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Trip Start Sep 23, 2009

Trip End Apr 23, 2010

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Where I stayed

Ambassador Garden Home Kathmandu

(Kathmandu hotels)

Flag of Nepal Kathmandu, Nepal
Sunday, November 1, 2009

Nepal has been a good experience with friendly people. They are developing fast and the place is a a real mix of old and new. For example, I watched an old man try to use an escalator but not understand how it worked. Kathmandu is extremely hectic but a fun place to be, with Thamel a haven for Tourists with hundreds of tour companies. the only downside being the dust and fumes. Nagarkot was a beautiful place with stunning views. I definitely would recommend people to come here.

We started out with an uneventful flight relaxing and pondering what to do in Nepal as we had nothing booked. Of course we had not considered that we might need to pay a visa fee to get in. Big mistake as we were greeted with a sign immediately stating a $25 per person entry fee. We only had $30 on us and our spare Russian money got us nowhere. We were encouraged when we were told that there was an ATM downstairs so off we went to find it closed, DISASTER!

Street

! We now had no access to more money and sure enough the Roubles did not cut the mustard. Visions of a night at the pleasure of the Nepalese Government with the full rubber glove treatment flashed through my mind as official after official stated '$50 no less'. Eventually when all the other tourists had gone we pleaded with the man who seemed to be in charge and he let us go with our passports as deposit, shaken slightly we headed to our hotel via a taxi driver who had no idea how to get there!

We started today sorting out the visa fiasco which ended up meaning we were escorted by a guard wielding a stick back to the immigration office. Then we decided on a walk around the streets of Kathmandu , Thamel in particular, which was a hectic but a pleasurable experience. Of course there are no pavements, road markings or traffic lights so it is a free for all which is actually quite exciting when you are driving! The people here are friendly and there is not too much hassle. After a nice day we were transferred to Nagarkot, which meant a beautiful but hair-raising climb into the hills.