Kathman-done!

Well, where to start? It's been a confusing and bewildering few days and there are a lot of thoughts swimming through my mind! So, from the beginning... I had been wondering when it would hit me, this whole "travelling thing." Well, about an hour before we left for the airport it did! I suddenly turned in to a nervous wreck! Pacing back and forth, biting my nails, weeing like there was no tommorrow and repeatedly running up and down the stairs to check I hadn't forgotton anything! This nervous energy lasted until were in the car and had been on our way for about 10 minutes! Then I sank in to a deep calm and resigned myself to the fact that it was really happening, and it started right NOW!

So, the Virgin flight was long but entertaining. There were loads of films, games, tv shows as well as documentaries and information to keep us busy! Jed certainly enjoyed it and managed to watch two films and play lots of games! It had been my plan to sleep on the flight, but that unfortunatly did not work out! I couldn't get comfortable in any position other than leaning my pillow against Jed's shoulder, which he kept moving and I kept sliding off! So, eventually breakfast came (at 3am uk time!) and I gave up on the idea of sleep! We saw a beautiful sunrise and got our first sight of mountains accross Afganistan! They were snow capped and completely facinating!

Anyway, Delhi airport was a nightmare - totally unorganised, we could not find where to check in and eventually some random Indian guy pointed us towards gate 3! Gates?! We hadnt even checked our bags yet! But it turns out it dosnt really mean anything! The security check for your luggage is right in the middle of the hall and we walked right past it and ended up being sent back! They were all very stamp happy throughout the airport, stamping our passports, bording cards, luggage tags and anything else they could find as many times as possible! A bit over the top perhaps? So, after a delay of an hour (although the board never once mentioned one!) we were off to Nepal! We arrived exhausted and hopeful that our lift to the hotel would be waiting for us. And lucky us, he was! After introducing ourselves, he grabbed our bags and spent the next 10 minutes saying "follow me" wait there" and making frantic calls to someone, our lift we pressumed! Eventually a car arrived for us. Now to say this car was a beat up old mess would be a big complement! It was covered in dents, had no seatbelts and the driver was a maniac on the roads! He did however fit in very well with every other car on the road! After a terrifying but interesting journey through filthy towns filled with stray dogs, children and cows we arrived at the hotel florid. Due to a booking missunderstanding we were given a very rundown, tiny room but to be honest, I was just relieved to see a bed! We have now been given a much bigger, nicer room and the bathroom is far more usable as the toilet does not leak in to the shower as it did in the previous one. Lovely!

So, back to our arrival! After a quick toothbrushing we went down to the garden for a "welcome tea" with Dhurba, the owner of the hotel and a "friend" of his who spent half an hour trying to plan the whole of our time in Nepal (for a price, of course!) Exhausted, we excused ourselves and went straight to bed! It is really cold here and the nights are ridiculous as there is no form of heating and the windows dont shut properly! We went to bed fully dressed, me in a hat and gloves and had a very shivery night waking randomly in the middle of it for a snack and a chat before trying to return to sleep! I found this quite difficult as the whole world decided to wake up very loudly around 4am! So inconsiderate! Anyway, I must have gone off eventually as I woke up at 11am! Today has been spent wandering through Thamel and the surrounding areas. It is constantly busy and full of salesmen trying to get you to buy anything and everything! It is hard work walking through the town as the cars and motorbikes drive fast and carelessly, and get very close to you! At one point I was walking behind Jed when a motorbike came whizzing past him, didnt see me and only just missed me! Very scary!

So, we have decided to move on from Kathmandu already and we will be heading out for Pokhara on the 6.30 am bus tommorow! Its a six hour journey and Im not looking forward to the early start but Im excited to be moving on! We have booked a trek on Annapurna, starting Friday and lasting a week. We decided an easy one would suit us better and we will have a guide and a porter to help us out! Im looking forward to it, despite the cold! It does mean that contact via email and journal will be limited for a while though!

Today on the street I saw a dead crow and a rat that looked like it had had its insides eaten! There are lot's of things like that around this area! There are loads of stray dogs, but we only saw one bit of dog poo! Its very strange - I would expect there to be loads!

Anyway, Kathmandu has definately been an experience and it has jolted us quickly in to a traveller's way of life! I havn't bothered to change my clothes yet as it is so dirty here, it seems pointless! I did manage a shower though, in our nicer room which surprisingly had hot water! I was very pleased! So goodbye to Kathmandu, Lets see what the next place brings! Sam xxx

We have been in Kathmandu two days now and it is a fascinating place. We arrived after a long flight from London Heathrow to Delhi(8hrs) and a short connecting flight to Kathmandu(1Hr.) We retired to bed on our first night at 7 and managed to sleep until 3 before awaking to a pretty cold night. Extra blankets for the second night were in order. Delhi airport was fun! Guards in full 1900's army uniform complete with hand guns and fairly unorthodox procedures had to be learned quickly.

The flight to Kathmandu was a little slow in getting off the ground but we had some good views of the Himalayas breaking through the clouds. The airport is a much smaller affair than Delhi but still bustling with locals touting custom outside. Luckily we were met with a pre-arranged transfer to our accommodation and that seemed to deter most of the gathered throng. An intense half hour car ride then ensued in a battered old Suzuki through central Kathmandu. Dodging oncoming traffic including cattle, swerving down narrow pot holed streets and rushing past pedestrians horns blazing we arrived at the 'hotel'. The room on the first night was poor but for the second we were upgraded and now have a nice hot shower and several working lights! The hotel is friendly and has a nice garden where Nepalese guitar music fills the air for about 12hrs a day. There is good food to be had and plenty of warm tea to help us through the cold nights.

We spent Wednesday afternoon wandering the streets around Thamel. It is noisy, very dirty and full of hassle, as expected really. Motorbikes and battered mini vans honked horns furiously as they brushed past and mangy old dogs lined the rubbish strewn streets. Car fumes, street vendors fried foods and smoking tobacco all competing for nostril time. It doesn't sound like much fun but in fact in a small dose was enjoyable. Later we arranged a 7 day trek starting in Pokhara and depart on the morrow.

Everything here is cheap with a nice evening meal costing 1.50 each and this Internet cafe charging an extortionate 17 pence an hour! Kathmandu is what I would consider a stopover place and we are looking forward to moving on and spending some time in the mountains. An experience that I expect to contrast the last few days.
Jed

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Part of trip: Asia

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