Right if I don't get this started I never will. So I guess this is me committed. A few of you have been nagging me to get a few photos up from our recent trip to Asia. We spent the full month of July in Nepal and had a whale of a time. Because it wasn't totally spent on two wheels I'll skip over the rest of it. Usually our summer holidays are spent in Europe and often touring on the bike but this year we wanted to go somewhere a bit different and do a bit of volunteer work while we're at it. A few hours with the help of google and we plumped for Nepal. Tibet was our first choice but it seems to be difficult to get in without a tour guide or as part of a larger group and neither option was very appealing.
So without any further blabbering here goes.
We arrived in Kathmandu on a heavily overcast afternoon. We hopped into a Tata 4x4 and were soon on our way into the suburbs. What can I say about the driving?? Anyone who's been to Asia will know what I'm talking about - I've read about it in travel books and seen it on video but nothing compares to the real deal. Quite something. We were amazed that after 4 weeks we didn't see a single collision. Probably that's got a lot to do with the overall speeds being so low. When we were on the bike we rarely got above 35/40mph...
Our first night or two was spent in a local's house just outside Thamel in the suburbs.
We were a bit jet lagged but headed off for a wander:
It was super to get the chance to stay with the local people and avoid the hotel experience - walking through the busy streets, taking in the hustle and bustle was a real treat. My rucksack had got badly ripped by a disgruntled baggage handler somewhere between New Delhi and Kathmandu and I stopped by a young guy with an ancient sewing machine who soon had me sorted for 20p.
By the time we sauntered back to our hosts (after getting lost numerous times in the maze of back streets) I realised that Lynda's blonde hair was going to be quite an attraction to the locals. Was strange to be photographed as you walked along and I'm pretty damn sure they weren't snapping me
So without any further blabbering here goes.
We arrived in Kathmandu on a heavily overcast afternoon. We hopped into a Tata 4x4 and were soon on our way into the suburbs. What can I say about the driving?? Anyone who's been to Asia will know what I'm talking about - I've read about it in travel books and seen it on video but nothing compares to the real deal. Quite something. We were amazed that after 4 weeks we didn't see a single collision. Probably that's got a lot to do with the overall speeds being so low. When we were on the bike we rarely got above 35/40mph...
Our first night or two was spent in a local's house just outside Thamel in the suburbs.
We were a bit jet lagged but headed off for a wander:
It was super to get the chance to stay with the local people and avoid the hotel experience - walking through the busy streets, taking in the hustle and bustle was a real treat. My rucksack had got badly ripped by a disgruntled baggage handler somewhere between New Delhi and Kathmandu and I stopped by a young guy with an ancient sewing machine who soon had me sorted for 20p.
By the time we sauntered back to our hosts (after getting lost numerous times in the maze of back streets) I realised that Lynda's blonde hair was going to be quite an attraction to the locals. Was strange to be photographed as you walked along and I'm pretty damn sure they weren't snapping me
Hippety hop don't just stop
