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After a fairly smooth tourist bus we arrived in Kathmandu with enough time to visit Swayambhunath a Buddhist stupa on the hill overlooking Kathmandu, as legend goes the an island rose from the middle of a great lake that once engulfed the valley, Swayambhunath was the beginning of the Kathmandu and is revered as such, either way it offers spectacular views of the city and a chance to be entertained by the troops of macaques. Then it was into the town to book our final swan song the first for Nepal and the first for us - BUNGEE!!! We woke up at five with our packing breakfast in hand, met our fellows jumpers and boarded another bus. Four hours later we arrived at the aptly named Last Resort situated across a gorge above the Kosi River. A briefing presented by Nepali's answer to Vince Vaughan was both entertaining and reassuring hilarious. As Martin was the heaviest (thank god) he took the plunge first......
Standing on a rope bridge 160 metres above a gorge looking down into the abyss watching each person in front of you tentatively edge their way towards the precipice and throw themselves or sometimes ungracefully fall into the unknown is an interesting experience. Before long it's your turn, you're invited to join the master of ceremonies at the carefully constructed drop zone, your seated just in time to watch the latest victim take the leap, harnesses and straps are applied to bare skin whilst an eager cameraman sticks a camcorder in your face paparazzi style and asks you how your feeling. Within seconds your beckoned to waddle like a penguin from the safety of the bridge and place your toes just off the platform, your arms are spread wide crucifix style and your asked "Are you ready to fly like a bird?" If the answers "Yes" you bend your knees and push of with all you might. The expectation is that you will float gently down like a leaf falling from from a tree, but the reality is that you plummet rather abruptly like Galileo's stones. The wind whistles passed you face and within seconds the pull of the rope can be felt gently slowing your decent, it's over, you've done it! No wait! The rope extends to its greatest point and you realise your not quite done as you pulled back towards the sky at a rate of knots only to fall once again. Several repetitions of the same and your left hanging upside down like a butchers chicken 50 metres up being slowly lowered to the ground, 2 minutes later you on your back looking up to where you came from elated by the whole experience.
Several hours later after our final Nepalese bus journey we found our selfs back it Kathmandu for the final time. The next morning we happened upon an excitable and talkative taxi driver who was promptly paid an excess to give us a guided tour of Durbar Square and the surrounding attractions. Back to the hotel for check out, a £60 one night stay was quickly turned into a £5 stay when we threw the last of our change at the hotel manger and explained that it's all we have as we rather quickly made our way to the waiting airport transfer, smiles and laughter were exchanged and that was it. The end of your Nepalese adventure, and amazing country with amazing people. Nepal you will be missed and fondly remembered, until the next time...we're off to Bangkok!!!
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