will rise from, but everyone had their cameras pointed to the mountain peaks with the tops lit by the soon to arrive sun. One big nuisance though was the scores of cellphone camera users with their hands raised sky high, pointing their phones towards the grand spectacle. As a photographer myself, I du understand the anxiety to get a good shot, but one stupid fellow kept his hand in that raised position for a good fifteen minutes, obscuring the view of everyone behind him. Like this man in this picture- this man has his phone held up in portrait mode. The other stupid fellow was holding his phone in landscape mode and kept holding it for a good fifteen minutes. You are taking a picture, not making a movie for chrissakes! In the end I had to storm up to the fellow and bark at him for his total lack of consideration and while a few shots are ok, one doesn't just block everyone's view for fifteen minutes at a stretch! His response- to grin like an idiot. I finally edged my way ahead of him and shot off a few frames, hoping I had blocked him likewise for a few seconds at least. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Another look at the early morning sun shining off the snow capped 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)

Apart from the Anadu Hill on which the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda is located from which magnificent views of Pokhara town and the Pokhara (Phewa) Lake and the Himalayas can be had, (see previous pictures earlier in this album), there is another vantage point for great views located elsewhere in Pokhara. This is the Sarangkot sunrise point- here I am at dawn, waiting for the sunrise. My guide dropped me off at the base of the hillock and said he was going to park the car, but he did not communicate to me clearly that he would not be coming along. So I ended up wasting a lot of time waiting for him to turn up. We have to get to the viewpoint pretty early as it gets packed, so I lost some valuable time due to this, and so only got a not too good viewpoint. Still, I managed to squeeze my way in between a group of Korean and Chinese tourists and did manage some good pictures, as you will see as we go along. (see subsequent pictures). Sunrise is still some way off, but crowds are here in force already, with some of them already pointing their cellphones towards the Himalayas. (the sunrise is on the other side though- to your right as you view this picture). Sarangkot is one of the highest viewpoints in Pokhara, presenting magnificent sights of the Pokhara valley and the Himalayan peaks. The 1592-mtr summit is crowned by ruins of a kot or stone fortress of the Kaski Kingdom- of course I was not briefed about this so I was not even aware of t his at the time of my visit- neither were any of the others in the crowd either, as they all left immediately after sunrise.. From the Sarangkot Sunrise point, you can get the stunning vistas of the Pokhraa (Phewa) Lake, as well as the Himalayan mountain ranges of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna as well as the Machapuchare or Fish Tail Peak, which is already visible at extreme left and about which we will talk in detail later. (see subsequent pictures later in this album). For a clear view, one needs to get up pretty early or stay overnight in any of the lodges just below the summit. Coming in later than pre- sunrise would mean that all the wonderful mountains would disappear behind cloud cover. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I am at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara, Nepal. There is a total human zoo out here on the viewing area as we await the sunrise to unfold before us pretty soon. I had a good viewpoint against a balcony railing facing the other side (to your right as you view this picture), having clawed my way past a kind Chinese couple. No one really knew which side the sun was going to rise from- the side lighting of the mountain peaks up ahead should have been a dead give away- but in that confusion, and irritated state of mind at the herds of gaping humans up ahead, one's rational thinking takes a back seat. Adding to the confusion was the fact that most people were facing the snow capped mountain, and snapping away at a feverish pace- the sheer number of cellphone cameras pointing at the Annapurna range is proof enough! Machapuchare or Fish Tail peak is the triangular peak at extreme left- we will talk about that later on in this album. (see subsequent pictures of that peak in isolation). This peak is about 25 km north of Pokhara. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

My clearest shot yet of Machapuchare or Fish Tail peak, taken from the sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara, Nepal. And today has proved to be my luckiest so far! My luck with mountains- of any kind- holds for a minute maximum, before the mountain disappears mostly, or even completely behind cloud cover, sometmes even when I look away for the briefest of moments to switch on my camera and focus the shot! But today, not only are the clouds missing but the early morning sun has actually lit up the top of the peak! Machapuchare (meaning Fish tail in the local vernacular) is a 6,993 mtr high peak, best seen from Sarangkot (this spot) or from atop Anadu Hill where the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda is locate. (see previous pictures earlier in this album- in those pictures, this peak is almost completely obscured by cloud though). Machapuchare, also spelt Machapuchare, Machhapuchchhre or Machhapuchhre is a mountain peak on the Annapurna massif of Gandaki Pradesh, north-central Nepal. The peak looks taller than it actually is thanks to the comparatively low relief of the surrounding peaks. It is believed that Machapuchare has never been officially climbed to it's summit due to difficulties in gaining a permit from the government of Nepal. The peak is considered sacred by some, though why and held sacred by whom is not clear. More notes about this peak appear in the next caption. (see next picture). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

After a rather rainy and wet night in Pokhara on the day of my arrival, it was luckily dry and clear the following morning. So my good guide carted me off to see the World Peace Pagoda atop a hill in the middle of Pokhara. Now I am a bit past my prime, and do not generally take to climbing steep hills, also partly due to my weight, but my guide assured me that the climb is well worth it, as some wonderful views of the snow capped Himalayas are to be had from on top of the mountain. And so I went along. After all, it makes little sense to go all the way to Nepal and miss out on some beautiful mountainscapes just because you have to slog up a hill, right? When we were half way up the mountain, we came across this ice-cream vendor who seemed to be doing brisk business- an ice cold desert was just what the doctor ordered during the course of a steep mountain climb! While the ice cream itself was nothing out of the ordinary. what fascinated me was that this gentleman was churning out his own ice cream cones. Made from wheat, they are healthy, he said. Here he is making one of the cones. A brief video of this process appears immediately after this. (see next picture- my Facebook viewers will find this video in a separate Videos folder under my Profile). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Behind all those clouds in the fabulous Annapurna range in the Himalayas, as seen from a viewpoint in the hilltop town of Bandipur in Nepal. With it's medium elevation, the excellent views of the Himalayas (Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh, Langtang Himal, the Marsyangdi Valley, Mount Manakamana and Gorkha with its high perching palace), the town's relatively easy accessibility and, of course, an old Newari town flair, Bandipur remains an interesting tourist site from which a few guesthouses and a hotel at the northern end of the Tundikhel try to benefit. It may well be that the seclusion of Bandipur saved the Newari architecture of its buildings which otherwise would have been replaced by faceless modern types found in many other towns of Nepal. Once an important stop on the Indo-Tibet trade route, Bandipur lost it's importance thanks to a new highway which by-passed Bandipur altogether, and a new and rather convenient airport in Pokhara. More notes about Bandipur appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Just as I was about to close my camera case to begin our climb downwards back to terra firma, I was taken aback when my good guide suddenly grabbed my iPhone and pointed it skyward. One of the microlight aircraft we had been seeing flying against the face of the mighty Machapuchare (fish tail) peak was now flying directly over us. The tiny aircraft looks like a mosquito in the sky! I could have taken one of these well but sadly that was not to be, thanks to a double dealing greedy so called friend of my guide who tried to rip us off, much to my good guide's chagrin. And why the mixed feelings I mentioned above? Happy that I have managed to trudge up here, happy at having seen the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda, sad at my guide's friend greed, sad that I faced my usual poor luck with mountains hiding all the time behind cloud cover, sad because this would probably be my last major vacation as I had just retired from service in Dubai and am supposed to move to India as a retired person. Well, no major travels for the time being itself. I promised myself, I'll be back! (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Waiting at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara, Nepal, I too spent a lot of time looking at the majestic Himalayan mountains of the Annapurna range. It was not sunrise just yet, but the sun has already announced it's presence by lighting up the snow capped peaks of the mighty mountains, making it look like the icing on a cake. No one seemed to know which side the sun would rise from- that side lighting of the mountain peaks should have been a dead give away, but thanks to the sheer bedlam there with countless humans in a herd, logical thinking takes a back seat, thanks to the irritated state of mind at these numbers. The triangular peak at the extreme left is Machapuchare or Fish Tail peak, which is believed to have never been climbed all the way upto its summit. The only confirmed attempt was in 1957 by a British team led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Roberts. ] No permits to climb the mountain have been issued ever after. The mountain is believed by some to be sacred but in what form, or to whom, is unclear.[ I have taken pictures of Machapuchare in isolation as well, so those pictures, as well as some notes about this peak, appear later in this album. (see subsequent pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Pleasant mountain views of the snow capped Himalayas from a hilltop viewing point in Bandipur, Nepal. I have always been very unlucky with mountainscapes- snow capped or otherwise, as any mountain I've tried to photograph in the 60 years of my life have been either totally obscured by cloud cover, or have disappeared behind clouds in those few nanoseconds I had taken to merely switch on my camera! Well, Bandipur here seemed to be no exception as well- as you can see, clouds cover most of the snow capped mountains except for one tiny peak at the extreme left. In the 1800s, the mountain-top bazaar town of Bandipur grew in wealth and importance. Traders came from Tibet with musk pods, mountain herbs, animal skins, and horses. Calico, tobacco, glassware, and kerosene came in from British India. However, when Nepal opened her doors to the world in the 1950s, Pokhara with its airfield began to gain importance, and in 1972 the Kathmandu- Pokhara highway by-passed Bandipur completely. Although it lost it's commercial importance, thanks to the new highway and the airport of Pokhara, Bandipur has managed to survive as a quaint tourist destination. It offers tourists lovely mountain views like this one, as well as a well preserved slice of history in the pedestrian-only village area. Tourists can in addition enjoy trekking and other outdoor activities here in Bandipur. I skipped visiting the town itself for want of time. (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

The Himalayan views at Bandipur were stunning notwithstanding the cloud cover. We have made a slight detour here to check out these mountain views, though we skipped a visit to the pedestrian- only hilltop town for want of time. Bandipur was established as a funnelling point of trade by Newar traders from Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu valley after it had been conquered in 1768 by Prithvi Narayan Shah. They took advantage of its malaria free location to develop it into an important stop along the India-Tibet trade route. With them they brought into Bandipur their cultural heritage and architecture which basically has remained unchanged to this day. Starting off as a simple Magar village in the early 19th century Bandipur developed into prosperous trading centre and a community with town-like features: substantial buildings, with their neoclassical façades and shuttered windows and streets paved with slabs of silverish slate. Bandipur had its heyday in the Rana times (1846-1951), when, as a measure of its power and prestige, it was granted special permission to have its own library (which incidentally still exists). Sadly, construction of a new highway at the base of the mountain by by-passing Bandipur completely, and due to the convenience of a newly developed airport in Pokhara, Bandkpur lost it's importance as a trading post completely. The town still survives as a tourist centre though- see notes in previous pictures earlier in this album. (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I am at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, near Pokhara, Nepal, part of a sheer herd of humanity, each one vying with each other to get a better view of the Annapurna range in the Himalayas, just moments before sunrise, which as it turned out was from another spot- to your right as you view this picture. But the sun has already annonced it's arrival by lighting up the peaks of the mighty Himalayas, making it look like icing on a cake. This is a relatively nninterrupted view of Machapuchare or Fish Tail Peak- that triangular peak you see at extreme left. I have taken better views of this peak in isolation, for those pictures and notes about the peak appear later in this album. (see subsequent pictures). Getting clear views was a bit difficult though, thanks to the scores of people holding their cellphones up. As a photographer myself, I can understand the enthusiasm to get that perfect shot, but some idiots were holding up their phones for long periods of time- I finally had to bark at one stupid fellow who had his phone up for a good fifteen minutes, telling him rather harshly that he was not the only one there, and to give others a chance as well for a change! Machapuchare or Fish Tail peak is located at the end of a long spur ridge, coming south out of the main backbone of the Annapurna massif in the Himalayas. Due to its southern position in the range, and the particularly low terrain that lies south of the Annapurna range, Machapuchare commands tremendous vertical relief within a short horizontal distance. This, combined with its steep, pointed profile, make it a particularly striking peak, despite a lower elevation than some of its neighbors. Its double summit resembles the tail of a fish, hence the name Fish Tail. (Machapuchare means fish tail in Nepalese.) The peak is also nicknamed the Matterhorn of Nepal as it bears a striking resemblance to the famous Matterhorn in Switzerland. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Photo shoot with the five lovely Nepalese lasses over, (see previous pictures earlier in this album), I have the viewing spot back to myself again. This is on the Himaayas viewing point beside a large football field just outside the small hilltop town of Bandipur, in Nepal. The Newari town of Bandipur is one of central Nepal's hidden gems. It combines traditional village architecture, epic Himalayan views, lovely countryside walks, local adventure sports, and excellent accommodation. It's also an ideal place to break up the drive between Pokhara and Kathmandu while getting a relaxing taste of rural Nepal in the process. Bandipur was once an important trading post on the Indo- Tibet trade route. Over the years, construction of a highway at the foot of the mountain, hence by-passing Bandipur completely, as well as the establishment of a convenient airport in Pokhara meant that the town lost it's importance as a trading hub, but it still retains it's position as a quaint tourist destination. The little town is now pedestrian only, so I had to give it a miss as we were hard pressed for time- we still had about seven hours of driving ahead of us. (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Now isn't that a magical scene! I am at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara, Nepal. And this scene is that of a misty morning over the Himalayas. Somewhere down there is Pokhra town- obscured by the fog, and you can clearly see the Pokhara (Phewa) lake in the foreground! I had been alarmed at the dense blanket of clouds I had just seen a couple of moments ago (to my right now as you view this picture- see precious picture), but luckily, those clouds decided to hold on until sunrise, and allowed me to capture this magical scene of fog over the Himalayas. Apart from the fantastic sunrise and views over the snow capped Himalayas (see subsequent pictures later in this album), Sarangkot is also a popular place for paragliding. Luckily it was still too early in the morning for the view to be obscured by paragliders all over the place- we did see them much later in the day on a previous occasion though, from the Aadu Hill on which is the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda. (see previous pictures earlier in this album). Apart from the Anadu Hill with the Peace Pagoda from where beautiful Himalayan views can be had, (see previous pictures earlier in this album), Sarangkot (this place) is another of those vantage points, and is a 30 minutes drive from Pokhara town. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Misty morning over the Himalayas at Sarangkot, Pokhara, Nepal. The hill offers a spectacular sunrise view over the famous Himalayan mountain range. The sunrise view over the snow-capped peaks is breathtaking as well. Now thee mountain peaks are to our left, as we view this picture. And although we are now at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, no one really knew which side the sun would rise from- this place up ahead, or above the snow capped mountains to our left. The early morning sun in fact lighted up the tops of the snow capped mountains first (see subsequent pictures later in this album), and the actual sunrise only took place a few minutes later. I had a clear view of this scene, but there were too many people on the snow capped mountains side. In the end, the sun rose at this very spot so those people staring at the snow capped mountains ended up quite disappointed, as there was too much crowd for them to catch the sunrise this side. Here you can see that the colour of the sky has changed a bit somewhat, to a reddish tinge, hint enough that sunrise is not too far away. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Views of the mighty snow capped Himalayas from sunrise point in Pokhara, Nepal. That is the Dhaulagiri (left) and Machapuchare (fish tail) (right) in one frame. We are waiting for the sunrise at this spot, but although sunrise is still a few minutes away, old man Sole has already made his presence felt by lighting up the tops of the mountain peaks, like icing on a cake. Notes about the Sarangkot sunrise point appeared earlier in this album (see previous pictures). Closer views of the Machapuchare (fish tail) peak appear later in this album. (see subsequent pictures) (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Machapuchare (fish tail) peak in Pokhara with an ultralight aircraft just above the peak’s very summit - can you spot it? The second one is just out of the picture. Chopper flights, paragliding and ultralight flights are offered over the Himalayas. My attempts at a chopper ride bombed as the operator tried to pull a fast one and rip me off despite his knowing my guide pretty well and a sunrise over the Himalayas earlier today from Nagarkot bombed as well due to dense fog. I do hope I have better luck with my scenic flight over the Himalayas by airplane which I have lined up for tomorrow. This view is from atop the Anadu Hill where I have trudged up to see the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda (see previous pictures earlier in this album) and also for these Himalayan views, most of which are sadly under dense cloud cover. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I am at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara in Nepal. Sadly, despite my early start, the viewing platforms and gallery were jam packed with Chinese and Korean tourists, and I had to literally claw my way past a Chinese couple to get a place by the railing. I would have got only the back of several human heads otherwise. I lost some time as it is thinking my guide would join me after parking the car, which he didn't. I lost further time when I rushed expectantlytowards the totally empty viewing gallery on the terrace of the building you see at the right. Sadly, it was a residence (or so it seemed) or a hotel where that terrace was for the hotel guests only). I lost more time there, and was lucky to get a tiny bit of space to hold on. I was beginning to get alarmed by the dense blanket of heavy gog you see at the right. Fat chance of catching the sunrise- my usual luck with mountains, I thought sadly to myself. Happily, these clouds rolled in later- not much later, but a little later, soon after the sunrise shots anyway. Thank goodness for that! (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Let me ease off a bit on the commentary (thank goodness, I hear you say?) and let you simply enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature. This is sunrise over the Himalayas at sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside of Pokhara, Nepal. As you can see, as the sun rose higher, the subtle mauve shades have now turned to distinct shades of orange. The sun is almost up now, and I have been fortunate to get a fairly unobtrusive view right in front, having clawed my way wast a kind Chinese couple, so all I can say is, Wow! Notes about the Sarangkot sunrise point and more pictures from here appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I am now in the sunrise point at Sarangkot, near Pokhara, Nepal, with magnificent views over the snow capped peaks of the Annapurna range in the Himalayas. Just look at the crowds facing the mountains! I was quite pissed looking at the human zoo there, not knowing which side the sun would rise from. Fortunately, the sun rose from the other side- from my right, as you view this picture- so I got some pretty terrific sunrise views from my vantage point which I'd got after clawing my way past a Chinese couple. Somewhere up ahead are also other members of the Himalayan range like Dhaulagiri, Machapuchare (Fishtail) and others, Machapuchare (Fish Tail) peak is the triangular shaped mountain you see at the extreme left. I have taken pictures of this peak separately, so those pictures and notes about it appear later in this album. (see subsequent pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

A magnificent sunrise over the Himalayas at the sunrise viewing point at Sarangkot, just outside of Pokhara, Nepal. Note the clouds at waist level, threatening us with their presence. My luck with mountains (of any kind) is barely a minute or a minute and a half max, before they are obscured partially, or at times completely, by cloud cover. But here today, the gods seemed to be smiling down upon me, for soon after I took this series of pictures, dense fog enveloped the valley even as we were driving down the viewing point. For once in the 60 years of my life, my luck had changed!! Magnificent vista indeed, but the sheer herds of humans around me was the biggest off-putting factor to enjoying this magnificent sunrise. Pushing and jostling aside, the most irritating thing was when scores of them stuck their hands up in the air, cellphone cameras in hand, obscuring the view for everyone behind them. I even had to bark at one stupid moron who was in that position for a good fifteen minutes, without moving. But for now, I am lucky to have clawed my view past a Chinese couple right up to the railings, so there are no inconsiderate people in front of me. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

The sun is well and truly up now, and the herds of unruly humans are clearing quickly. The parking lot at the base of the hill at the sunrise viewpoint at Sarangkot, just outside of Pokhara was in total chaos, and it took some skill and patience from my good driver guide to be finally on the way down. As we go down, here is a quick shot of Machapuchare or Fish Tail peak, before the clouds rolled in- as usual, obscuring the peak completely. Notes about this peak appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). Going down the hill was not without it's own challengers with potholes, a very steep road with several sharp curves, underpowered cars packed to the hilt coming in the wrong lane right in the way of the descending traffic and getting stuck in the ruts and potholes nonetheless- most exasperating, but let's enjoy Pokhara and not even go into those! (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Hidden behind all those clouds is Machapuchare or fish tail peak in the Himalayas. I got slightly better views with my dSLR with microlight aircraft flying in front of it, which will appear immediately after this, and really gorgeous and clear views later on from the sunrise point at Sarangkot a couple of days later. (see subsequent pictures later in this album). . This grand appearance of this peak was for just a couple of seconds before it disappeared again. Due to its southern position in the range, and the particularly low terrain that lies south of the Annapurna Himalayas, Machapuchare commands tremendous vertical relief in a short horizontal distance. This, combined with its steep, pointed profile, make it a particularly striking peak, despite a lower elevation than some of its neighbors. Its double summit resembles the tail of a fish, hence the name meaning fish's tail in Nepalese. It is also nicknamed the Matterhorn of Nepal. As I mentioned above, real clear views of Machapuchare appear later in this album when we are at the Sarangkot sunrise point. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

I skipped a walk into Bandipur village and stuck to the Himalayan views instead, as this place was not in my itinerary. At any rate, we were in the midst of a long 9 hour drive from Chitwan all the way to Pokhara via Kathmandu and my good driver guide was already at his wit's end. And visiting the car-free village would have meant much leg work on steep streets in the burning hot sun. I decided to pass, and we moved on after a few mountain shots. Bandipur in Nepal was an obscure mountain village which was transformed into a bustling commercial center. The little hilltop town became a funneling point where all trails from central Nepal (and Tibet to the north) converged to head southward, crossing the great Narayani River and the Chitwan jungle to reach the Indian rail head of Narkatia Ganj. The sprawling valley in the foreground is the Marsyangdi Valley. (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Nice view, but you could fall down the mountain if you don't watch your step! Before the final set of a few steps to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal, I managed to capture this nice view of one of the snow capped Himalayan peaks visible through a gap between two trees. There is actually a landing here, and a sharp tur in the steps, and no safety barrier! The un-fenced landing has a sharp drop of several hundred feet down to the valley floor. I could have moved ahead trying to get a better shot and fallen right down- fortunately I saw the sheer drop. And someone coming running down the stairs on his or her way down can go right over, several hundred feet down if one does not slow down and turn right at the sharp curve. In fact we spotted a young Nepalese couple with the lady with her back to the mountain just millimetres away from the edge. I warned her to move away as she could go right over if she even takes one step back. Her male partner appreciated the warning, after which my good driver guide too told them to be careful in their native Nepalese language. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Posing before the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or International Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal. It was a pretty hard climb up here though. The Vishwa Shanti Stupa in Pokhara is the first World Peace Pagoda in Nepal and the 71st pagoda built by the Japanese Buddhist group Nipponzan-Myōhōji in the world. This pagoda is 115 feet tall and 344 feet in diameter. The white pagoda has two tiers for tourists and religious visitors to circumambulate. The second tier displays four statues of the Buddha presented as a souvenirs from four different countries. I did not go up there as one had to remove footwear and photography was prohibited there at any rate. I generally avoid places which prohibit photography. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

A final shot of the magnificent Himalayan sunrise at the sunrise point at Sarangkot, just outside of Pokhara, Nepal. The crowd that had gathered to catch this spectacle was unbelievable! I was fortunate to have bagged this vantage point, right at the railing of the viewing gallery, having clawed my way past a kind Chinese couple. Notes and more pictures of the magnificent Himalayan views at Sarangkot appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

So this then at last is the Vishwa Shanti Stupa in Pokhara, also called the World Peace Pagoda or merely the Japanese Peace Pagoda as it was built by the Japanese. The Stupa was built by the Nipponzan-Myōhōji (a branch of Buddhism) monk Morioka Sonin with local supporters under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii, a Buddhist monk and the founder of the Nipponzan-Myōhōji branch of Buddhism. Shanti is a Sanskrit word meaning peace, also widely used in the Nepali and Hindi languages, and Vishwa Shanti Stupa means World Peace Pagoda. As is obvious from the name, the Stupa shrine was built as a symbol of peace. Situated at the height of 1100 mtr on the Anadu Hill in Pokhara, Nepal, the monk Nichidatsu Fujii laid the foundation stone along with relics of the Buddha on 12 September 1973. Nepal has two of the eighty peace pagodas in the world: Shanti Stupa in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha and this Shanti Stupa right here in Pokhara. Apart from being a place of worship, the Vishwa Shanti Stupa in Pokhara has also become a tourist attraction. thanks to panoramic views of the Annapurna range, Pokhara city and Phewa Lake (you saw one of these views earlier in this album- see previous pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Dhaulagiri I presume? My time on the Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda on Anadu Hill is up and just as I begin my long trudge back on the long staircase down to terra firma, the clouds moved just a trifle to reveal the peak of Mt. Dhaulagiri. That's the peak second from the extreme left. I mean the one with the grey-white colour second from left. The Dhaulagiri massif in Nepal extends 120 km from the Kaligandaki River west to the Bheri. This massif is bounded on the north and southwest by tributaries of the Bheri River and on the southeast by the Myagdi Khola. Dhaulagiri is the seventh highest mountain in the world at 8,167 mtr above sea level, and the highest mountain within the borders of a single country (Nepal). It was first climbed on 13 May 1960 by a Swiss/Austrian/Nepalese expedition. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

As a fresh cloud obscures Machapuchare, the ultralight aircraft fly out of sight as well. You can still see one of them at the extreme right, just above the tree. My good guide tried to fix me up with a microlight operator, saying he was a good friend. But sadly, that so called good friend turned out to be a double dealing greedy bugger, demanding to my guide exorbitant rates on grounds that this was a last minute booking. My guide was understandably very upset at his so called friend's greed and told him in no uncertain terms to go take a hike. I had a scenic Himalayan flight lined up a couple of days later anyway (see my Kathmandu album), so not much lost here, really. Back to this elusive mountain peak, spelt Machapuchare, Machapuchare, Machhapuchchhre or Machhapuchhre, meaning 'fish tail' in Neplese, this is a mountain situated in the Annapurna massif of Gandaki Pradesh, north-central Nepal. Machapuchare has never been officially climbed due to the impossibility of gaining a permit from the government of Nepal. More notes about this peak, also called the Matterhorn of Nepal, appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

The sun announces it's arrival by lighting up the mountain peaks of the Annapurna range in the mighty Himalayas. In fact, this spectacle came up much before the actual sunrise. No one knew which side the sunrise would be visible from- the scene to my right (with the Pokhara Lake visible as you saw earlier in this album) or from this side. The side lighting of the mountain by the soon to rise sun should be a dead giveaway which side sunrise is due to come from, but in the heat of that moment, due to anxiety and sheer frustration at the sheer crowds and the human zoo all around me, my brain was in pause mode. In then end, it turned out that I was at the right spot, and I could always zoom in a bit to capture scenes like this or move ahead after sunrise when the madness had died down and most people have left. Paragliding facilities are available in Sarangkot as well, but that activity starts much later in the day and this being pre-sunrise, it was still too early for paragliders flying about and obscuring this view. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

The cloud cover became particularly virulent at this stage and the majestic Machapuchare or fish tail peak disappeared completely out of sight. Detailed notes about Machapuchare appeared earlier in this album, and some real clear views of the peak appear later in this album (see subsequent pictures) when we get to the sunrise point at Sarangkot. In these 61 years of my life, I have always been extremely unlucky with mountains- the space between my viewing them and their disappearing behind cloud is a little over a minute- a minute and a half max. This applies to all sorts of mountains- snow capped mountains here in Nepal, volcanoes in Indonesia or simply tall mountains like Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo. (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

The sun announces its arrival by lighting up the mountain peaks like the icing on the cake at Sarangkot, Pokhara, Nepal. The pointed peak at the right is Machapuchare or Fish Tail peak. We will talk about this peak in a later caption. (see subsequent captions later in this album). We are waiting for sunrise- the sheer herds of humans here is really sickening- you can see so many of them with their cellphone cameras pointing towards the mountains. The sunrise itself is a little while away, the lighting of the mountain peaks precedes sunrise by a few minutes. Notes abut the Sarangkot sunrise point appeared earlier in this album. (see subsequent pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Our time at the sunrise point at Sarankot, just outside of Pokhara, Nepal is done now, and we can now move on. As you can see, the sun is now well and truly up, and the colour of the sky has changed to fifty shades of orange. (so to speak). I was lucky- probably for the first time in 60 years- to not have any clouds obscuring the mountains- the maximum unobscured view I have had is a minute and a half at max. The clouds are already at waist level and are threatening to move in any moment now. Notes about the Sarangkot sunrise point appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Pokhara, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

Fabulous views of the Marsyangdi Valley and snow capped Himalayas at Bandipur, Nepal. Midway on the day-long drive between Kathmandu and Pokhara lies the hilltop settlement of Bandipur, a Newar town with its age-old flavour still intact. The village on the saddle atop the mountain is pedestrian only and involved some pretty strenuous walking up hilly roads. I therefore decided to pass as we still had over seven hours to go before we reach Pokhara, and this detour was only a photo stop for a few Himalayan views like this one. If one decides to stay in Banidupur, one can climb through pristine forests on the historical trail at Dumre Bazaar to a town that has hardly changed. In well preserved Bandipur, travelers can experience its unique and rich hill culture, mountain views (like this one here), and hiking. Unlike most trading posts in the Nepal hills, Bandipur has retained its age-old cultural attributes - temples, shrines, sacred caves, innumerable festivals, and a Newari architecture that harks back to the Kathmandu Valley of old. But as I mentioned above, being hard pressed for time and having much ground to cover before we reach Pokhara, we decided to stick to the mountain views only and press on ahead to Pokhara. (Bandipur, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)

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)

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)