Nepal

We are back home now. An enormous amount of post was waiting. Besides I have to work the day after. Now for the first time I have some time to start the run-down. Nepal is a nice destination. There is still a reasonable infrastructure from the hype in the sixties and the current mountaineering, hiking, biking, rafting, etc. It is very cheap. Real top of the bill hotels aren't there. The roads are reasonable. But more then an average of 30 kilometers an hour can't be expected. Bikers, mopeds, motorcycles, trucks and busses were fighting for the spare space on the roads. From time to time an accident looks like inevitable. But because of pragmatic behavior of the other traffic there happens nothing. However the guide was talking about poverty, the situation isn't really urgent. Especially in the capital the heavy traffic in the narrow streets with countless shops the peoples look like rather well-to-do.

Like similar countries the travel can be divided in two clear parts: The crowded city against the rustic countryside. The city offers all kind of beautiful monuments, jumble, cosines, shopping, temples, etc. The countryside gives the overwhelming nature. Only so now and than it is possible to take a shot with the video from artisans. But nice building can't be expected. There are 9 mountains in Nepal from more the 8 kilometers height. The rest is so called 'hilly'. We had reasonable whether. The previous group doesn't want to believe that there are real mountains. We have all the time beautiful sight on the enormous mountains in the background. Particular with the digital camera I took a lot of shots. The last day we did a tour by plain along the Mount Everest. The normal camera were used for close-ups from Kathmandu and both other former capitals in the central valley (50 films).

The journey starts with two days Kathmandu (showers). Then three days Pokhara (to much) with two times canoeing on the lake (very dangerous with cameras) and a mountain walk. After that Ghorka (soldiers) and Tansen (nice small city) both situated on a hill with a beautiful view on the mountains and a little bit rebellious population. The underground there is still quiet friendly until know. The situation isn't hopeless, but can be in the future.

Next a visit to the birthplace of the Bhoeddha. There were all kind of prestigious temples. Presents from countries like China, Thailand, Burma, Japan, etc. Not very exiting. Not any real believer to watch. To the end we stay for three days in Kathmandu and surrounding. That was the nicest part with visits to three capitals and some villages with artisans. Wim took more the three hours of video. We used a lot of bike taxis. Every day two bottles of wine. Most of the time undrinkable. The label was different, but it tasted as if it comes from the same container. The other peoples of the group traveled a lot and were enjoyable. We talked and teased a lot...