COW KILLERS BEWARE

Varanasi 'airport' was a foray into comedy. Imagine someones living room with an x-ray machine, a check-in desk and passport control all crammed in together. The flight to Kathmandu is the shortest flight I've ever taken - only 30 minutes long and they even served us with a sandwich, some cake and a drink! The views over the Himalayas were spectacular from the air.

Nepal is a wonderful country. The people are very friendly and everything here is surprisingly modern and clean. The scenery is amazing - even in the middle of Kathmandu you are surrounded by enormous, densely forested mountains. Our first hotel was right in the middle of Thamel (the main tourist/backpacker area in Kathmandu). It was quite a nice place and the location was great but we got into a disagreement with the owner about our leaking shower and have since checked-out and moved to a place about a hundred yards up the road. The new place is actually a one bedroomed apartment! It's really modern - T.V., kitchen, the lot and only $25 a night (a fair bit over budget but a nice treat).

We've seen some amazing sights around the Kathmandu Valley - Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) was incredible. As the name suggests there are several troops of monkeys that live on the site which sits right on top of a mountain overlooking Kathmandu.

There is so much to see here and we wish we could stay longer. I'm considering moving here permanently - they dish out 2 year prison sentences for killing a cow and everyone is home and in bed by 10pm (the streets are deserted - you could hear a pin drop) - it's like they made the place for me!

As we don't have the time, money or physical ability to undertake a massive trekking expedition we are going to have to make do with views of the Himalayas. We've decided to head out of the Kathmandu Valley where it's easier to see them.

Next stop Duhlikel.....