Laid back in Pokhara
It’s safe to say that my current lifestyle isn’t the most stressful. Just to clarify: I do work and it’s usually five days a week. I just don’t work too much.
Pokhara lends itself to a more relaxed attitude. Traffic on the main road is never dense and pedestrians’ walking speed by the lake is seldom more than a stroll.
They serve some really nice coffee here and usually I go for that in the morning. Either straight out of bed or after a first round of work.
The café is close to the lake and on the first floor. Which means that while sipping on that double-shot, I can watch life happening on and by the lake and in the distance see paragliders coming down from Sarankot.
I like that about my lifestyle. I can see all this beauty, enjoy it at my own pace without having to worry about my vacation coming to an end. I live where others go on vacation. Freelancing AND location independence is a pretty cool combination.
Today a fellow guest from the hotel was leaving. Czech guy my age, had spent the last five weeks relaxing by the lake and playing online poker. He’s only started with the latter, doesn’t yet know the world of hurt he’s about to enter on the higher levels.
For the goodbye, a few of us had gathered at the Beatles cafe (named after their commonly played tunes) for a couple of cold ones last night.
Notable other guests were a borderline alcoholic pediatric nurse from Oslo who travels 4-5 months each year, and a Dutch guy, 22 years of age, who already reflects on how the worlds’ cultural differences influence peoples happiness.
Him mentioning how extended travelling, seeing so much, experiencing so much, had changed him and made it more difficult to connect with those back home, struck a chord with me.
It’s another thing I like about my lifestyle. The people I meet and converse with. Quite frankly after having kids beg me for food leftovers and being five minutes down the road from where soldiers executed civilians in the street, I’m not excited by discussions about sports or gadgets any more. But I might be repeating myself on that.
Travellers, those who spend extended time in foreign countries, have a tendency to see the world through different eyes. We all come from the same western world, otherwise we simply wouldn’t be able to afford our travels (or get the visas so easily). But the time spent in these foreign countries is an opportunity to reflect on whether our way of life is really the best, or even a good one. And it’s refreshing and educating to talk to people who have a similar amount of experience under their belts.
We leave the bar for a while to grab dinner at a Nepali restaurant around the corner. Food is another thing I like about my current lifestyle. It’s good, it’s fresh, it’s cheap and it’s readily available. I value good food and when I cook or go out in Germany, I do what I can to end up with quality food on my plate. I’m not easily impressed by food. But what I get here, all the time, it’s baffling.
Back at the bar, the chats continue. At one point a fisherman drops by and announces his catch for sale. Some of the fish are still alive - doesn’t get much fresher. I pass but others go for it and ask the staff to fry up their purchase in the bar’s kitchen.
This morning I started the day with some work and wrapped it up before lunch time. With garlic naan (fresh from the tandoori) and a vegetable curry in my belly I went for a 2.5h stroll up to the Peace Pagoda. Nice view with the Annapurna range in the background. I like that about my lifestyle.
