Arrived on 29th October following an overlong journey from Rome, however at Delhi airport met a delightful Nepalese couple who have since then shared their Tihar "brothers' festival with me. The whole family have made me feel very welcome and with their business connections have facilitated, in a matter of days, a 32 day trek to Annapurna base camp at a reasonable price. Remal's family are attending the Hindu Temple today and have invited me, and tonight they are giving a dinner for me and others in their family who helped arrange the trek, to send us on our way on Monday (3rd).
The first full day in Kathmandu was spent on the back of a motorbike seeing the layout of this surprisingly large city. My guide took me to the 'Monkey Temple' a Buddhist temple on a hill overlooking the city which gives the appearance of being overun with red faced monkies. When approached they are not friendly, though they seem to live in relative harmony with the monks and the many dogs living at this enormous temple (one walled side is approximately 3/4 mile long).
Kathmandu is a surprising city in which to spend time, a mixture of third world facilities and environment and 21st century living. There is a great sense of activity in the narrow streets and the noise from car amd bike horns is incessant and loud. The motor bike dominates the mainly single lane roads which are largely dirt tracks or unrepaired metalled roads with enormous pot holes,that is, once you move off the main roads. Narrow roads with 3-4 storey buildings are crammed with vendors selling from small stalls or shops. There are many shops selling beautifully embroidered and colourful fabrics, and for trekkers, shops selling cheap kit - I purchased two walking poles for 1100 Nepal rupees (ten pounds ), but will not need a down jacket until Pokhara, for the higher altitudes. Other than these 2 items have managed to bring the right kit!
Walking back to the Kathmandu Peace Guest House in the early evenings has proved challenging as the electricity is cut in areas of the city, apparently on a rotational basis, and the experience is fairly hazardous due to motorbikes and cars and the lack of pavements.
Sadly the uploading of photo's is still proving difficult and annoyingly will need to wait for another time, in the meantime am tempted to place all photo's on a disc.
Given that the trek will mean the internet is inaccessible for much if not all of the time , it may be December before this is updated.
Photo 1&2 The Brothers and Sisters Festival at Ram Rimal's home.