Just returned from Thamel. Now I know where all the tourists are hanging out. I am still overwhelmed by the hectic, crazy, busy, fast past, noisy, polluted, crowded bustle of the city. Kathmandu is relatively poor but so rich in culture.
We spent the day walking the city and purchasing our last minute items. We were informed that the city (country?) will be having a bus strike tomorrow so our plans to catch the bus to Jiri in the morning are history. Sooooo, Lindsay knows a guy who knows a guy who has a car and for a small fee can get us to Jiri. No problem. So are plans are back on!
We are leaving for Jiri tomorrow to begin our Trek from Jiri to Namche Bazaar. We should arrive in Namche by May 2nd or 3rd if all goes to plan (and it usually doesn't). I probably will not have access to the internet during this time- but should be able to update in Namche.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Kathmandu
Here I am here in Kathmandu (KTM). It is 240am and I can not sleep. Let see, could it be the Jet Lag, the wild dogs barking outside, the heat and humidity or is it the one mosquito that won't quit?
I arrived to find temperatures well into the 90's with the humidity equally high. The air is very thickly polluted with dust and exhaust. The city moves at a fast pace- it was quite a shock going from the relative calm of our flight to the roar of the city. Seeing a familiar face at the airport was definitely a plus- there were literally thousands of people smashed up against the glass partition looking for their person. Luckily, Lindsay was smart and waited on the other side where she could be easily spotted. The taxi ride from the airport to Lindsay's was like Mr. Toads Wild Ride and I think I held my breath the entire way. Lindsay just calmly chatted as if the near misses, constant barrage of horns and slammed brakes were normal. Oh yeah, they are.
Lindsay lives in a part of KTM that does not cater to Westerners. This part of KTM is raw and beautiful in its own chaotic way.
I had my first taste of Dahl Baat today. Lindsay's Didi (Didi is a term used for respect and literally means older sister) prepared our Dahl Baat (lentils with rice) which was fabulous- much better than the food on the plane. We ate lunch seated on the floor - we used forks although most Nepali's eat with their right hand. It is important to be aware of your posture and position as it is considered impolite to point the soles of your feet at anyone. You can not sit with your legs stretched out in front of you.
After a scrumptious lunch we ventured out to get our Trekking passes from the Trekking agency. This meant walking on a single wide dirt streets with two way traffic moving fast in both directions that at first glance seems very random and insane - but somehow works. Cars, motorbikes, bikes, pedestrians, cows and dogs all claiming right of way - the cows always win... followed by the trucks and cars.
"Cross with confidence, never hesitate and remember it works because it is predictable" That was the advice Lindsay gave to avoid getting hit.
After running a few errands we stopped in at the Fulbright office which is an amazingly clean and modern building. We were invited to a talk that addressed ethics and gender issues in female Buddhists in Bengladash and Nepal. Fascinating.
Later today we will check out Thamel and the touristy areas of KTM. We begin our trek on Sunday.
I arrived to find temperatures well into the 90's with the humidity equally high. The air is very thickly polluted with dust and exhaust. The city moves at a fast pace- it was quite a shock going from the relative calm of our flight to the roar of the city. Seeing a familiar face at the airport was definitely a plus- there were literally thousands of people smashed up against the glass partition looking for their person. Luckily, Lindsay was smart and waited on the other side where she could be easily spotted. The taxi ride from the airport to Lindsay's was like Mr. Toads Wild Ride and I think I held my breath the entire way. Lindsay just calmly chatted as if the near misses, constant barrage of horns and slammed brakes were normal. Oh yeah, they are.
Lindsay lives in a part of KTM that does not cater to Westerners. This part of KTM is raw and beautiful in its own chaotic way.
I had my first taste of Dahl Baat today. Lindsay's Didi (Didi is a term used for respect and literally means older sister) prepared our Dahl Baat (lentils with rice) which was fabulous- much better than the food on the plane. We ate lunch seated on the floor - we used forks although most Nepali's eat with their right hand. It is important to be aware of your posture and position as it is considered impolite to point the soles of your feet at anyone. You can not sit with your legs stretched out in front of you.
After a scrumptious lunch we ventured out to get our Trekking passes from the Trekking agency. This meant walking on a single wide dirt streets with two way traffic moving fast in both directions that at first glance seems very random and insane - but somehow works. Cars, motorbikes, bikes, pedestrians, cows and dogs all claiming right of way - the cows always win... followed by the trucks and cars.
"Cross with confidence, never hesitate and remember it works because it is predictable" That was the advice Lindsay gave to avoid getting hit.
After running a few errands we stopped in at the Fulbright office which is an amazingly clean and modern building. We were invited to a talk that addressed ethics and gender issues in female Buddhists in Bengladash and Nepal. Fascinating.
Later today we will check out Thamel and the touristy areas of KTM. We begin our trek on Sunday.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Pre-Nepal
I (Janet) am preparing for my Nepal trip. Blogging is certainly a distraction - but a worthy one. I will be flying out of PDX on April 21 at 710am. My wonderful husband will be taking me to the airport butt early- hopefully we will be able to enjoy breakfast together before I take off.
I will be flying from PDX to LA and then from LA to Tokyo to Singapore to Kathmandu. I have an eight hour layover in the Singapore airport from 1am to 9am - should be interesting! I arrive in KTM on April 23 at 12:05pm local time. Kathmandu is 12 hours and 45 minutes ahead of Portland or LA. When it is 7am in LA, it is 7:45pm in KTM.
My friend Lindsay is meeting me at the Airport in KTM and we will go from there- Our plan looks something like this (dates not included) :
explore KTM
bus to the end of the road - Jiri (1905m) or Bhandar (2194m)
Jiri to Namache Bazaar (3440m).
Namache Bazaar to Thame (3820)
Goyko via the Renjo La Pass (5338m)
Goyko to Dragnag (4700m)
Dragnag to Dzongiha via Chola pass (5420m)
Dzongiha to Lobuche (4930)
Lobuche to Gorak Shep- side trip to Kala Pattar (5545m)
Everest Base camp (5400m)
EBC- Lobuche, Periche, Dingboche- Pangboche-Namche- Lukula
Fly from Lukla to KTM
KTM to San Francisco - June 2
Home on June 3rd.
I will do my best to communicate - I will not be taking a computer or cell phone with me. I will try to update the blog - and will post to facebook when I can access the internet.
I know two people who are climbing Mt. Everest this season. You can follow both their blogs: Melissa Arnot: http://blog.firstascent.com/tag/melissa-arnot
Cindy Abbott: www.reachingbeyondtheclouds.com
Have a wonderful April and May- see you in June.
JP
I will be flying from PDX to LA and then from LA to Tokyo to Singapore to Kathmandu. I have an eight hour layover in the Singapore airport from 1am to 9am - should be interesting! I arrive in KTM on April 23 at 12:05pm local time. Kathmandu is 12 hours and 45 minutes ahead of Portland or LA. When it is 7am in LA, it is 7:45pm in KTM.
My friend Lindsay is meeting me at the Airport in KTM and we will go from there- Our plan looks something like this (dates not included) :
explore KTM
bus to the end of the road - Jiri (1905m) or Bhandar (2194m)
Jiri to Namache Bazaar (3440m).
Namache Bazaar to Thame (3820)
Goyko via the Renjo La Pass (5338m)
Goyko to Dragnag (4700m)
Dragnag to Dzongiha via Chola pass (5420m)
Dzongiha to Lobuche (4930)
Lobuche to Gorak Shep- side trip to Kala Pattar (5545m)
Everest Base camp (5400m)
EBC- Lobuche, Periche, Dingboche- Pangboche-Namche- Lukula
Fly from Lukla to KTM
KTM to San Francisco - June 2
Home on June 3rd.
I will do my best to communicate - I will not be taking a computer or cell phone with me. I will try to update the blog - and will post to facebook when I can access the internet.
I know two people who are climbing Mt. Everest this season. You can follow both their blogs: Melissa Arnot: http://blog.firstascent.com/tag/melissa-arnot
Cindy Abbott: www.reachingbeyondtheclouds.com
Have a wonderful April and May- see you in June.
JP
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