Radisson Kathmandu

... period. So anyway, lots transpired between my first night in Nepal but suffice to say, I am settled in, have a favorite place to eat, am beginning to learn my first Tibetan phrases, and feel at home in a wait, where am i and how did i get here?, sort of way... I have a favorite vender I buy bottled water from and almost bought some apples but got overwhelmed and chickened out. This place is that different... love to all

My flip-flops set west course and from SE Asia I moved to Nepal. I took Bangkok-Kathmandu direct flight with Nepal Airlines, notoriously infamous for flight delays and cancellations. My experience was different though. Comfy Boeing 757, on time, good food, can only recommend. Normally I don't care much about my seat location, but this time I made sure it would be by the window. I kept checking the landscape regularly, but somehow couldn't spot ...

... in an old stone house, in a small village on top of a mountain. Even google can't find where I am. ;) Outside my window all I see is green and mountains with a few village houses. I'm speechless, for once. Ha ha.<br><br>The road trip was a bit painful. It took us almost 8 hours riding out of a crazy city and up onto a mountain. No amount of natural butt or leg padding can prepare you for that kind of time. <br><br>Here's the condensed version of the day:<br>We ...

... followed by the shredded colourless rags on the remains of a footless man, his skin long eaten away by ancient diseases. Reminders of biblical plagues are alive and thrust into the present here. Another sits with mangled fingers begging for anything, polio's hand outstretched, while a shiny new car drives by pumping fumes into the faces of the street's dirty half-clothed children.<br> <br> Traffic stumbles, stacks, drives on top of itself, while horns blare, warning ...

On Sunday afternoon, one of the Projects Abroad staff members brought me to my home accommodation. It's a place a little outside of Thamel. There are four other Projects Abroad volunteers who live in the same apartment complex with me. Our hosts are Kanak (sp?) and Garret - both are Nepali. <br><br> Luckily, our accommodation is one of the few in Nepal that don't serve rice and lentils ( "dal bhat") day and night. In the mornings it ...

... than 500 miles to do the honors. <br><br>Then it was on to Chitwan National Park, which I had read about for years, but had never visited. We were in search of the rare Himalayan tiger and one horned Asian Rhino. It was fairly clear from the outset that we would NOT be seeing the tiger but we did manage to roundup a rhino while racing around on elephant back. One of the hi-lites of our visit occurred one night when ...