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Namaste again NEPAL
Nepal
03/01/2010

Namaste again NEPAL

Nepal is famous for it's incredible mountain ranges, buddhist heritage and trekking adventures. For me. Nepal is so much more than this, and you are able to truly experience the country when you spend time with the locals. 

 

Staying with my friend Sundar for 5 days in his Kathmandu home allowed me to learn some of the language, cooking and traditions of this unique culture. Nepal is unfortunately also dealing with some tough changes in government which affects everything from water to petrol to simple daily living. I saw some good and some bad but from it a gained a deeper appreciation of the fortune I have in being able to travel to this country and experience these difference for myself.

 

I pick up on the 7th December where I am staying in Kathmandu.

 

7th December

 Everest from Yeti Airlines

 

  • Early start- 5.30am for MOUNTAIN FLIGHT. Waiting in the Airport for 2.5 hours, hoping that the fog and weather clears. It did and I was able to fly with Yeti Airlines alongside the Himalays and view Everest with it's snow caps against the clear blue sky. 
  • Met a New Yorker who was also alone for the day so we headed to tourist central, Tha Mel and Durbar Square
  • Visited Durbar Square
  • Learnt about the SAVE THE HIMALAYAS, STOP MELTING LIFE campaign by some young, peaceful activists
  • Browsed Jewellery Stores of Tha Mel
  • Navigated through the busy shopping lanes whilst negotiating the busy pedestrian and motorcycle traffic
  • Late lunch at the Roadhouse Cafe which has fantastic wood fired pizzas
  • Picked up on a motorcycle with my various shopping bags and whisked home, so not how I would normally Travel
  • Dinner at a Japanese restaurant with a business colleague of my friend Sundar. Not only learning about Nepalese culture and mannerism's but also Japanese
 
 
8th December
 
  • 4.30am start to go to NAGARKOT. A mountain top approximately 1.5 hours from Kathmandu. The sun appeared as a red disc at 6.15am for a short time before it was swallowed again by the clouds.
  • Buffet breakfast at the Hotel and restaurant with a view over the valley and mountain ranges. A must on anyones visit to Nepal.
  • Resting day at home, spending time with my friends Nepalese wife and learning to make Roti. I am a terrible Roti maker- but still it is my favourite bread
  • Nepalese dinner in the home with the family talking about customs when eating and cooking in Nepalese homes.
 
 
 
9th December
 
  • Went out lunchtime to pick up the Japanese businessman for some sightseeing of Nepal. 60 yrs old and first time sightseeing
  • National Museum of Nepal- Museum with least information I have ever been to. Great site but poorly maintained and not well promoted. Its sad as people would like to learn more about Nepals history however going here will not help them in their quest.
  • Swayambhu Nath. Buddhist temple and highest point of Nepal, also known as the monkey temple for the hundreds of monkeys leaping around the place.
  • Into Durbar Square, Kathmandu again and I was guide to the Japanese man in broken english and my broken knowledge of the area. Turns out my pop quiz in Nepalese Tour Guiding was a success. A+, perhaps a new career? Main sites of
  • Nepalese dinner at home again
 
 
 
10th December
 
  • Last day Nepal
  • Visit to Room to Read. www.roomtoread.org. Great charity organisation which builds schools and libraries and provides scholarships to help children and their communities learn the valuable skill of reading. Started by an Americal Gentlemen, John Wood in 2000. The program has gone from strength to strength and is now present in more than 7 countries. I was forunate to visit 2 schools and meet some of the great kids benefitting from the program. More info also at: http://lovellyinc.wordpress.com/2009/12/09/room-to-read-nepal/
  • Returned to Kathmandu 2pm after being in villages in the district of NALA.
  • Dinner at Roadhouse Cafe again with my Freight Industry colleagues Sundar and Bala. 
  • Kathmandu looking fantastic at night with Temples lit up and the glow of restaurants along the street

 
11th December
 
Departing Nepal 10.30am, which was inevitably delayed to 2.30pm due to poor weather in Kathmandu and Delhi. Unforunately this is a consistent problem in the month of December with flights to and from Kathmandu. Note: Try to leave a goo 3 or 4 hours between connections. I made my connection from Delhi to Goa by a mere 15 minutes.
 
 
Bye Bye Nepal. Namaste and See you in 2011.
 
 
NEPAL TOURISM YEAR 2011
 
NATURALLY NEPAL
 
Once is not enough! 

 


Posted by Lovelly on 4 January 2010 - 3:08pm.
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