Via Via Cafe Kathmandu

... the royal family had compared to their subjects. This is also the place where the crown prince massacred the rest of his family in 2001(?) They have knocked down the buildings where it happened but have helpfully(?) put up markers where everyone was shot or where shots were fired.<br><br>That afternoon met up with my Bhutan group -the plan was that we would go to Bodnath stupa and then have a traditional Nepalese dinner but plane was late so just had dinner ...

... concept out here, and the closest we got to a bonfire and a guy was the local tarmacadam fires and the small fires burning rubbish...Some how not the same, Well you cant win em all, so we consouled ourselves by thinking it was probably raining in England!!!!! No hard feelings though!!!!<br>I have aquired a new nickname: POSITIVE GEORGE, i like that, i think its either my massive continual grin out here or the fact that i am always pointing ...

... looked at the eye, he informed us that Dinesh needed medical attention and referred us to a nearby hospital emergency room. <br><br>Off we went, three of us crammed onto Bishnu's scooter. Dinesh up front, me hanging off the back, tucking my knees in to avoid contact with the buses brushing by us. This was my first exposure to a Nepali hospital, or to any third world hospital for that matter. It was as I knew it would be, but never could fully understand ...

... rhino. Tout contents, nous avancons sans bruit, la camera et l&lt;enregistreuse a la main. En tentant de zyeuter un peu plus pres... nous appercevons que le rhino est Une rhino...et qu,elle a son petit (qui est quand meme enorme !) avec elle. Et elle n&lt;est pas contente, comme le laisse comprendre le pas qu&lt;elle fait vers nous et les sons qu&lt;elle emet.<br><br>Alors, les amis, test de memoire - defendu de regarder plus haut : que faisons nous dans cette ...

... ted with oddly contr*sting pl*stic flowers *nd fl*gs.<br><br>The first sight of Everest w*s bre*tht*king. <br><br>You c*n't mist*ke it for *nything else, *nd it rises slowly tow*rds you *s you drive down the v*lley. Although Nigel h*d been here five times this ye*r, this w*s only his third time *ctu*lly seeing the mount*in, since it's usu*lly covered in clouds. We were very lucky. Rombuk Mon*stery Guesthouse w*s less *we inspiring. We were four to * room in m*ngy, smelly little ...

... i had serious doubts with qantas). i was stoked to have had the accom organised as so was not up to dealing with the dozens of guys waiting to pounce to take my to their cousins/brothers/great hotel. my airport transfer was a rickety old van and on the way to hotel got my first glimpse of the Holy cow, ambling slowly across the street stopping traffic. i would like to say that i wandered round Thamel a wee bit but was absolutely exhausted so straight to bed ...

... new passengers. <br><br>The roads are nuts here but I was ok until we drove by an accident where one bus hit another head on and one of them was lying on it's side, overturned off a cliff. Did I mention that there are no guard rails anywhere and as I look out my bus window, there is less than half a foot between the tires and a gazillion foot drop off a mountain? In my weakness I couldn't help but think that it would be hard for me to get out of a rolling bus, but just in ...

... of these tiny back streets. <br><br>As you enter these dark stone houses, you see water running off into the mud below, and an old toilet room with nothing but a hole in the ground, some appropriately placed foot-treads, and a bucket of water with a cup hanging off its side. Helpful tip: If you're going out for the day, and you like the soft comfort of toilet paper, bring it.<br><br>Going up the stairs I pass a wicker basket full of live chickens, chirping quietly as if in muted protest ...

<br><br>Being a volunteer has its advantages in Nepal. For instance, instead of paying the 500 rupees admission to Pashupati - a holy Hindu place where both Hindus and Buddhists are cremated- we got in for free just by showing our hospital volunteer cards. It was pretty sweet not having to pay almost $7, but we soon realized that the main temples and certain areas of Pashupati were not accessible to non-Hindus, and had to hire a guide to make sure ...

Katthmandu from Pokhara was a bit of a shock, Pokhara having lush, green, picturesque suroundings to Kathmandu which as we arrived in the valley the first thing you notice is the thick layer of smog hanging over the city. more details and photos coming soon