Kathmandu in Nepal

Nepal
Monday 10th March
Arrived safely in Kathmandu around 10:00, $25USD Visa on arrival in less than 10 mins. Picked up my bag and outside to find my pick-up. Said goodbye to Leslie who was off to Pokhara and her Yoga retreat. Off to hotel and checked in by 11:00.

The Room

and the View :-(

Went for a quick walk but was feeling hungry so after a couple of walks around the block. I ended up at a French Restaurant, Cafe des Arts, run by a French man for the last 34 years. So again I meet up with the French, is there a sign here? I had the local brew Beer Kathmandu and then I had vegetable Mo Mo with soup. I stayed here a couple of hours just chilling and updating my notes. Back to the hotel and forty winks. Then dinner in the hotels restaurant, I tried the chicken spring rolls but these were unlike those tasty ones from Laos and Vietnam, they had noodles and tasted a little too fried and felt heavy!

Tuesday 11th March
Breakfast around 8:00-8:30am.

Then gave laundry to the hotel, the local laundry's seem to charge per item also! The hotel had mentioned yesterday about getting a car for the day, with driver of course to visit 4 of the main tourists haunts of Kathmandu, more Temples - I can see me becoming a Monk!

So I ended up booking a car and driver, Ram, to take me to the temples below:

1st - Boudha, a Buddhist Temple and very colourful, lots of prayer flags, etc. see pics.

A little Bhudda

The main Bhudda at Boudha

Offering Bowls

2nd - Pashupati, allegedly the most famous Hindu Temple in the world! This is also a place where they perform cremations and there were a few going on, see pics! Had a tag along guide here and after a couple of hours I made my way out and paid him 1500NRP's, he wasn't that happy! It was such a big place and a guide is needed.

Typical dried paints used for blessings and the Holi festival...

Preparation for Cremations!!

Start of the Cremation... 

Various Cremations in progress.

A Holy Man.

Through the Stupa's Windows.

More Stupa's on the hill.

3rd - Pattan, another Hindu temple, where I had lunch first in the Red Hut, it felt like being in the gun galley of a frigate, like a pirates vessel. See pics.

Fire the canons!!

A Hindu God through the frigate window.

Silouhette of a God?

Typical Men - passing the time of day...

The basic offerings to be made.

4th - Monkey Temple, aka Swayambhu, this is another Buddhist temple. A small climb up as opposed to the 320+ steps that I could have had.

Main Monkey Temple Stupa!

Kathmandu from the top with colourful Prayer flags.

If you wanted to you can walk up!!

Prayer Wheels...

Then back to hotel, all for 4,500 NPR's about £28. Plus I had to pay an entrance fee to all of these, i.e. 150/1000/500/250NRP's respectively.

Kathmandu Kitchen for Chicken Dal and a couple of beers.

Wednesday 12th March
5:45 pick up for Mountain flight to see Everest.  Quite an experience, a very small plane 18 people a lot bigger than the bone shaker we flew to the Grand Canyon. Great views of the Himalayas but photos not so easy and a little disappointing. Not sure they are any better than those I took on the flight in from Paro. Although I have now snapped Everest!

It was quite a squash inside, you can't stand up!!

Mount Everest on the left!

Back for breakfast. Then a little nap before going out for the day.

Durbar Square lunch and site seeing.... Another 750NRP's for the temple complex, I had lunch on a rooftop restaurant for 600NRP's, mushroom soup and a beer. They do not fully protect the complex and allow people to use some parts for sitting, etc. see pics!

So many items for sale... 

The Puppet shop is actually using the Temple buildings!

A Woman sits while the pidgeons fly around.

Hotel restaurant for Chicken Mo Mo, you get 10 and a spice, a little too much for me only made 7, and two beers.

Mo Mo's were too heavy, Beer was good though!

Thursday 13th March
I felt a little queasy in the night, those Mo Mo's seemed to be laying heavy on my stomach but gradually passed. A lie in today as nothing heavy planned. Went for a walk but not feeling very energetic, just a couple of pictures out and about in Kathmandu!

You down there must be lost?

One of many little shops!

Too catch your eye....

I said STOP! 

Spot the restaurant sign...

Stopped at the Revolution Cafe for fresh orange juice and vegetable soup.

Then back to the hotel. Crashed for an hour or so, still not feeling as I should. Headed down to restaurant to settle my account. 70,000+ NRP's. Had a tomato soup and some fresh orange juice. Still not feeling right so asked reception about seeing a doctor and ended up walking 5 minutes to a local small Emergency clinic where they took my BP 160/100, nothing too serious. They said that I was probably OK to fly to Delhi tomorrow. Packed and went to bed, slept reasonably.

Friday 14th March
Up and a small breakfast before getting car to the airport, another 600 NRP's.

Got through security with my iPad showing my e-ticket. Checked in and then went through immigration. When it came to board the plane they check the hand luggage on the Tarmac! Strange as it's already been through two x-ray machines already. The Indians seem ultra cautious, why I'm not too sure. Plane left on-time, bye bye Nepal.

India next....

Phileas