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Singapore - Kathmandu 1300m/4265ft
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My trip started in ultra-clean city-state Singapore This place is so clean you could eat off the streets (but you'd probably get a fine for doing so |
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The entrance gate to the Kathmandu Guest House in the heart of the Thamel area of Kathmandu
photo courtesy of Anne Pal |
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The Kathmandu Guest House is a nice, un-pretentious hotel with lots of character and history. Heck even Ricky Martin stayed here a few months before us |
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The garden courtyard was a particularly nice place to relax and observe young British lassies prancing around in sphagetti strapped tube tops. |
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On a hill in
the northwest part of Kathmandu lies the Buddhist temple of Swayambunath;
affectionately referred to as the "Monkey temple". This is where Jamling and Sumiyo spun the prayer wheels early in the Everest IMAX movie. |
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Puppies are welcome at Swayambunath |
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At the NorthEast corner of the city lies Boudhanath, one of the largest Buddisht Stupas in the world. A large community of Tibetan monks lives in this area. This shot was taken from a rooftop restaurant run by a German lady. |
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I found this souvenir shop after visiting many in the complex. Prices are fixed in the stores in Boudhanath (so please don't bargain here) and Pasang's store had the absolute best prices (and the warmest, friendliest smile) *Put your mouse over the photo for directions to her excellent shop* |
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This is the Durbar Square in Patan, just south of the city across the Bagmati River |
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Pashupatinath, the holiest place in Nepal for Hindus. Here on the banks of the sacred Bagmati river bodies are cremated |
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Almost next door
to the KGH is the convenient hang-out, the NorthField Cafe,
serving American and Mexican food ("the most hygenic restaurant in
the Thamel" according to one popular trekking guide Ken, John, Mick and Ron |
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One of the nightly group dinners organized by CHE's director of operations, Chris Beall (bottom left) I think this place had the original name of "Thamel Restaurant" We had traditional Indian/Nepali cuisine that night...hold the Dahl Bhaat please
photo courtesy of Anne Pal |
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No trip to the mountains would be complete without a visit to Shonas to rent/purchase gear. That blonde fella with his back to us is Chris Beall |
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Our pretrek briefing in the Guest House's cinema room. I had succumbed to a g.i. bug that night as you can see I'm not a happy camper in the photo. photo courtesy of Anne Pal ..thanks Anne |
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