20 days of "lying flat" at a guesthouse in Pokhara

My decision to live in Pokhara was purely impulsive. I imagined a fairy-tale life of daily snow-capped mountain views and coffee, but found that (long-term stay) is like opening a blind box—there are surprises and little mishaps, but looking back, every moment was worth it! The day I arrived, reality poured cold water on me 🌧️. The guesthouse was halfway up a hill; dragging my 28-inch suitcase up the slope for half an hour, I almost gave up and left on the spot. But when I opened the door and saw the balcony facing the Annapurna Himalayas, everything felt worthwhile in an instant! Waking up every day to the golden light of sunrise hitting the snow-capped peaks—this experience is truly addictive. Life at the guesthouse wasn’t as "serene and peaceful" as imagined. The shared kitchen was usable, but seasonings were often depleted. The first time I cooked instant noodles, I found there wasn’t even salt left; in the end, I tearfully saved the meal with a curry cube. But because of this, cooking and sharing meals with fellow guests became a daily joy, unlocking magical combinations like Indian naan with Lao Gan Ma (chili sauce). The most thrilling experience was a power outage ⚡. One night, I was binge-watching a show when the entire house went dark, and my phone was at 10% battery. Fumbling to find the guesthouse’s backup candles, I sat with roommates from all over the world by candlelight, listening to distant dog barks, and somehow we ended up chatting about supernatural stories from our hometowns. Looking back, it’s both funny and unforgettable. Of course, there were more healing moments ✨: Morning runs by Phewa Lake, watching locals row boats to fish; learning to make masala tea from the guesthouse owner in the evening—even though it turned out a bit of a "dark dish," drinking my own "masterpiece" filled me with pride. On weekends, I’d rent a boat with new friends, lie on the deck soaking up the sun, and almost drift to the middle of the lake asleep. I met so many interesting people here: a programmer on a career break, a retired aunt traveling the world alone, college students volunteering... We came from different backgrounds, but could chat over a cup of tea until midnight. When it was time to leave, I even felt reluctant to say goodbye to this little courtyard full of life. If you’re thinking of living in Pokhara, here are some honest tips: 1️⃣ Don’t bring too much luggage! The hills are really tough on your strength. 2️⃣ Pack your own common seasonings! Your Chinese stomach will thank you. 3️⃣ Embrace occasional imperfection—those little mishaps are what make the journey vivid. It wasn’t as perfect as the filtered photos, but this is real long-term stay life. Here, I learned to make peace with imperfection and gained the most precious memories. #PokharaLiving #RealTravelExperiences #LifeInPokhara #NepalTravel