to
JUNE 6, 2003
It is 10 p.m. here and I am sitting in an internet cafe in Nepal. I was in the middle of an email and their IPS went down, so now I am just waiting for it to come up. Internet service in Nepal is not what we get at home. So while I wait I thought I would write.
This morning we got up and had a quick breakfast before we had to leave for Bangkok airport. I made arrangements with the taxi at the hotel for our ride to the airport. I had to dicker about the price, but I wasn't comfortable that he would honor it in the morning, so I made sure of the price before we left. The man pulled up in a taxi and I had to laugh. It was an old Ford Crown. The style looked like it was from the 60's and it had a BMW sticker on it. I asked the taxi driver if it would make it there. He assured us that it would. The interior of the car was pretty well kept for such an old car.
We got to the airport in plenty of time. The flight was only 3 hours. In those three hours they served us snacks, drinks, lunch, and hot cloths. The movie was free and they also served free wine. Nothing like the US flights.
We arrived in Kathmander and it seemed like two hours before we got through customs. We had to pay $30 US for a VISA entry. While in line I met a couple of US groups from New Jersey.
As we walked through the doors of the airport Becky and Nar where there to greet us. Becky is the one that setup our Nepal trip and Nar is to be our guide. Nar greeted us with some beautiful leis. We got in the taxi and headed for Thanel, which is where we are staying. Thanel is a section of Kathmander. The ride to Thanel was an adventure and I am glad that I made it alive. I had read that many pedestrians die because of the high incidents of accidents. This was much worse than Bangkok. There are taxis, cars, large tricycles to carry people, bicycles, and pedestrians going all which way.
Drivers are trying to avoid the ruts and pot holes in the road and will be on the other side of the road. There isn't much order. Besides the people in the streets, you have the cows and bulls. They are sacred to the Nepalis and have free reign. By the actions we saw, we knew it was ruttin season. I also saw a money running on the street.
We made it to the Marshyangdi Hotel in one piece. The hotel was nice and comfortable.
Becky and Nar took us some place to get something to eat and drink. We wanted to get information about what we needed to do before we head out. Becky is leaving tomorrow for the US. One thing she told us was that there weren't going to be any cars on the streets tomorrow because they are striking. I guess it is the students who strike and they throw rocks at the cars.
Becky then showed us some of the places we might need, like grocery store, bank, and bookstore. The area is very congested and dirty. The roads are dirt and there is trash all over.
We walked a little bit and then said our goodbyes. We would see Nar at the hotel in a day and a half. We went back to the hotel and had dinner there.
After dinner we went to go search for the internet. We found one place and as I was walking up the stairs I saw a rat on the stairs. The rat did not scare us away though. The internet never really stayed connected so I left in frustration. We walked back to the hotel. All of the shops were closed. The bars were open. People were still out in the streets trying to sell things. We saw one woman sleeping on the side of the street with her three small kids. It is very sad. It is a very poor country. People beg all over. One thing Becky talked about were the people and how sometimes they are taken advantage of. Nar, her head guide, has been with her for about five years. You can tell how much she cares for Nar and the other people that work for her. She is very protective and caring and helpful. You also know that Nar is the same with her. Becky moved Nar and his family out of his village to the city. They are in her house that she rents. Becky can only be in Nepal for 120 days in the year. So she uses the apartment when she is here.
Becky also helped Nar to learn English. She is always finding ways to help these people better themselves. She actually hired another ported for us and is paying his salary herself. This porter is to use the money to help his family. It is very touching listening to her.
It must be tough to be poor and hungry and have no chance of a better life. So many people trying to make a living by selling things on the street. There are just no jobs and then people beg. One man gave me a story that he needs milk for his baby. Then there are the little kids trying to sell you stuff. I have to ignore these people. You can't give into them because it just encourages them more. It just makes you wonder how can these people find a better life?
HOME PAGE
HOME PAGE
EVEREST REGION PAGES