Kathmandu 02/05 - 06/05

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After a solid 17ish hour journey we arrived in Kathmandu. Wow we’ve missed Asia! As soon as we landed we felt the humidity and heat again, there was a plethora of taxi drivers wanting to be your best friend AND our bank card was playing up again -just like old times! We met “Binayle” and helped us out with a cheap fair for the 3 of us into Thamel (one of the districts in Kathmandu). He was kind enough to walk us to an ATM and our hostel, Shantipur. The streets were dusty, narrow at times, cows all over the show and loads of smiling faces. The streets were decorated with flags pinned up like bunting and the goods in the shops looked awesome! Also the prices were a welcome treat too.



When we got to the hostel we found our dorm and went out to explore. We found a place where tommy had some “not as good as American” nachos. We settled in some “much better than British” ice coffees and a ciggy. After trying to get our bearings for a few more minutes we headed to an Irish bar for some celebratory beers. At this point we were pretty half cut from the journey, lack of sleep and he alcohol so headed back to Shantipur for some chilling out.

This place was one of the most chilled hostels we’ve been in. The atmosphere was really cool, friendly, chatty..... maybe it had something to do with the copious amounts of Hashish being handed around! There was a roof deck where their were 360 degree views of the city where we could see shadows of the mountains surrounding us. There were low tables, cushions and dream catchers all handmade and that light up. Our body clocks were out of kilter so by 9 we’d all retired to bed.



The next morning we had a to do list! We woke up before the rest of Kathmandu and went out in search of somewhere open for breakfast. This was the first time we’d been in a sleepy morning Asian city, usually everyone’s been out and finished all their shopping at the markets by 6.30! Once we were full on breakfast we made a start bartering our way round all the hiking stores to buy everything we needed for the trek. Items purchased: 2 decent waterproof coats, 1 pair walking boots, 2 snoods, 2 water bottles, 2 zip off trousers, 2 30 litre backpacks, 2 hats, some chai tea breaks and lunch all for less than £200. So feeling like e were all modelling for an upcoming north face photo shoot we headed back to the hostel. Obviously we couldn’t sit back up on the rooftop empty handed so before long we had a match box size brick of hash to enjoy with everyone for £12! Our first 24 hours in Nepal had shaped out perfectly.. we knew we would get on fine here! That evening we headed out with some new friends to a delicious local tandoori restaurant. Unfortunately Tommy was feeling tired so decided to give it a miss - At last spicy food was back in our lives! We both tucked into veg curries with garlic and butter naan, heaven!



After staying up late the night before chatting with different people from the hostel we woke up at a better time in the morning and had a lazy breakfast on the roof terrace (there’s no rushing the hostel kitchen so a lazy breakfast is the only option anyway!) and then set out with a rough plan to head for Durbar Square. We wondered the bustling streets, past tiny shops crammed with wooden carvings, or piled high singing bowls, and Aladdin caves of jewellery shop keepers becoming you to admire their wares. There was so much to see we didn’t really need a destination, you could walk for hours around the maze of cobbled alleys and markets and never get bored with all the colours and smells. We arrived at the temple and just our luck it was under refurbishment! We had a walk around the grounds and there were people selling all sorts of stuff. Jacks favourite were the “Kukhri”. It’s a traditionally made knife that the Ghurkers use to fight, Jack even met one that was guarding the grounds. After our visit we headed back through the city and to our haven rooftop. We had grand plans of going out for dinner but a few smokes later we called it a night.



We headed out in the morning to get our permits for walking the Annapurna circuit. We had expectations of us in queues all day but it was really easy! A few thousand rupees later we were all set for the trip. We booked our bus tickets to a town called Pokhara, where we can start the trek, from our hostel and then headed to the rooftop for the afternoon. That night we went out to the same place that Tommy had missed out on previously. Again reminding us of how good food can actually be. With our full stomachs, we went home happy chappies ready to head to Pokhara in the morning.



The next morning didn’t go to plan. Char had been up all night being sick and was feeling awful. Pokhara would have to wait. We were not sure what caused it or why but I suppose this was her turn to feel bad. With Char laid up in bed most of the day this left Jack and Tommy a whole day in Kathmandu......hmmmm what to do? MASSAGES! After a smoke or two on the roof we headed out to get a Thai massage. This was Tommy’s first and it was great! We came out feeling 10 inches taller and veryyyy relaxed. We brought back some goodies for Char who was feeling better as the day went on so we hoped Pokhara was in sight for the next day. In the meantime, the rest of today was spent chilling and reading on the roof (obviously).mandu 02/05 - 06/05



After a solid 17ish hour journey we arrived in Kathmandu. Wow we’ve missed Asia! As soon as we landed we felt the humidity and heat again, there was a plethora of taxi drivers wanting to be your best friend AND our bank card was playing up again -just like old times! We met “Binayle” and helped us out with a cheap fair for the 3 of us into Thamel (one of the districts in Kathmandu). He was kind enough to walk us to an ATM and our hostel, Shantipur. The streets were dusty, narrow at times, cows all over the show and loads of smiling faces. The streets were decorated with flags pinned up like bunting and the goods in the shops looked awesome! Also the prices were a welcome treat too.



When we got to the hostel we found our dorm and went out to explore. We found a place where tommy had some “not as good as American” nachos. We settled in some “much better than British” ice coffees and a ciggy. After trying to get our bearings for a few more minutes we headed to an Irish bar for some celebratory beers. At this point we were pretty half cut from the journey, lack of sleep and he alcohol so headed back to Shantipur for some chilling out.

This place was one of the most chilled hostels we’ve been in. The atmosphere was really cool, friendly, chatty..... maybe it had something to do with the copious amounts of Hashish being handed around! There was a roof deck where their were 360 degree views of the city where we could see shadows of the mountains surrounding us. There were low tables, cushions and dream catchers all handmade and that light up. Our body clocks were out of kilter so by 9 we’d all retired to bed.



The next morning we had a to do list! We woke up before the rest of Kathmandu and went out in search of somewhere open for breakfast. This was the first time we’d been in a sleepy morning Asian city, usually everyone’s been out and finished all their shopping at the markets by 6.30! Once we were full on breakfast we made a start bartering our way round all the hiking stores to buy everything we needed for the trek. Items purchased: 2 decent waterproof coats, 1 pair walking boots, 2 snoods, 2 water bottles, 2 zip off trousers, 2 30 litre backpacks, 2 hats, some chai tea breaks and lunch all for less than £200. So feeling like e were all modelling for an upcoming north face photo shoot we headed back to the hostel. Obviously we couldn’t sit back up on the rooftop empty handed so before long we had a match box size brick of hash to enjoy with everyone for £12! Our first 24 hours in Nepal had shaped out perfectly.. we knew we would get on fine here! That evening we headed out with some new friends to a delicious local tandoori restaurant. Unfortunately Tommy was feeling tired so decided to give it a miss - At last spicy food was back in our lives! We both tucked into veg curries with garlic and butter naan, heaven!



After staying up late the night before chatting with different people from the hostel we woke up at a better time in the morning and had a lazy breakfast on the roof terrace (there’s no rushing the hostel kitchen so a lazy breakfast is the only option anyway!) and then set out with a rough plan to head for Durbar Square. We wondered the bustling streets, past tiny shops crammed with wooden carvings, or piled high singing bowls, and Aladdin caves of jewellery shop keepers becoming you to admire their wares. There was so much to see we didn’t really need a destination, you could walk for hours around the maze of cobbled alleys and markets and never get bored with all the colours and smells. We arrived at the temple and just our luck it was under refurbishment! We had a walk around the grounds and there were people selling all sorts of stuff. Jacks favourite were the “Kukhri”. It’s a traditionally made knife that the Ghurkers use to fight, Jack even met one that was guarding the grounds. After our visit we headed back through the city and to our haven rooftop. We had grand plans of going out for dinner but a few smokes later we called it a night.



We headed out in the morning to get our permits for walking the Annapurna circuit. We had expectations of us in queues all day but it was really easy! A few thousand rupees later we were all set for the trip. We booked our bus tickets to a town called Pokhara, where we can start the trek, from our hostel and then headed to the rooftop for the afternoon. That night we went out to the same place that Tommy had missed out on previously. Again reminding us of how good food can actually be. With our full stomachs, we went home happy chappies ready to head to Pokhara in the morning.





The next morning didn’t go to plan. Char had been up all night being sick and was feeling awful. Pokhara would have to wait. We were not sure what caused it or why but I suppose this was her turn to feel bad. With Char laid up in bed most of the day this left Jack and Tommy a whole day in Kathmandu......hmmmm what to do? MASSAGES! After a smoke or two on the roof we headed out to get a Thai massage. This was Tommy’s first and it was great! We came out feeling 10 inches taller and veryyyy relaxed. We brought back some goodies for Char who was feeling better as the day went on so we hoped Pokhara was in sight for the next day. In the meantime, the rest of today was spent chilling and reading on the roof (obviously).

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