Thursday, August 07, 2008
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Sun Burned in Kathmandu
In their unfathomable wisdom the tourism department has moved the Trekking permit office from Thamel where all the tourists are to the other side of town. They also forgot to mention this to anyone.
After some asking around I made a guess at their most likely new location and set of on foot. So far so good. What wasn't so good is that I had forgotten to put my hat on and when I finally got there I was sun burned to the extend that I had a head ache. I guess I wont make that mistake again. This trip
After some asking around I made a guess at their most likely new location and set of on foot. So far so good. What wasn't so good is that I had forgotten to put my hat on and when I finally got there I was sun burned to the extend that I had a head ache. I guess I wont make that mistake again. This trip
Monday, August 04, 2008
The Heat and Rain.
Kathmandu is wet, warm and the countryside lush and green.
I arrived yesterday just after midday local time and after the usual formalities made my way to the Kathmandu Garden House. The driver regaled me with the traditional tales of how every hotel in town is cheaper and better but after he figured out that I have been here before he gave up and we talked about the changing political landscape, the abdication of the king and the price of oil. As a driver the petrol price has hit him hard and while the official rate is hundred Rupees per liter (NZD 2) there is a shortage and the black market has driven the price up to double that.
After dropping my luggage of at the hotel I wandered over to Thamel and that was when the heavens opened up. Within minutes the streets were muddy rivers and while the shop keepers scurried to get their wares covered I dashed into the Pumpernickel bakery to wait out the worst of it.
It's good to be back.
I arrived yesterday just after midday local time and after the usual formalities made my way to the Kathmandu Garden House. The driver regaled me with the traditional tales of how every hotel in town is cheaper and better but after he figured out that I have been here before he gave up and we talked about the changing political landscape, the abdication of the king and the price of oil. As a driver the petrol price has hit him hard and while the official rate is hundred Rupees per liter (NZD 2) there is a shortage and the black market has driven the price up to double that.
After dropping my luggage of at the hotel I wandered over to Thamel and that was when the heavens opened up. Within minutes the streets were muddy rivers and while the shop keepers scurried to get their wares covered I dashed into the Pumpernickel bakery to wait out the worst of it.
It's good to be back.
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