Me and Flo Lee left KLIA on 15th November, Saturday morning, and flew by Thai Air. We had to transit at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok for four hours.
Their toilets had these huge mirrors, so we clowned around for a bit.
I spent most of my time at this bench...
watching people of different nationalities, all in a hurry, all scurrying somewhere.
Our flight to Kathmandu.
Once we reached Tribhuvan Airport, my camera ran out of battery, so for the first day, no pictures.
We are met at the airport by our host, Sarji(from India), who with his wife Hannah(a Filipino) are missionnaries staying near Jawalakhel.They have three beautiful daughters, Karuna, Keziah and Katarin.
It's the end of autumn, and everything is dry, cold and dusty. Night temperatures dip to 6 degrees or so. Daytime is survivable provided we stand under the sun.
There are no addresses in Nepal. Only area names. Even those are confusing because sometimes we never know where one ends or begins.
Khanteepat, in the city centre, adjacent to Thamel, the famous tourist area in Kathmandu. Flo and I were there to collect our bus tickets to Pokhara, a town about 180km west of Kathmandu. We were supposed to travel on Thursday, 20th Nov.
Traffic is really something.
The main mode of transport are microbuses, white 12 seater vans usually packed to the max, visible at the left side of the picture. There are also tuks-tuks similar to the Thai ones.
Most Nepalis walk. Walking is a national pastime.
.
Jawalakhel , in Patan area of Kathmandu, where Flo and I did our shopping, had dinner with various people and shopped for groceries.
Flowers at Hannah's house. Nepal experiences electricity cuts about 12 hours a week. Every area takes turns to have a blackout. We were in the dark about 3 out of the 5 nights we stayed at Hannah's place. Candlelight and torches helped.
Hannah and Sarji house.
With Karuna and Keziah.
Our 3rd and 4th day was spent in HEC doing a worship/music workshop.
This was in an area called Sanepa, where we could look out on a part of the valley.
Nepalis build their own individual houses on their own land. There's no such thing as housing projects and semi-Ds. Usually the house has about 2-4 storeys. The owner lives on one of the floors and rents the other floors out.
Tea break:Traditional Nepali food are few, and these are just mouth-wateringly great. They're called Momo, and resemble chinese dumplings or Japanese gyoza.Basically it's a flour based skin with meat and vegetable filling flavoured with Coriander, cumin and a little ginger. Usually dipped in achar.
Nepali drink a milk tea which has a strong dairy taste, in their tongue it's called dudh chia.
John 3:16, local Christian band based in Patan church. All of them except one are self taught musicians.
Melons in the church compound.
The Himalayan Annapurna Range, as seen on that clear evening from Hannah and Sarji's rooftop.
Market at the Sadobato ring road, where we boarded the microbus.Not kidding when I said they pack us in like sardines in a red can.
The road to Godawari.
Godawari resort, Kathmandu. The view was amazing.
End of part one.Next up: The Bandh and the (delayed) trip to Pokhara.
I'm sorry if this post sounds dry. I have a lot of personal emotions about Nepal, but they're in my head and heart and written on my travel journal. It was a very heavy trip in terms of personal feelings, so I've decided to keep them to myself.
Happy New Year.
Currently listening to: Dido's latest album Safe Trip Home
Favourite track:
