Kathmandu

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Arrived in Kathmandu after spending longer going through Varanasi airport than we had in the air. Their system was completely done by hand and involved dozens of different forms to be filled in things to be stamped bags to be checked and double checked, and one old man, in the middle of the whole thing slowing everything up completely. I think people like him were the reason computers were invented, slow is just not a good enough word to describe him. After landing we left the airport to search for our hostel manager who had promised to pick us up, but were instantly mobbed by yet more people trying to get us to go with them somewhere. Our initial thoughts were that it was India all over again and we wouldn't get a moments peace. But after explaining who we were waiting for, the crowd dissapeared in search of the hostel manager for us and we were swiftly on our way. Hostel was very nice and right in the middle of the city, and for $7 per night we can't complain. As usual we had some animal friends in the room with us, cockroaches this time. Met the managers brother who owned a tour company, although after speaking to other people, all hostel manager's brothers own tour companies. He talked us through a tour package which was practically what we were going to do anyway and then left us to talk it through and compare prices with other places. After spending a few hours exploring a little of Kathmandu, and Nepalese beer, we went back and decided we would go on his tour as it was cheaper than if we would have done it individually. In the evening we went for dinner and ate probably the best steak either of us had ever had, at least it seemed like that after a week of veg curry three times a day. It wasn't just any steak though, this was Yaaaaaakkkk steak from high in the Himalayas, as eaten by such famous people as Tony Blair, Prince Charles and Pat Sharp.

Second day we had free so spent some time exploring the city, our first stop was the monkey temple just outside the city on top of a big hill. Nice temple, nice views, nice monkeys, not such a nice walk home. Got a tiny bit lost somewhere near the ring road, and ended up walking along extremely muddy paths, in some places it was just mud really. After we finally made it back we went to the Durbar Square, which they have a few of around Kathmandu, basically its just an area with lots of temple type buildings. A pre-pubescent living goddess was supposed to show herself from a window at 4, but we waited until at least half past, before deciding she wasn't going to come out. Had Japanese that evening, also very nice. Kathmandu in general was so much better than anywhere else we'd been and apparently it is the worst place in Nepal to be, so we had high hopes for the rest of it.

Next stop rafting and Pokhora

more soon (and more pictures soon)

Neil and Rosie

xx

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Photos

Flags at the monkey temple
these have some sort of religious significance, probably.

Comments

[Louise]

Mmm....steak!!
Wow....that steak looks huge!! I hope you ate it all and I'm glad to see there's plenty of mayonnaise on it just how Rosie likes it!!

[neil and rosie]

mmmmm ..... Yaaakkk Steak!!!
It wasn't mayonnaise it was peppercorn sauce with mushrooms, and yes it was lovely. Rosie did eat it all, but is still feeling the after-effects now.