Okey, so the Maoist ended their strike yesterday (Saturday). Why, I do not know yet, but hopefully Sascha can fill me in on that when he gets to the office today. Anyway, it feels quite nice that the traffic is back to normal and shops are open. Yesterday I spent some time on a scooter with a personal guide driving me around.

  Well, I didn’t hire a guide, but one of the daughters in the family who runs the cafeteria where I eat all my food here at UDTC, asked if I wanted to join her for a ride. So I got my camera and jumped up behind her when she came to the guesthouse. And then it was a nice adventure on the streets of Pokhara. And I was a bit amazed that she held the speed limit of 40 km/h, but yes, some times it felt a bit strange when doing over takings without having clear view and so. But I never doubted her skill to drive, as she do that almost every day in this traffic, and yesterday was the free day, so it wasn’t either so much traffic at all.

  First she took us down to Phewa lake, where we just enjoyed the view and tourists who where going out to a temple on a small island in the lake. There are loads of boats and boat men everywhere to take tourist there, and it was a bit funny to look at people who aren’t so familiar to water and boats. Then straight through the city to a “Gompa”, or monestary as we would call it. Very beautiful and so calm compared to the rest of the city. Up from the hill where it was located you had a nice view over the Pokhara valley. I couldn’t help to notice the more “western” commercial on the small shop that was closed when we where there. Such a beautiful place, and then that ugly commercial. Well, that’s the way it is down here.

  After that ride we went back, and I relaxed for a while before I took the bus down to city centre to buy some more movies. I think I’m getting used to the way of life here, as I now take the bus when I’m going somewhere in the city, instead of a taxi as I did in the beginning. Pokhara is one of few cities who actually have this local bus taffic system. The buses are white with a blue stripe. You can wave at them when you see them (or they use their horn to make you aware of them) and they slow down to pick you up. Sometimes they stop, sometimes you jump in while they are on the move, so there are no actual bus stops, except the end stations, and one stop at Mahendra pul in the city centre. And they are cheap, only 10 NR’s to go to Mahendra pul from UDTC, while a taxi might cost 100 NR’s (as I’m classified as a tourist by many taxi drivers).

  There is one driver, and then one guy (yes, haven’t seen any women working in the buses yet) who handles the money. You pay him when you get off or when you get on the bus. He’s also very often hanging in the door yelling at people asking (I think) if they want a bus, or where the bus is going. Of course you never get a ticket for the bus ride, but as long as you pay there’s no problem. I have no idea how it works with the money in the larger concept. Does the bus driver get all the money, or does he have to pay something to the city. I have to figure this out some way.

  And I went running this morning. First “flat” running since the trekking. Felt quite good, but I do have to do this more the coming days as it’s not so many days until I’ll be running in Göteborg. Only “thing” about the running is that I have to do it at five in the morning if it’s not going to be too warm in the sun. I’ll see if I can try a 20 km run one of the coming days.

  Ah, and yes, as the traffic is back to normal, I’ll talk to Sascha today about perhaps going to Tansen for the research. We’ll see about that, and how much time I can spend on that as the end of my stay here in Nepal is getting closer and closer.