It was hot on Sunday- probably 28 and sunny. We’d hiked down from Sarangkot and we’d walked enough of Pokhara and Lakeside (the tourist area) that we were ready to head “home” by 2 pm. We found the correct bus using our best (and practiced) Nepali pronunciation of our destination - Ghatichhina. We boarded, sat, waited and sweated - unsure of the departure time.
Honestly, half the fun of taking the “city bus” is just having time to watch the people, their interactions and to see what’s happening around us. We’ve met some interesting people waiting for buses on this trip!
We were parked in the same street where our taxi driver had abandoned us so things were, somehow, feeling familiar - the smell of the fish shops helped, maybe? People were leaving town with bigger and fuller bags and many riders had bags loaded into the seats beside them. Gayle’s attempt to get some air moving by opening the window a little wider did little improve the heat. I had been keeping my eyes peeled for the “ice cream man” who we’d seen selling through the windows earlier, when a vendor with a covered tray boarded the bus with mystery items to sell. He removed the towel right in front of us to reveal fresh chocolate buns and danishes - still warm from the oven. We bought one for 60 cents and ate it before remembering to take a photo! Groceries, purses and back packs were adjusted as the 25 seats and front bench were filled when when we left at 2:30 - apparently on time.
We stopped several times to take on more passengers as we left the city. It was getting tight up front for space. We entered a small village, just 2 km from the city and the bus stopped to take on several students. It was their last day of school (yes, it was Sunday) and they were on their way home. Oh, I should mention that it was, in fact, a boarding school - so along with the students and their normal backpacks were suitcases, large bags, at least 2 rolled up pillow/comforter combos and a single bed mattress. A this point, the aisle was full of people, bags, other luggage and a mattress. We counted 35 people that we could see!
Then it got really fun. A group of 4 French tourists and their guide with hiking gear boarded next.We thought - there is no way but…see for yourself!
The front was completely jammed when another man wedged in after extinguishing his cigarette. It was then that we noticed a couple, in black formal wear riding a motorcycle out of the river bed. The entertainment value of this trip eclipsed the $1.60 CAD that we paid for the ride!
Luckily, the other tourists didn’t need to stay on for long. When they left, another boy from the back had clambered front the back, over the barricades to exit as well.
Three prolonged stops later, the bus was back to “normal” and we were cruising “home”. We arrived at 3:30, dripping with sweat and grateful to have had this experience (and seats for the entire ride)!