Exploring Kathmandu

Prayer flags in the streets of Kathmandu

Our Nepal trip started off with 2 days exploring Kathmandu. Well, actually it started with getting through the airport - it is the craziest airport I've ever been in with people everywhere, and set the scene quite well for the rest of our time in Nepal. Thankfully we'd already sorted out visas in Aussie before we left, so we joined the short line through customs, waited (for ages) for our bags then headed outside where we'd been told there would be someone waiting. And sure enough there was - along with at least 150 other people all waving signs and shouting. And this was after midnight!

After trying to fit our massive cases into a tiny car they gave up and got a bigger one, then took us through deserted, pitch black streets to Dom Himalaya where we stayed for the next 3 nights. It was a lovely little oasis in a great location. Out the front gate was mayhem during the day, complete with a guy coma'd in the gutter the first morning, and about a gazillion motorbikes hurling past with vans somehow navigating their way through.

The first day we met with the rest of our group including mum and dad, then headed out to explore. We walked a lot of dusty back streets trying to avoid the motorbikes and just got lost in the surroundings - templates, so many power lines, shop after shop selling very similar things and lots of earthquake damage. After finally finding an ATM that worked (we must have tried at least 10 that didn't) we visited the Garden of Dreams which was so lovely and quiet, and gave us a little respite from the Kathmandu chaos.

Escaping the Kathmandu chaos in the Garden of Dreams

Delicious curry for lunch in the Garden of Dreams

The next day we went on a guided tour around Kathmandu. It started with navigating the bus through our tiny street full of motorbikes then included stops at:

Nom nom nom!

• Monkey Temple - This was cool - so many monkeys! We were warned not to feed them, but I took a banana along, and as soon as I pulled it out a monkey I thought was sleeping came sprinting over so I just chucked it at him, then watched as he peeled and ate it. So cute.
• Visited the Kumari - Another strange experience for us. The Kumari is a young girl who is a princess until she gets her first period, when another girl is chosen to take her place. She's not allowed outside, and her feet aren't allowed to touch the ground so she is carried everywhere. We headed upstairs where we made a small donation and she gave us a blessing in the form of a little yellow flower petal.
• Crematoria, Bagmati River - This was surreal and a bit comfronting. They burn the bodies in public on pyrs after bathing them with water from the "holy" river which is so dirty and full of rubbish. We felt quite uncomfortable and unsettled watching as if we were intruding in their grief so didn't stay long.
• Durbar Square - This square would have been amazing prior to the earthquakes, and is still pretty spectacular. Lots of different temples with different architecture for us to explore. A lot of effort is being spent rebuilding them back to their days of glory.

The last night was a quiet affair - lots of packing and repacking to get our gear down to the right weight, and plenty of nerves, for the next day we flew into to Lukla to start our trek.

Power & phone lines everywhere - even in the trees!

Exploring the streets and avoiding the dust and earthquake damage in Kathmandu

Found a quiet place for a refreshing Nepal beer

Inside one of the temples

Traffic! Our bus driver somehow negotiated through this for us

Huh?

Prayer flags at the Monkey Temple - spot the monkey

Looking over dusty Kathmandu from the Monkey Temple

Monkey temple

Temple restoration work in Durbar Square

Temple in Durbar Square

Juxtaposition - man selling candy floss outside the temples...

Temple in Durbar Square

The holy water bodies are washed in before being burned on the side of the river

Outside the Kumari's place with my petal blessing

Give me a kiss...

Lead Up Activities: We added the initial day in Kathmandu so that was at our leisure. The tour on the second day was run by the fantastic people at Cold Feet Adventure.
Lead Up Accommodation: Dom Himalaya Hotel in Thamel. It was a great location - easy walk into fun and vibrant streets of Thamel, and a perfect little oasis, being set back from the busy streets. Lots of flowers and a really nice little courtyard.

This trip was done with the Healthfix Adventure Club, in conjunction with Cold Feet Adventure
Read more about our 2018 Everest Base Camp Trip