We arrived in Kathmandu day 28 of our trip (20 Sept) from Delhi. Our hotel - the Ganesh Himahl is excellent and close to the main area of Thamel which is a maze of narrow lanes and streets choc-a-block with everything from traveller's gear to pashminas to mini wooden violins! It's a heady mix when combined with German bakers, pizza restuarants and tiger balm hawkers on every corner. It's very vibrant and full of back packers but also safe and the food is excellent especially the local favourite - momo's which are vege dumplings both steam and fried complete with a dipping sauce. The beer of choice is either Mt Everest Lager (unsurprisingly) or Gurkha Beer. Both ok.
We chilled out for most of our time except for visitng Durbar Square the cultural heart of Kathmandu. It looks much like all of Nepal did when travellers starting coming here in the 60's. Most of the architecture dates back to the 16th Century. We also posted some trinkets home which is an experience. After it's boxed up it is handstiched in cotton and then wax sealed on the corners with a post office seal. Very elegant.
Yesterday we took the bus to here in Pokhara some 190 kms to the north east. The trip took 8 hours with some impressive 2000 ft drops off a road only wide enough for 1 vehicle yet you are competing with fully laden trucks as road transport is the only mode of supplying the rest of the country. Another bus ride from hell!
We are in Pokhara so that we can do a short trek into the Annurpuna mountain range. We are away for 4 days and 3 nights and wil be staying in local villages with pretty spartan facilities - no hot water, generators cut out at 8pm etc. It really is only a 'taster' as the whole circuit takes 21 days to complete. Still it should be fun. We have a guide and I'll carry our stuff and Carolyn will have the day pack. If the weather is clear we'll be close to some 6000 and 7000 metre mountains so it should make for great photo's! We then come back to Pokhara before going to Chitwin National Park for a 3 day jungle safari!!!! Sorry I can't add photo's this PC won't let me.
We chilled out for most of our time except for visitng Durbar Square the cultural heart of Kathmandu. It looks much like all of Nepal did when travellers starting coming here in the 60's. Most of the architecture dates back to the 16th Century. We also posted some trinkets home which is an experience. After it's boxed up it is handstiched in cotton and then wax sealed on the corners with a post office seal. Very elegant.
Yesterday we took the bus to here in Pokhara some 190 kms to the north east. The trip took 8 hours with some impressive 2000 ft drops off a road only wide enough for 1 vehicle yet you are competing with fully laden trucks as road transport is the only mode of supplying the rest of the country. Another bus ride from hell!
We are in Pokhara so that we can do a short trek into the Annurpuna mountain range. We are away for 4 days and 3 nights and wil be staying in local villages with pretty spartan facilities - no hot water, generators cut out at 8pm etc. It really is only a 'taster' as the whole circuit takes 21 days to complete. Still it should be fun. We have a guide and I'll carry our stuff and Carolyn will have the day pack. If the weather is clear we'll be close to some 6000 and 7000 metre mountains so it should make for great photo's! We then come back to Pokhara before going to Chitwin National Park for a 3 day jungle safari!!!! Sorry I can't add photo's this PC won't let me.
Wow, sounds beautiful! Can't wait to see more photos! Keep safe, lots of love Rachel, Richard and Niamh xxx
ReplyDeleteWe are really enjoying your travel diary. Cant wait to see the pics. Stay safe.
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