Saturday, July
26, 2014
We left early at 6:30 to catch our bus for 8. The
total distance between the 2 cities is 176 kilometres but due to roads it takes
close to 8 hours. So far we have seen one large ton truck that missed the road
and is halfway into a ditch. The locals were walking around it trying to figure
our how they can help him out of his dilemma.
A bit further as we came across the bend we were confronted with 2 large buses coming our way, one in our lane. Actually there are no lanes but room on the road for 2 vehicles. All the drivers slammed on their brakes and it was a few second standoff to decide who would make room. We continued on a bit unnerved. We were given the very front seats behind the driver. At the front of the bus it is glass so everyone can see where we are going. We are thankful for the views but at the same time do not want to look too closely. Our driver has a spotter along so he can peer out the window alongside the road to see if we will make the edge.
A bit further as we came across the bend we were confronted with 2 large buses coming our way, one in our lane. Actually there are no lanes but room on the road for 2 vehicles. All the drivers slammed on their brakes and it was a few second standoff to decide who would make room. We continued on a bit unnerved. We were given the very front seats behind the driver. At the front of the bus it is glass so everyone can see where we are going. We are thankful for the views but at the same time do not want to look too closely. Our driver has a spotter along so he can peer out the window alongside the road to see if we will make the edge.
Typical transport Katmandu stop light
Rice paddies dot the landscape which is very beautiful and lush. The paddies are terraced and each paddy is at a different stage of development. Small towns abound. Poorer metal shacks can be seen along the river or dug into the sides of the mountains. Boulders sit on roof tops to keep the roof from lifting in the rains. Small waterfalls trickle down the side of the mountains into small ditches along the road.
We arrived 8 hours later into Kathmandu. We were greeted with noise and smog, pollution and poverty on a greater scale than India. Pokhara is somewhat laid back but Kathmandu is the exact opposite.
Our hotel used to be a palace but somewhat seedier. It is about a 15 minute walk to Thamel which is a tourist area full of tiny shops, all selling the same thing. It is somewhat like Chinatown and Kensington Market rolled into a one lane street. We will try to get our bearing tomorrow.
We did notice truck loads of army and police in riot gear disembarking onto the street and not sure if this is just a normal event or if they are expecting strikes which are quite common. They have their shields, guns and tear gas ready. Many people walk with surgical masks covering their mouth and nose and after being here only about 6 hours we notice sore throats and watery eyes.
We hope tomorrow we will awaken to blue skies and electricity. Well, maybe for at least a few hours. We are hoping to visit some of the famous Buddhist temples as well as the monkey temple just on the outskirts of the city. The view are suppose to be spectacular.
We came home by taxi bike which was quite an adventure. Our driver would avoid one pothole only to hit the next. The roads are so poor here that it is impossible not to hit a driver all the while rising in the dark amongst cars, cabs, bikes, cows and people. It was a bit crazy.
Till tomorrow.
Rice paddies dot the landscape which is very beautiful and lush. The paddies are terraced and each paddy is at a different stage of development. Small towns abound. Poorer metal shacks can be seen along the river or dug into the sides of the mountains. Boulders sit on roof tops to keep the roof from lifting in the rains. Small waterfalls trickle down the side of the mountains into small ditches along the road.
We arrived 8 hours later into Kathmandu. We were greeted with noise and smog, pollution and poverty on a greater scale than India. Pokhara is somewhat laid back but Kathmandu is the exact opposite.
Our hotel used to be a palace but somewhat seedier. It is about a 15 minute walk to Thamel which is a tourist area full of tiny shops, all selling the same thing. It is somewhat like Chinatown and Kensington Market rolled into a one lane street. We will try to get our bearing tomorrow.
We did notice truck loads of army and police in riot gear disembarking onto the street and not sure if this is just a normal event or if they are expecting strikes which are quite common. They have their shields, guns and tear gas ready. Many people walk with surgical masks covering their mouth and nose and after being here only about 6 hours we notice sore throats and watery eyes.
We hope tomorrow we will awaken to blue skies and electricity. Well, maybe for at least a few hours. We are hoping to visit some of the famous Buddhist temples as well as the monkey temple just on the outskirts of the city. The view are suppose to be spectacular.
We came home by taxi bike which was quite an adventure. Our driver would avoid one pothole only to hit the next. The roads are so poor here that it is impossible not to hit a driver all the while rising in the dark amongst cars, cabs, bikes, cows and people. It was a bit crazy.
Till tomorrow.
Mining River