Arriving in Kathmandu
Airport hell
After a short 4-5h flight we land in Kathmandu.
I’ve read a bit about it and this airport is chaotic by western standards so I’m expecting the worst.
But besides the heat, it is not so bad to be honest.
They could use better signalling and a power cut reset all visa application machines for 15-20 minutes
yet I get mine. I paid in Euro, and got change in Dollar ($1).
I feel I was robbed a bit but screw it. It’s not much and I just want to get to the hotel and relax.
Then begins the search for our luggages.
Everything seems to arrive at random from all the flights to the same 2-3 conveyor belts.
There’s bags everywhere on the floor that you need to go around, above, whichever way you can accross
to try and get close to the delivery belt.
Time passes and no bags…we devide forces: one looks on the floor everywhere in the airport while the other wrestle
other people to stay close to the belt and see if anything comes.
Why are so many people travelling with flat screen TVs I wonder. It’s almost like an import deck.
Still nothing. We ask a clerk. “Keep looking on the floor. It is somewhere” she says.
30 minutes later, still nothing, nowhere.
We ask again.
She finally looks it up on her computer. “Your bags are in Dubaï and will arrive here by the next flight at 18:00”
AARRGGH!!! (> <)
We looked for at least two hours for nothing!!
It is now 10:30 and we’ll have to come back.
Maybe the team to pick us up is gone.
Hotel Manaslu
They are not, fortunately. But after the first “Namaste” we are asked to tips.
???
“We waited a long time”
Sorry, talk to your boss. This is not our fault but your boss not managing the flight properly.
The traffic in Kathmandu is insane and on par with what I’ve seen about India (on youtube, I haven’t been there yet).
After a stuffy ride in a “cab?”, we arrive at the hotel.
It looks pretty nice.
Someone will pickup the bags for us.
Finally a bit of rest.
Hunger strikes.
After a quick search for anything nearby, we have lunch at a place called “Mike’s Breakfast”
and a refreshing Nepale’s beer (everest). It is very hot here compared to London.
Shortly after 18:30, we meet again with the guide to discuss the trek.
We also get out bags. $$$ for the driver. I still thik the agency should have paid for it.
The price is not the issue here, but on principal.
Thamel and the end of the day
Then it is off to the mandatory visit to Thamel neighborhood although neither of us needs to buy anything
or we are not trekers (not the Star Trek ones for sure).
This is interesting and very lively to say the least.
Another Nepale’s beer (Hymalayan Red, must more tastier) in a nice quiet bar to wait off the rain.
Good to slow down a bit.
For dinner, I have my first dal bhat.
It is very good but little do I know then how many more (and more) I will have later on.
I would have gone for something completely different otherwise.
It’s very difficult to sleep because of the exhaustion and the jet lag.
Lots of stranges noices in the night too. It turned out NOT to be a rat in the plumbing.
They just decided it was a good time to clean them up at 2:00.