13 June - Nepal - Kathmandu

Ventured into the streets today ... There are no pavements which makes life interesting. You end up sharing the roads with scooters, motorbikes, people, rickshaws & tiny little cars that are held together with tape etc. which are taxis ..... An essential item here is a good strong hooter/bell.

The tourist area around our hotel is full of shops selling pashminas, bags, trinkets from Tibet & Nepal etc. then as you go further afield & down the little alleyways you find the tiny little shops selling gorgeous gorgeous fabrics. Entire displays devoted to all the bits & bobs that are seen on the sari material. Little 'hole in the wall' shops with one women sewing on a old hand Singer sewing machine turning out glorious veils with 'bling' hand sewn on. Further along there are the same little shops selling fast food Nepalese style. The smells are delicious but as its prepared in 30 degree heat on the street surrounded by hoards of flies we resist. The streets are vibrant & noisy & chaotic & fascinating. With all our valuables locked up in the safe at the hotel it's a delight to be immersed in the chaos.
The buildings are amazing in their incompleteness, oldness & the haphazard nature of construction & of course the wiring has to be seen to be believed.

We sat on our little balcony 3 floors up with a drink & absorbed the street scenes below.
Spot the tourist, observe the comings & goings out of the local shops & eating places. Marvel at the trucks piled high with bales of ???? With men sprawled on top snoozing .... When it went passed I saw 2 kids of probably 6 & 7 hanging off the back...laughing & waving.

Early bed as have booked Mt Everest flight - pick up 5 am.