Buddhas, balloons and bumps

We fell off the edge of India and landed in Lumbini, the perfect antidote. Lumbini is a village just across the border in Nepal where actual Buddha was born. On one side of the village there are green fields dotted with yellow mustard plants, to the other is the Buddhist Development Zone. Most importantly, it is quiet! The roads are nearly empty and people just float around on bikes. We spent the first day there recovering and it was a good day for it - Holi hit.

Hindus (and everyone around them) celebrate Holi by dancing in the street and dousing each other with brightly-coloured water. We woke up to the hotel's host family giggling in the courtyard below and throwing neon water balloons, and watched the madness from the balcony throughout the day. Well, that's moderate madness, Nepal-style, all scrubbed and tucked up in bed by 8pm.

The next day we hired rickety, rusty bikes and explored the temples and monasteries. All countries of Asia are represented in Lumbini with a sparkling monastery in their own style.

Our next stop was Pokhara, a "deluxe" bus trip across the mountains. The bus was typically shabby and there was a goat in the boot. I really felt for the goat - I felt like a human milkshake by the end, after eight hours rattling around with no proper stops. The poor goat got out halfway, at a butcher's shop.

Pokhara is nice. There's a lake and there are mountains, and there are momos to eat. I think we'll stay here a while...