Arriving In Fascinating Kathmandu, Nepal
Arrival at Kathmandu's very crowded airport. It didn't take too long to get Visas on arrival. Fill out forms, stand in the proper line with $30 US and two passport-sized photos in hand, pay and you are done. Met by The Imaginative Traveller personnel, transferred by mini-vans into Kathmandu to our hotel, Hotel Marshyangdi in the heart of the Thamel area.
Notice posted on the bulletin board that Vimal (our guide) would meet the group later today for introductions and information. The Marshyangi looked pretty good for a budget-trip hotel. Then we found out that we were in the annex...the old, "bad" section of the hotel on the 4th floor. Fortunately, there was a bellman to schlep the bags up for us. No air-conditioning, and one of those bathrooms with an unenclosed shower that gets the entire room sopping wet when you shower. In other words, a typical budget hotel. The air-conditioning normally wouldn't be a problem, but it was HOT in Kathmandu for this time of year. A lot hotter than we expected. Again...global warming.
The Hotel Marshyangi personnel were unbelievably friendly and helpful. Returning to Kathmandu at the end of the trek, our room in the "dumpy" area was a lot quieter and nicer then this room. Unfortunately, the hotel was completely sold out in the beginning with no possibility of changing rooms.
Kathmandu is at an altitude of 1,400m/4,500'...be careful not to overdo it if you are unused to higher altitudes. The Thamel area is more crowded than ever. Masses of people, bicycle rickshaws, taxis and people all walking down these narrow streets..View image.... Store after store...restaurant after restaurant...hundreds of tour operators offering to arrange treks, jungle stays, plane tickets....money changer after money changer... You can even negotiate with the money-changers...
It's a wonder than bodies of people and animals aren't strewn all over the place with people like us criss-crossing from side to side, looking in shops, reading restaurant menus and just people-watching. Found several ATM's and withdrew 2000 Nepal Rupees thinking that was a lot. Surprise...only about $33...definitely not enough to last more than one day. And most certainly not enough for all the money we'd have to lay out this evening to Imaginative Traveller...
