After I got back to the hotel last night, I decided to go out and walk around town. It was an experience like none other. My hotel is located just off a main street in a popular tourist section of town. The street is about the width of an alley in the US - enough room for one car to drive down the middle. Well, on this road there were not only cars, but motorbikes, bicycles, and bicycle rickshaws going BOTH directions, and narrowly missing the hundreds of people walking down the road to check out the amazing assortment of shops. You have to be very alert and aware of your surroundings to not get run over.
There are endless shops lining both sides of the road, selling everything from vegetables and meat, to paintings, to trekking gear. Carpets, jewelry, tour information, photo shops, and just about anything else you could ever want are within easy reach. It's sort of like a Super Walmart, except each aisle is a different shop, and there are madmen on motorbikes trying to run you down.
Being a tourist, every shop owner feels the need to yell out at you and try to draw you into their shop. Don't even think about looking at something in their shop (even while just passing by), or they will immediately start haggling on price with you. Another thing I found out is apparently they think Americans are all drug addicts, because at least 2 guys approached me asking if I wanted some hashish. After I understood what one of them was saying to me, I realized there were several other people that had approached me in the same way but I didn't understand what they were saying. All the time I just kept walking, and trying not to get run over.
I made it back to the hotel in one piece, and got a good night's sleep. Today was the first day of work, and everything seems to be going well. I am booking a mountain flight for saturday morning to go see the Himalayas (including Everest), and then after the Flight on Saturday Kiran (the owner of the studio here) is going to take me somewhere out of town to see some sights. Will try to get some pictures up tomorrow.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Made it to Nepal
After an exhausting 20+ hours of travel, I finally made it to Nepal! It is now Monday morning, approx 11:45 am local time and I am having a great time. I arrived at the Kathmandu airport yesterday at around noon.
The airport here is like nothing I have ever seen - it doesn't even compare to the airport in Bangalore, India. Very third world - a big complex that now mostly consists of empty, deteriorating buildings.
Once I got through the line to get my visa, through customs, and grabbed my baggage, I headed outside to find the people who were picking me up. They were supposed to be holding a sign with my name on it, and just as I was getting a bit worried because I didn't see my name on any of the signs, a man approaches me and says "are you Bryan?". He found me using my picture from skype. We made our way to the car which is an old land rover, and met another guy who was the driver. There was a car behind us that was parking us in, so in true Nepali style, the 2 guys with me reached in, shifted it into neutral, and pushed it out of the way!
I came into the office for a quick tour, and then went to the hotel to relax. I am staying in 2 different hotels during the trip because it's tourist season here and everything was booked up. The first hotel I'm staying in is right in the heart of the city, and after a few days I will be moving to a hotel closer to work.
So far I am really enjoying it here, much more so than India. Everything is more relaxed here, there is lots to see and do, and the people at work are great and can't wait to show me around.
We are heading to lunch soon, so I will post again later this afternoon.
The airport here is like nothing I have ever seen - it doesn't even compare to the airport in Bangalore, India. Very third world - a big complex that now mostly consists of empty, deteriorating buildings.
Once I got through the line to get my visa, through customs, and grabbed my baggage, I headed outside to find the people who were picking me up. They were supposed to be holding a sign with my name on it, and just as I was getting a bit worried because I didn't see my name on any of the signs, a man approaches me and says "are you Bryan?". He found me using my picture from skype. We made our way to the car which is an old land rover, and met another guy who was the driver. There was a car behind us that was parking us in, so in true Nepali style, the 2 guys with me reached in, shifted it into neutral, and pushed it out of the way!
I came into the office for a quick tour, and then went to the hotel to relax. I am staying in 2 different hotels during the trip because it's tourist season here and everything was booked up. The first hotel I'm staying in is right in the heart of the city, and after a few days I will be moving to a hotel closer to work.
So far I am really enjoying it here, much more so than India. Everything is more relaxed here, there is lots to see and do, and the people at work are great and can't wait to show me around.
We are heading to lunch soon, so I will post again later this afternoon.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Heading to Nepal
Well, it's been a long time since I've posted anything on here, but I am about to leave on another adventure - this time to Nepal!
I have a 17.5 hour flight tonight, so I will try to use that time to finish my stories from India. Keep an eye out starting Sunday or Monday for new posts.
Please leave comments, I love reading what everyone has to say!
Big thanks to Tici for helping me get the new image incorporating the flag of Nepal. Also, thanks again to Candace for providing the drawing of the burger and fly.
I have a 17.5 hour flight tonight, so I will try to use that time to finish my stories from India. Keep an eye out starting Sunday or Monday for new posts.
Please leave comments, I love reading what everyone has to say!
Big thanks to Tici for helping me get the new image incorporating the flag of Nepal. Also, thanks again to Candace for providing the drawing of the burger and fly.
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