|
Today I had a tour of the Kathmandu valley, which is basically metropolitan Kathmandu. I'm templed and Buddha-ed out, but the architecture and general scenery are spectacular. I continue to be amazed at how much better shape the cities and towns in Nepal are in compared to those in India. But the pollution is absolutely amazing--you can see all of the smoke belching out of the cars and motor rickshaws, and I don't want to talk about what comes out when you blow your nose...
|
|
|
I have had at least 3 shopkeepers ask me if I was a Muslim, because they said I looked like one. I told them that I wasn't, but I spared them the *real* truth.....
Tonight I went to an authentic Nepalese restaurant, with the obligatory cultural show. The food was OK, but I understand why you don't see that many Nepalese restaurants in the U.S.
This morning I took a sightseeing flight over the Himalayas and saw Mt. Everest. It's very tall. The flights are actually domestic flights run by one of the Nepalese Airlines (Buddha Air to be specific), and they just treat it as a flight from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. This meant that it left from the domestic terminal, just like all the other flights that actually go from one city to a different city. There was light fog this morning, which completely shut down the airport. All flights were delayed for 2 hours, so the waiting area was packed. When they eventually made flight announcements (which was a guy standing at the gate and yelling what flight was departing), it was like the floor of the Chicago board of trade. Nevertheless, I actually made it on to the flight, and it was wonderful. The plane was an 18-seater Beechcraft, with 1 seat on each side, so everyone had a window seat. Before the flight started, the stewardess gave us each a piece of candy and two pieces of cotton (for our ears, presumably)--never had that before. When we got near Everest, they let everyone go into the cockpit (one by one, of course) The pilot and co-pilot (who happened to be a woman) pointed out Everest out to us, so I'm actually able to identify which picture is Everest.
My flight on Buddha Air awaits | 
Kathmandu from the air |
The big peak is Mt. Everest | 
More of the Himalayas |
Tonight, I went to Thamel, the main tourist area of Kathmandu. (My hotel is actually about a mile away, in the "high-rent" district). Thamel is ablaze with neon and wall to wall restaurants and shops; sort of like the Bourbon Street of Kathmandu. The restaurant scene here is surprisingly varied--pretty much every ethnicity is represented, and the physical condition of the restaurants is much better than in India.
Nighttime in Thamel | 
Last chance for souvenirs |
I owe the country of India an apology--the people in Nepal hassle tourists every bit as badly as they do in India. I will be soooo happy when I don't have to hear "Sir? Hello sir? Where you from?" every 30 seconds.
