Siddha Pokhari & More Sights

Previous page - Duttatraya Square

 

Siddha Pokhari

On our map we had seen there was another but larger pond than the one we saw yesterday. It is called Siddha Pokhari so we decided to head off there for a look.

It measures 171 metres long by 73 metres wide and about 3 metres deep and it is up a couple of metres above ground level. There was a giant tree there similar to our Moreton Bay Fig trees and it had wrapped itself around a brick building.  There were heaps of large fish in the pond that looked like Koi. These big rectangular “water tanks” seem to be used as relaxation venues where Nepalese people catch up with each other. They can wander around the paths that surround each four sides, maybe dangle their feet in the water, nibble on some edibles and socialize in general. I think they might be considered romantic areas for young couples too.

 

Golden Gate and Mulchok Temple

On one of our brochures Ian had spied a serpent snake water spout on the edge of a pond. We had been trying to find out exactly where it was located. It turns out it was in the grounds of Mulchok Temple which is hidden away behind the Golden Gate. On our way back to the hotel we decided to investigate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were guards with guns just inside the Golden Gate. Once inside we realized we couldn’t go into the Indian temple because we weren’t Hindus but that was fine. We simply had a wander around the water tank area and took photos of the snakes. Whilst we were there I had a darned good laugh with a couple of Indian ladies. One of the ladies said to me, jokingly, that the carved snake was Indian. She was implying that it was therefore a superior snake. For some stupid reason I started imitating an Indian cobra curling itself upwards and then biting. My antics were seen as hilarious and the lady was killing herself laughing. She grabbed her sister who was looking the other way and I then had to repeat my performance. Again there was lots of hilarity. Then the ladies wanted their male companion to take a photo of them with me stuck in the middle of the pair of them. The first lady was adjusting my hat to improve my looks. Then she grabbed my elbow and tucked it under her ample and very wet armpit! Oooh! The silly things you do ……. Anyway we all had a good laugh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watshala Restaurant

Yesterday we had spotted a garden restaurant tucked away down inside some walls. It was almost like a secret, hidden restaurant so we wanted to have dinner there. Sadly it was a lack-lustre meal. Part of the meal was noodles and they had no taste at all.  Honestly, I think it has been the only Nepali meal that has disappointed us. We find the food delicious in this country.

 

Lack of power in Nepal

As I mentioned before, electricity in Nepal is created from hydro power. Nepal seems to have a reasonably adequate electricity supply in the wet season but in the drier, winter season there is a shortage and power is rationed. Various suburbs lose power for an hour or so, on a regular basis. This happened at Birendra’s house and also at Sacred Valley Inn in Pokhara. When we got back to the guest house it happened there too. The guest house has its own limited supply of solar power which kicks in to provide lighting when the inevitable happens. Neat eh? Ian was in the shower when it went off but the solar power was adequate.

 

We are very tired tonight so hopefully a good night’s sleep will come our way.

 

Next page - We arrive back in Kathmandu

 

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