After our wild adventure in the jungle the AA holiday girls went to Pokhara. Pokhara is west of Kathmandu, about 8 hours drive but shorter from Chitwan. Pokhara surrounds a large lake and lays at the foot of the Annapura area of ​​the Himalayas. We were going to celebrate New Year in Pokhara because of the big street festival.

From the moment that we could already see the white peaks from the bus, happiness filled my heart. The mountain view is so pure, beautiful, impressive and unique. We had a simple hostel but it was really cheap and again very helpful staff. Our next adventure was * drums* horse riding to Sarangot! We celebrated these new plans with a cocktail overlooking the mountains and great food while we enjoyed the sounds of the street festival.

The street festival was primarily intended to lure Nepalese and Chinese tourists to Pokhara. I couldn’t find a good source of information about the festival so we decided to experience it ourselves. The street was filled with market stalls, food stalls and a stage where there would be local live music. There was also a kind of funfair with live music in the park on the lakeside but we didn’t go there. Especially in the evening it all came to life and the streets would fill with people.

Our next morning started again early because the horses were ready at the door. We went step by step to Sarangot, a viewpoint over Pokhara. I was so happy ride a horse again after so many years … in the beginning at least because after an hour I started to feel my ass and it was also a bit boring, because we went so slowly. We had a guide on foot so we really couldn’t go fast.

At the top we had beautiful views over the Himalayas and we also took the time to have a delicious lunch while the sky above Pokhara filled with colorful paragliders. And then we had to go down again, painfully sit in the saddle and go. After half an hour or so Anne strated to feel dizzy and unwell. When it didn’t pass after some time we arranged that she was picked up by a scooter. But that meant that both me and the guide were now on a horse riding down the mountain. Suddenly slowly was off the table; I felt the wind in my hair, making sure I wouldn’t fall, and trying to give the difficult Nepalese commandos I was riding the horse. We flew down the mountain in gallop and trot. I had such a huge grin on my face! This was all I wanted haha. I also thought it was one bit scary but sooooo good. It felt so free and with the mountains on the background through the villages I felt only joy and adrenaline.

Back in Pokhara, Anne fortunately felt better again and we started looking for a place for dinner. Turning into an alley we came to the lake and we discovered a whole series of nice restaurants and bars with campfires (remember that it was freezing cold every night). We walked a little further and happened to meet Eline and her friends who were visiting Nepal for 2 weeks. The Bikini Wax Cocktails filled the table and we had a wonderful evening by the lake. And 1 more dance in a bar.

This wonderfully relaxed vibe also determined our next day that we spent with a reading book and hot lemon at lakeside. In the evening we went out for fancy dinner. The food was delicious but the real luxury was the large fireplace that kept us nice and warm. Anne and I did not have a clear plan yet, except for the desire for live music, only that beautiful street festival also ensured that all clubs and bars asked for an entrance fee and so we ended up with Eline and friends again in exactly the same spot as the night before. We claimed the music control and counted down out loud to the new year. Dance like no one is watching; is how we started the new year. It was the perfect party and start of 2020. And with that the closing of the AA holiday crew. On January 1, our bus left for Kathmandu at 7.30 in the morning. Happy New Year!