Blogs from Thamal, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia - page 3

At the end of the tour, our guide ushers us inside a shop making and selling “Thanka” paintings. These are highly detailed paintings depicting a Buddhist deity on a silk canvas that can take 3-6 months to complete, depending on the size and quality of the painting. The shop owners bring out several completed paintings and offer us looking glasses to admire the detail – and it was impressive. At the end of their talk on the paintings they offer some of the completed paintings for us to purchase. Whilst they were impressive, and I would have liked to have purchased one a souvenir, I had neither the cash nor a credit to hand to cover this purchase. I made my apologies I didn’t have the means to pay – but clearly they had heard this ... read more

No idea. Some guy dressed as a Monkey. We could easily tell he was a fake compared to the real thing.... read more

What are the odds that all those on the trek with me are all Australians – and 6 of them! As the sole “Pom” on the trek I will have to do my utmost to mention the Olympics and Rugby as many times as I can. They seem a nice bunch and I am not the oldest either! Dirge, our Nepalese Guide introduced himself to our group. I feel in good hands given his 32 years of experience as a guide and having climb many of the mountains in Nepal over 6000m. We plodded up stairs to a rather dark room and he briefed us on the trek ahead. Most of the information I already knew, have read up on it all many times. The most interesting announcement was that he didnt recommend having a shower ... read more

Armed with my completed visa application form, a photo and some cash I patiently waited in the visa queue with all the other westerners. A nice little Nepalese man wondered down the queue with his stapler, and stapled my photo to the paperwork I had. I shuffled ever closer to the counter, and after what was probably an hour arrived at the front and presented my paperwork with a confident smile. There were 4 officials in a line and they processed my paperwork and passport, handing it along the line in whatever mysterious process they use for allowing foreigners into their country. I shuffled slowly along the counter keeping pace with my paperwork and passport until I reach official number 4. I waited patiently and expectantly for the ”thump thump” of the visa stamp – but ... read more

Despite getting on a plane that was boarding at Gate 13, the flight to Kathmandu was decent and most importantly landed without incident. Immediately you can see the difference in the people on the plane, which was mostly occupied with what looked to me to be real Nepalese.....so exciting. Lots of smiles, friendly faces, but with a perceptible granite interior. I can see now why the Ghurkas are a feared fighting troop. A few were taking panoramic video shots of the passengers. I smiled as he panned past my seat - maybe I will now be immortalised on a Nepalese warrior’s home move I muse. I settled myself down into the window seat next to the Emergency exit. At least I would be first out the plane then if it crashed!! I do my dutiful bit ... read more