World Peace Pagoda

The World Peace Pagoda sits on a ridge high above Phewa Tal (Pokhara's largest lake). It was built by Japanese Buddhists to promote world peace. It is considered a "must-see" for tourists, but what the locals don't tell you is that the hike up there is a beast! I can say with 100% surety that I have never sweat so much in my entire life. It was probably about 94 degrees Fahrenheit with 100% humidity, and like I said before, the hike up to the pagoda is challenging! In my opinion the views were worth it, as well as the quiet and peace you can feel there. I found myself just sitting on the steps for about 20 minutes contemplating "world peace" and other matters.

View from a cafe near the top. I was dying for something cold.

My tour guides up to the stupa, aged 9 and 13. They had finished exams and so had the day off school. When they weren't in school it was their job to show tourists the way up to the pagoda. I knew it was a tourist trap, but they were adorable and we got to talking. They successfully guided me to the stupa, and then back down the other side of the hill to catch a boat back to Lakeside. They promised to show me the "short cuts." Well...they were shortcuts in distance, but they were also far more physically demanding. Nearly every "shortcut" consisted of hiking/crawling/climbing straight vertically up the hill. I found myself laughing (in between panting) and muttering, "It's all part of the adventure Jess. Embrace it!" This is a quick snapshot of them enjoying some cold drinks near the top. Below is a typical 13 year old boy showing off. It was quite impressive.

World Peace Pagoda among the clouds

Gardens at the top of the hill

You were required to remove your shoes and be silent at the pagoda

Around the pagoda are 4 statues of Buddha in different positions, representing different times in his life and different aspects of Buddhism

Views from the top

My tour guides waited for me while I explored the stupa and meditated on the steps. Then we started down the other side of the hill that borders the lake. About halfway down we parted ways and I continued to hike down the slippery moss-covered rocks to catch a boat back to Lakeside, Pokhara. Along the way I met this very handsome snake. He was a beautiful orange/yellow and rather camera shy.

Made it down! Phew.

Boat ride back

Paragliding in Pokhara

I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie. So when I discovered that paragliding was an option, I immediately signed up. It cost $95 for a 30-minute tandem flight, landing in a rice field, with the Himalayas as my high-definition 360-degree surround-screen view. In one word, UNBELIEVABLE! I am totally hooked on paragliding. I want to do it again, I want to be a pilot, I would do it again this moment if I could. I have pictures and video below, but it is impossible to capture the beauty and the surreal-ness of the experience. You will just have to go paragliding to understand. 

First, we had to meet our pilots. They were my age, which gave me a bit of anxiety, because, well, I know boys my age. However, they told me that they have to have so many jumps and be a pilot for 2 years before they can apply to be a tandem pilot. Then I thought, this is great! They are young and adventurous like me, if I ask to do some tricks in the air, they will totally go for it. (They did.) After meeting our pilots and packing up the parachutes we got in a jeep and off-roaded our way to the top of Sarangkot. Technically there was a "road," but we were off-roading for sure. The following a views from the drive up to the launch spot. We drove for about 30-40 minutes until we were actually in a cloud on top of a mountain.

Once at the launch site, we had to wait for the clouds to clear up before we could actually take off. This took about 30 minutes. Here you can see what we first saw when we arrived, to what it looked like once we launched.

Getting the parachutes ready

Sarah, Pauliina and I waiting for better weather

Pauliina getting all strapped in

Sarah is almost ready and looking a bit nervous

Go time!

Taking off consisted of being strapped to the front of your pilot with the parachute on the ground behind him. Then, together, you walk forward a few steps until the wind picks up the parachute. This pulls you backward, so you take a few steps back until you get just a bit of slack. Then you run as fast as you can off the side of the mountain.

   
Below are pictures I took from the air. The pictures don't do it justice, but it'll give you an idea.

Pokhara Valley and Phewa Tal (Lake)

Mid-flight selfie!

We landed! Both of us looked at the other and said, "I want to go again!"

We landed in a small patch of solid ground surrounded by rice fields

Lots of rice

    

  

Before: looking a little apprehensive

After: loving life and wanting to fly again