When we finished checking in at our guesthouse in Kathmandu it was 9:30 pm, pitch black (no street lights) and pretty scary in the streets. The attempted to find some food ended in a package of cookies from a kiosk because really everything else was closed already. This was quite a cultural chock after weeks in China’s and Vietnam’s never sleeping streets.
Kathmandu in day light, even though light is kind of missing in this tight and unorganised streets.
Our opinion changed rapidly as we entered the same streets and found us in the middle of the colorful buzzing life of and shops of the center of Kathmandu. We planned to head of to the Annapurna Circuit the next day so the whole the was dedicated to organization nessecarities. Getting the two trekking permits the pretty straight forward even though not exactly cheap and costed us each 4 passport pictures (40$ each). And then we needed some further equipment. Since the city mainly consist of travel agencies and outdoor shops the main problem is to decide, whether you want expensive genuine stuff, local brands, or the cheap copies. We went for something in between the local and the copied quality which hopefully will prove an okay decision and was the only option in Toms size. In the middle of everything we met or old friend from Kazan ‚Cedric‘ so also the dinner was settled easily :).
My second time in Kathmandu just reveal me how different the urban life is from the life in nepalese mountain villages. First now I could really appreciate the clear air, the silence, the routine life of walking and spending the evenings in lodges. But it also just reminded me of how life is for many nepalese.
When I was shown the room I booked a burning stench entered my nose. I asked what it was about, but got no clear answer. I the evening another girl told me, that the smell comes from the disinfected they used for the bed bugs. Nice, so I felt asleep sedated from disinfectant in hope of waking up without any bites. I did.
I also met Carlos and Pablo again and together we explored the temples, stupas and the village Baktapur in and around Kathmandu. Nepalese government really makes you pay a high price for this “cultural” enlightenment. Unfortunately I could not see that they were actually using this money to maintain their heritage nor even spending it on the people living in Baktapur.
The beautiful interplay of locals and tourists visiting the same temple at the same time. I guess purposes differ a little.
Streets of Baktapur. The streets actually only look that neat because Germans help building them and proper sewers in the 70’s.
As impressive as this country is, as eventful as our trip to the Annapurna mountains was, and as grateful as I am for the impressions I got from the nepalese people as happy was I to head to something (for me) normal.