Our trek up to Annapurna base camp (known as ABC) began just outside of the city of Pokhara, which is at the base of the Annapurna range.  Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal but much quieter and less hectic than Kathmandu.  It has a population of around 260,000 people.

Pokhara is also the place where our guide, Prem and his cousin Hem live. They are both fabulous guides. Originally we booked our trek with Hem but when Hem contracted a bug which he could not get rid of his doctor recommended that he not go on the trek. He told us not to worry. He called his cousin Prem who took the grinding bus trip to Kathmandu from Pokhara and met us at our hotel in Kathmandu the next day. What a find and how fortunate we were to have Prem as our guide as he turned out to be the guide “extraordinary.”

Prem and Hem along with two other people founded and run an orphanage in Pokhara. At the time we were there there were ten children, of all varying ages. Prem, Hem and their partners take care of these children and provide a home for them. The children attend regular public schools. Private tutors are also provided for the children.. We visited the orphanage and were extremely impressed. They sat us down and the children all came in the room and sat down next to us. Then each got up, introduced themselves to us and told us what they want to do when they grow up.  After the introduction they served us dinner. We asked them many times to join us but the refused. They said we were their guests and we get to eat first. They will eat after. This was a very touching moment for us.