Blogs from Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia - page 17

We arrived on Saturday at lunch time after spending hours at the Kathmandu international airport awaiting a visa. If we'd know, we would have organised our visa prior to arrival... Kathmandu is a messy city. Messy in the sense that it feels as though roads and buildings have been constructed without greater planning. Also it is definitely evident that Nepal is very much a developing country. The tallest buildings are approximately 5 stories tall and are guesthouses or apartments. The roads are very dusty and the traffic can be described as organised chaos however it appears like there is very little organised about it. Around Thamel, the tourist district, the roads are narrow with no footpaths and touristy trekking shops and souvenir shops spill onto the road. Pedestrians are forced to share the space with shop ... read more

nach guter bettruhe empfängt uns ein riiiesiges frühstücksbuffet (sind immer noch von dem unerwarteten luxus überrascht) mit coffee-like@home. anschließend gruppenabfahrt in die altstadt von kathmandu, zur besichtigung deskönigspalastes “hanuman-dhoka” am durbar square, jnweit von der freak road (da wurde zur hippie zeit viel gekifft - wir hegen aber den leisen verdacht, dass das immer noch möglich ist…). wunderbare alte holzschnitzereien, viele tempel für alle möglichen götter, wobei die hauptgötter brama, vishnu und shiva die beliebtesten sind. es gibt auch eine lebende göttin (kumari), ein kleines mädchen, das seit früher kindheit bis zur pubertät in einem haus wohnt und sogar vom könig (letzter 2008 verstorben) bzw vom präsident vereehrt wird. wir waren im innenhof dieses hauses und sie hat doch tatsächlich in dieser zeit aus dem fenster geblickt! weiter durch die stadt zur größten ... read more

Arrivo finalmente a Kathmandu, con oltre 40 anni di ritardo ma eccomi qua! Quella che segnava la tappa conclusiva del grande viaggio verso oriente e l'apertura delle porte del paradiso per migliaia di giovani ippi partiti dall'Europa, si e' oggi trasformata in una sorta di mecca per gli appassionati di escursionismo di tutto il mondo; la storica zona attorno a "Freak Street", che un tempo era il fulcro della vita sociale di ogni viaggiatore, ha perso oggi gran parte del suo lustro (ma non del suo fascino), offuscata dal piu' recente sviluppo del ghetto turistico di Thamel, regno del trekking dove uomini e donne in perfetta forma fisica possono trovare tutto quello di cui hanno necessita': alberghi a poco prezzo, negozi di abbigliamento tecnico, bar ed agenzie di viaggio. Scordatevi dunque abiti colorati e collanine, fumi ... read more

And then one day you find ten years has got behind you No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun ….. The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older Shorter of breath and one day closer to death Time – Pink Floyd After over 30 years absence I had the opportunity to revisit Kathmandu on an Indian visa renewal quest, just for 10 days and in the midst of an election campaign. Nepal has only recently emerged from over 40 years of what can only be described as a brutal civil war in much of the country, with the Maoist insurgents eventually being brought into shared government How naive I was in 1980 thinking I was trekking in an idyllic little peaceful kingdom in the Himalayas. I was ... read more

October 2014, continuing the sponsorship of 13 Nepal children the 4th year. To support a child's education will empower the children and enrich their lives and hopefully improve their lives now and in the future. It gives me great pleasure to help children obtain an education. I am sponsoring the children through Bethlehem Kathmandu Church and 100% of the money goes directly to the child's education. The Church is affiliated with http://www.himalayaninternationaloutreach.com .... read more