First stop Kathmandu

Trip Start Mar 11, 2008

Trip End Ongoing

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Where I stayed

Hotel Ganesh Himal Kathmandu

(Kathmandu hotels)

Flag of Nepal Kathmandu, Nepal
Thursday, March 13, 2008

After what feels like one hell of a long journey, with my 8 1/2 hour stopover in the not-so-comfortable transit 'lounge' of Delhi airport (if a cold, bare room littered with rubbish and hard plastic chairs, and a constant whine of drills, hammers and blow torches can feasibly be called a 'lounge'!!) I have finally arrived in Kathmandu and installed myself in a little hotel in Chhetrapati, just outside the main tourist streets of Thamel, for a couple of days.

The trip itself was pretty smooth despite the efforts on my Nepali neighbour on the plane- a rude, overweight woman who made it her mission to make her problems (e.g. not being able to do the seatbelt up around her ample middle- no joke!) my problems.. Thankfully she doesn't seem to be representative of her nation and first impressions of the Nepalis are that they are extremely helpful, friendly and inviting. I was lucky enough to have some company on the flight transfer in the form of Ewan, a photojournalist who is heading out to Nepal to document the up-and-coming elections, which made the long wait both more interesting and more bearable.

Kathmadu itself (or the small corner I have seen thus far) is a maze of narrow streets lined with merchants and hawkers selling everything under the sun, along which bicycles and mopeds hurtle at great speed, narrowly avoiding unsuspecting pedestrians. It is noticeably clean, in stark contrast with my brief experience of Delhi!

I've spent this evening chilling out with a Saag Paneer and a Ghorka beer, watching the world go by and poring over my various guide books. More exploring to be done tomorrow, along with organising my National Parks pass and sussing out the various options for trekking the Annapurna Circuit..

Feelings at the minute are a mix of exhausted, slighty overwhelmed and excited- it's finally sinking in that I won't be going home in a couple of week's time as on former trips amd that my trusty backpack will essentially be 'home' for the next year!

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Comments

trevlor2005 on Mar 12, 2008 at 06:37PM

Hey
Good to hear from you keep the blogs coming and enjoy yourself!
Trevor, Ceri and Theo.

lar74 on Mar 12, 2008 at 08:29PM

Glad you've arrived safely!
Well done Hon, remember to rest and go slowly to begin with, after all you've heaps of time and its good to get into the 'travellers vibe' slowly!
Keep me posted, good luck with the trekking, the food and place already sounds fab. Your Pa is on his way back from France later tonight, don't envy him the crossing in the stormy conditions....heave ho!
Take Care
Lots of love, Lauren & Nick x

sarahs on Mar 12, 2008 at 10:16PM

Bravo!
Way to Go Amy. You are a super adventurer and I'd be jealous if I weren't already off on my own different but equally exciting journey.
Loved your post about Nepal. I'll be checking in on your escapades on a regular basis.
Go well, go far and go safely.
Sarah xxx

barnes1976 on Mar 12, 2008 at 10:50PM

First Step, First Stop, Baby
It's good to hear that you're safe and well in Kathmandu and that you already have stories to tell.
Remember the annoying encounters, border crossings and longs waits etc at the time are not fun but they always seem to be the stories you remember, tell people about and laugh at in the end. Also all the good encounters, sights and culture that you will see and experience on your travels will be with you forever!

Please do keep telling us all about your adventures.....

Lots of love,

Barney xxx

dish1975 on Mar 13, 2008 at 08:35AM

So the Adventure Starts....!!!
Good to hear you got there ok. I don't envy you waiting at Dehli airport - hellish place from what i recall!! Enjoy your trip and keep blooging so the rest of us workers have something interesting to liven up our otherwise dull days!

Travel Safe.

Dish