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

Day 45 - A late start to an easy day This is my last full day in Nepal, in fact, of the trip! I really don't intend to do anything that will take any effort today. My plan is, to do nothing! Although I do question my plan as I really aren't very good at doing nothing! The thought of doing nothing is always a bit of a dream, but when it arrives I soon get fidgety, and bored! I slept ok last night, although was face timing until late! I also spent a while looking at the different ways I can attempt to put all of my shopping into my rucksack! I would say that solving logical puzzles is one of my strengths, but this one has got me stumped! It does look a bit ... read more

Day 42 - Travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu I got up at 4.15, all packed and ready to go, not no, it's still raining, so no sunrise again. Aw well, we did try! Back to bed until seven. I missed the get together again last night! I do seem to make a habit of it! Getting back from Busy Bees wasn't easy! It was torrential rain and pitch black. I was stone cold sober, having been on water all night due to having a few dizzy spells today! Can't be bothered with the long story,we were all, plus an extra 2, going back to the hotel for an extended get together! but the taxi driver either didn't understand us, or just didn't listen, but he went the completely wrong way, irrelevant of our shouting, "no", at ... read more

Today was the last day of our memorable time in Tibet. Left hotel early for short drive to the border so we could be near the front of the line for when Chinese immigration and customs opens at 10 am (closed overnight from 5 pm). After completing formalities we transferred our gear to a truck while we walked across the Friendship Bridge to clear Nepal’s customs and immigration. The whole process took over 2 hrs. While incredibly complicated for us it is far worse for trucks. 100's line up each side & neither are allowed to cross into the other country & all goods have to be transferred to waiting trucks on the other side. The road on the Nepal side is almost undrivable as we have a small walk through an arcade of traders to ... read more

I flew across the Atlantic, over cities in Spain/Portugal, flew across the brightly lit coastline of Africa over the Mediterranean Sea, discovered the desserts of Abu-Dhabi even if only for a moment, and journeyed by air through India watching the sun move across the Himalayans. The world is beautiful and I am in love with it. I don't ever need to figure my life out because I always knew what I had to do with it. I arrived at Kathmandu at night after watching the movie "Wild" and feeling like a confident woman. Security immediately singled me out at the airport asking where I was coming from and everyone kept starring at me. Also there was a bathroom that read "for foreigners only". It was then that it occurred to ... read more

Namaste & greetings from Kathmandu! After 17 hr overnight flights by Malaysian Airlines (yes!) I arrived early afternoon next day. Meet Dee & Ian & we taxied to Boudha Stupa before heading to the tourist area of Thamel for dinner. I expected pollution and a chaotic atmosphere and the first was worse than expected while the latter absorbing. The streets of the old town (Thamel) are narrow without footpaths & barely room for one lane of traffic and constant 'toot tooting' from mostly motor bike drivers. Every available inch in ground floor buildings, alley ways or any empty surface is filled with sellers, trading vegetables, dried everything, fish, fresh meat, shoes, material and clothing. As I will be back and forwards to Kathmandu over the next 5 weeks it was back to the hotel for an ... read more