Annapurna Mini Circuit Trek - Day 13

Day 13

After getting up at 4:30am and having a quick breakfast at 5 am, we headed out to the airport. It was a 5 min walk and we were ushered in an open space.  We could see some snowcapped mountains in the clear morning air.

After some time we were ushered into a building. After checking in at Agni airlines counter we got a very unique boarding pass. It was the airlines boarding pass with none of the fields filled in. So no name, no flight number, no gate number, no seat number, no source and destination, nothing... Just an empty boarding pass that anyone could have used to board the flight. Then came the security check where he had everyone open their bags. After that we were in a room for some time waiting for our flint to arrive. It was a very small plane with about 20 seats - 2 vertical rows of about 10 seats each. Each seat was a window seat and the 2 rows were separated by a very narrow pathway. One had to stoop down inside the plane since the ceiling was short. No sooner were the required people boarded, the plane took off. It was just a 20 mins flight but we were right next to scenic hills and mountains. I could see the other side of the Annapurna range with the big peak of Annapurna I clearly visible. Pokhra seemed like a very green and beautiful city from the plane.

Right after landing, we picked our checked in luggage and left by taxi to our hotel (Mum's Garden). It was a short 10 mins ride. My guide Raj bade me goodbye after dropping me at the hotel. He had other clients waiting for him and he took the next flight to Kathmandu. I gave him a thank you tip and then went to my room. It was a beautiful hotel with many flower trees. My room was nice and big. After repacking my bags for the flight home the next day, I took a long hot shower and shaved. It was only 8:15 am when I stepped outside to explore the area. The hotel was a 5 mins walk from the famous fish tail lake. It is a very calm and beautiful lake with green hills all around it. I sat beside the lake. Some people were doing boating. However the sun was out and it had just started to feel hot. So I didn't do boating as I didn't want to sit under sun for an hour or two.

Some of the souvenir shops had just started opening and I did some souvenir shopping for folks back home. I was feeling very lethargic and tired. I guess all the exhaustion of the trek was finally catching up. Since I was alone I didn't feel like venturing too far out and just wanted to sleep in the afternoon. While wandering around, I saw a board for Blind Hands. This was a place where blind people give massage. This is a NPO (nonprofit organization) that trains blind people to be masseurs so that it gives them a source of income. Also, since blind people are more attuned to their other sense like touch, in theory they can give very good massages. My legs were still aching and so I decided to give it a try. Seemed like a win-win situation. Good cause as well as good massage. My massage was painful since there were many tender spots. But it felt very good after the massage. My masseur was very good and he would always ask if the pressure was ok and find the tender spots very quickly. After a quick lunch, I went to my room and slept for 3 hours. Got up at 5:15 am and went out after freshening up. After talking to family, I was still feeling very lethargic. Decided to walk around for some time since I had nothing else to do.  After 5 mins, I discovered the touristy area. It was very lively with many people on the road. The road was lined with souvenir shops and restaurants on both sides. Felt good walking and after some time went to a restaurant for happy hour. Had some cocktails and grilled fish for dinner. After dinner went back to my room, read a book and fell asleep by 9:30 pm.

Random Facts
Altitude - 820 mts