28 May - 8 June
Started the day driving from Pokhara. The driving was fairly easy but there were a few near misses but compared to India it was much more relaxed. On route we bumped into a Canadian guy who warned us there was a petrol shortage in Kathmandu. Apparently the Nepalese government is negotiating with the Chinese for petrol, which historically has been supplied India so the Indian petrol company is not happy and has asked for the outstanding debt to be paid (4 billion Rupees) and have cut supplies by a quarter until it has been paid.
So taking his advise we tried to fill up outside of Kathmandu. It took a couple of attempts and returning to a garage that said it had ’no petrol‘! we were able to fill up.
As we arrived in Kathmandu it was the right choice as there were huge queues waiting for petrol.
We found a hotel that was listed in the guide book and settled in for the night.
Next day we had an easy start and headed off into the centre of Kathmandu. Mike wanted to look at some cameras and laptop, so we had a leisurely morning walking around. The prices seemed very competitive and each shop seemed to give a good deal.
Later in the afternoon we booked a flight over Everest and three days white water rafting.
The next day was full sightseeing mode and we headed to the centre of town to see the old royal palace and Pagodas. As tourists we were charged 200 rupees each to walk around the streets encompassing the sights!
The buildings were quite run down, traffic was everywhere and you weren’t able to enter any, so it was a disappointing for us.
One of the pergodas encompassing some fine shops...
One of the occasional sites around the square...
Kathmandu has daily power cuts. For the life of me I cant think why!
A stupa hidden in a small square from the main centre...
The next day was our Everest flight! We were up at 5 and the taxi whisked us off to Kathmandu airport.
We checked in fairly easily, after being caught with a tourist departure tax even through we were returning to the same airport!!!!
The flight was delayed for about half and hour and we were all worried Everest would be covered ib cloud by the time we finally too off!! Finally we got onto the plane and we were off. The plane took off smoothly and we could soon see the Himalayan mountain range. The mountains were spetacular and during the flight you were given the option to look at the range through the cockpit. The flight was going for about 30 minutes before we could see Everest. It was further away than we hoped but it was clear and a great sight. The plane turned around before it headed back along the range to enable others to see the peaks.
The peaks heading towards Everest...
And the sight we came to see...
More peaks on the way back...
Mike & Sylvia on terra firma...
Baggage claim area... It was in the car park!!!
We landed safely and headed off to the taxis to see some Stupa’s . Once at the taxi rank we had a shock. All prices were fixed. Well into the taxi drivers favour. We said that it was too much and headed off into the car park to find a taxi. After a bit of haggling we finally got a taxi 2/3’s the price of the fixed price cartel!
The first stupa was at Pashupatinath and this is, according to the literature the holist of the Tibetan Buddhist temples and a Mecca for the monks of this region.
The Pashupatinath Stupa...
Buddhists spinning the prayer wheels...
A shot of the numerous prayer flags at the stupa...
The Nepalese symbol of Buddha are the painted eyes and nose...
A prayer wheel... not the hand held version...
After a quick break we headed off for another stupa on the other side of town , Swayambhunath This temple was more impressive including the large number of steps to the top!
Just a few of the steps we had to walk to get to the top...
Musicians at the Stupa...
Well worn prayer wheels...
By now we were completely worn out and called it a day.
The next day Mike and I spent most of the morning sorting out a repack. This was the first time it really hit I was leaving the trip, seeing all the things we had carried finally going to Mike so he could continue.
The next day we were off rafting. The tour operator picked us up at the hotel and took us too the main road to meet the bus. Thirty minutes later it arrived and we had the last three seats.
We hadn’t gone far when we came to a stanstill approaching the ring road. We edged forward slowly and finally made it to the junction where a couple of policemen were trying to control the traffic at the intersection. The situation was made worse by buses stoping just eather side of the junction to pick up passangers and blocking the traffic! Finally we were on the move again and after another 1.5 hrs we were at the rafting start point. We all quickly changed, had a safety briefing and were off. The ride was fairly easy with little of no paddling until we were in the rapids, then it was frantic for a few seconds then resting again. All the rapids were fairly easy bar two which we thought we would be slammed into the rocks on the side but there was enough water between the rocks and us.
Just the sort of guys you need in a raft!
Off rafting or modelling a new line of clothes for C & A ?
Ready for action!
We made our end of day rafting around 3.30 and shown our new guide for the next leg of the trip.
We had a couple of beers and chips in the only resturant which was blasting out Rave music. Not out choice of sounds but we were thirsty and hungry. We were taken by our new guide up to the tour company’s ’roof top restaurant’ for the evening meal. Once on the rough concrete roof we were shown to the old roll mats n the floor!!!!! Food was served in a mixture of metal containers and plastic washing up bowls…..!!!!!
We were through the food and were lead down to the river bank where our tents were pitched. On the way we noticed the music in the restaurant was up louder. We tucked up in our tents and settled down for the night looking forward to the next day which was the hardest and most exciting day rafting. As the time approached midnight the rave music was going strong and even louder, and so it continued through the night and into the next morning until around 10 am. I hadn’t slept a wink but somehow Mike and Sylvia had slept for about a third of the night.
Today was meant to be the toughest day rafting and not having any sleep I wasn’t in the most social of moods and definitely not up for rafting. After discussing the situation we decided to rest for the day where we were and tackle the rapids the next day and miss out the last day which wasn’t meant to be as good. We would take up the issues of noise with the tour operator back in Kathmandu (as well as the eating arrangements)
The tour guide did what he could for us during the day by giving us access to Kayaks and setting up a sunshade on the bank of the river. It turned out to be a pleasant day and when the rain came late afternoon we were all ready too call time.
At ease in a kayak or a raft...this boy was born to float
The rain came down and down for three hours and we weren’t able to enjoy our concrete roof terrace for dinner due to the weather so we squeezed into the kitchen and ate a rather cold dinner with the infestation of ants that lived there.
By the time dinner waqs completed and an offer from the tour guide to sleep in the dry of the kitchen, the rain had stopped. The tents were checked and had survived with only small leaks so we decided to risk them over the kitchen.
The kitchen...
Vertical storage with mood lighting?
Tucking in... you can see the joy on our faces...
The rain did not return and we all had a deep sleep and felt hugely refreshed in the morning. We were told to be at breakfast for 8 so we all dragged ourselves out of bed to the roof top on time to find that they cook hadn’t started breakfast, he didn’t even have all the ingredients and over the next our bodies disappeared and reappeared with food until breakfast was served at 9:45.. Grrrrr
Enjoying our rooftop breakfast...
'Addis' sauted potates...
Fuelled for the day we then waited for buses to turn up from Kathmandu and Pokhara with other rafters. By 11 we were all assembled and by 11:30 by the boats ready to go.
As soon as we left we were at some small rapids and were all quickly very wet.
Unlike our previous days rafting the rapids came much more quickly, and the gaps in-between were spent trying to drown the other boats on the river in water fights. Good childish fun.
As the morning wore on the rapids became bigger and bigger, our ‘captain’ Ram made sure we found the biggest waves and swells which ensured Mike and myself, who were at the front, no chance of keeping dry.
All to soon we were halfway through the trip and time for lunch; We all relaxed for a while and dried out a bit.
After lunch the rapids were smaller but more technical including one which had a huge eddy in the middle and we were able, without paddling to repeatedly go through a big wave time and time again.
We all finished the day in great spirits and when we were able to pick up a taxi back instead of the bus it rounded off the day very well.
Back in Kathmandu, the couple of days was spent updating the website and I having a night out on the town before leaving Mike & Sylvia and starting my journey home.
John
Started the day driving from Pokhara. The driving was fairly easy but there were a few near misses but compared to India it was much more relaxed. On route we bumped into a Canadian guy who warned us there was a petrol shortage in Kathmandu. Apparently the Nepalese government is negotiating with the Chinese for petrol, which historically has been supplied India so the Indian petrol company is not happy and has asked for the outstanding debt to be paid (4 billion Rupees) and have cut supplies by a quarter until it has been paid.
So taking his advise we tried to fill up outside of Kathmandu. It took a couple of attempts and returning to a garage that said it had ’no petrol‘! we were able to fill up.
As we arrived in Kathmandu it was the right choice as there were huge queues waiting for petrol. We found a hotel that was listed in the guide book and settled in for the night.
Next day we had an easy start and headed off into the centre of Kathmandu. Mike wanted to look at some cameras and laptop, so we had a leisurely morning walking around. The prices seemed very competitive and each shop seemed to give a good deal.
Later in the afternoon we booked a flight over Everest and three days white water rafting.
The next day was full sightseeing mode and we headed to the centre of town to see the old royal palace and Pagodas. As tourists we were charged 200 rupees each to walk around the streets encompassing the sights!
The buildings were quite run down, traffic was everywhere and you weren’t able to enter any, so it was a disappointing for us.
One of the pergodas encompassing some fine shops...
One of the occasional sites around the square...
Kathmandu has daily power cuts. For the life of me I cant think why!
A stupa hidden in a small square from the main centre...
The next day was our Everest flight! We were up at 5 and the taxi whisked us off to Kathmandu airport.
We checked in fairly easily, after being caught with a tourist departure tax even through we were returning to the same airport!!!!
The flight was delayed for about half and hour and we were all worried Everest would be covered ib cloud by the time we finally too off!! Finally we got onto the plane and we were off. The plane took off smoothly and we could soon see the Himalayan mountain range. The mountains were spetacular and during the flight you were given the option to look at the range through the cockpit. The flight was going for about 30 minutes before we could see Everest. It was further away than we hoped but it was clear and a great sight. The plane turned around before it headed back along the range to enable others to see the peaks.
The peaks heading towards Everest...
And the sight we came to see...
More peaks on the way back...
Mike & Sylvia on terra firma...
Baggage claim area... It was in the car park!!!
We landed safely and headed off to the taxis to see some Stupa’s . Once at the taxi rank we had a shock. All prices were fixed. Well into the taxi drivers favour. We said that it was too much and headed off into the car park to find a taxi. After a bit of haggling we finally got a taxi 2/3’s the price of the fixed price cartel!
The first stupa was at Pashupatinath and this is, according to the literature the holist of the Tibetan Buddhist temples and a Mecca for the monks of this region.
The Pashupatinath Stupa...
Buddhists spinning the prayer wheels...
A shot of the numerous prayer flags at the stupa...
The Nepalese symbol of Buddha are the painted eyes and nose...
A prayer wheel... not the hand held version...
After a quick break we headed off for another stupa on the other side of town , Swayambhunath This temple was more impressive including the large number of steps to the top!
Just a few of the steps we had to walk to get to the top...
Musicians at the Stupa...
Well worn prayer wheels...
By now we were completely worn out and called it a day.
The next day Mike and I spent most of the morning sorting out a repack. This was the first time it really hit I was leaving the trip, seeing all the things we had carried finally going to Mike so he could continue.
The next day we were off rafting. The tour operator picked us up at the hotel and took us too the main road to meet the bus. Thirty minutes later it arrived and we had the last three seats.
We hadn’t gone far when we came to a stanstill approaching the ring road. We edged forward slowly and finally made it to the junction where a couple of policemen were trying to control the traffic at the intersection. The situation was made worse by buses stoping just eather side of the junction to pick up passangers and blocking the traffic! Finally we were on the move again and after another 1.5 hrs we were at the rafting start point. We all quickly changed, had a safety briefing and were off. The ride was fairly easy with little of no paddling until we were in the rapids, then it was frantic for a few seconds then resting again. All the rapids were fairly easy bar two which we thought we would be slammed into the rocks on the side but there was enough water between the rocks and us.
Just the sort of guys you need in a raft!
Off rafting or modelling a new line of clothes for C & A ?
Ready for action!
We made our end of day rafting around 3.30 and shown our new guide for the next leg of the trip.
We had a couple of beers and chips in the only resturant which was blasting out Rave music. Not out choice of sounds but we were thirsty and hungry. We were taken by our new guide up to the tour company’s ’roof top restaurant’ for the evening meal. Once on the rough concrete roof we were shown to the old roll mats n the floor!!!!! Food was served in a mixture of metal containers and plastic washing up bowls…..!!!!!
We were through the food and were lead down to the river bank where our tents were pitched. On the way we noticed the music in the restaurant was up louder. We tucked up in our tents and settled down for the night looking forward to the next day which was the hardest and most exciting day rafting. As the time approached midnight the rave music was going strong and even louder, and so it continued through the night and into the next morning until around 10 am. I hadn’t slept a wink but somehow Mike and Sylvia had slept for about a third of the night.
Today was meant to be the toughest day rafting and not having any sleep I wasn’t in the most social of moods and definitely not up for rafting. After discussing the situation we decided to rest for the day where we were and tackle the rapids the next day and miss out the last day which wasn’t meant to be as good. We would take up the issues of noise with the tour operator back in Kathmandu (as well as the eating arrangements)
The tour guide did what he could for us during the day by giving us access to Kayaks and setting up a sunshade on the bank of the river. It turned out to be a pleasant day and when the rain came late afternoon we were all ready too call time.
At ease in a kayak or a raft...this boy was born to float
The rain came down and down for three hours and we weren’t able to enjoy our concrete roof terrace for dinner due to the weather so we squeezed into the kitchen and ate a rather cold dinner with the infestation of ants that lived there.
By the time dinner waqs completed and an offer from the tour guide to sleep in the dry of the kitchen, the rain had stopped. The tents were checked and had survived with only small leaks so we decided to risk them over the kitchen.
The kitchen...
Vertical storage with mood lighting?
Tucking in... you can see the joy on our faces...
The rain did not return and we all had a deep sleep and felt hugely refreshed in the morning. We were told to be at breakfast for 8 so we all dragged ourselves out of bed to the roof top on time to find that they cook hadn’t started breakfast, he didn’t even have all the ingredients and over the next our bodies disappeared and reappeared with food until breakfast was served at 9:45.. Grrrrr
Enjoying our rooftop breakfast...
'Addis' sauted potates...
Fuelled for the day we then waited for buses to turn up from Kathmandu and Pokhara with other rafters. By 11 we were all assembled and by 11:30 by the boats ready to go.
As soon as we left we were at some small rapids and were all quickly very wet.
Unlike our previous days rafting the rapids came much more quickly, and the gaps in-between were spent trying to drown the other boats on the river in water fights. Good childish fun.
As the morning wore on the rapids became bigger and bigger, our ‘captain’ Ram made sure we found the biggest waves and swells which ensured Mike and myself, who were at the front, no chance of keeping dry.
All to soon we were halfway through the trip and time for lunch; We all relaxed for a while and dried out a bit.
After lunch the rapids were smaller but more technical including one which had a huge eddy in the middle and we were able, without paddling to repeatedly go through a big wave time and time again.
We all finished the day in great spirits and when we were able to pick up a taxi back instead of the bus it rounded off the day very well.
Back in Kathmandu, the couple of days was spent updating the website and I having a night out on the town before leaving Mike & Sylvia and starting my journey home.
John
