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Namaskaar
I arrives in Kathmandu valley after an arduous journey which involved a 3 hour jeep ride down from Darjeeling hill station, followed by a 45 min drive to the border in a taxi, then a 5 min cycle rcikshaw acroos bridge where I paid my 30dollars got my passport stamped and jumped onto a bus bound for Kathmandu. 15 hours later the long day or two of travelling was over. The journey on the bus was a real boneshaker and my legs were numb at times from the rattling vibrations being poinded through them. Found hotel upon arrival and much nicer standard of hotel then those compared to India, they even had maids to clean the rooms!!!
Looked at some leaflets around the hotel detailing things to do in and around Kathmandu, straight away I knew I would love it here as so many adventure sports were on offer, get in! That afternoon walked into Thamel area of town just around corner whcih is the Nepal equivalant of Main Bazaar in Delhi except the streets appear to get swept!
The next day had booked onto a 2 day trek and departed early that morning. Walking through all the crop fields and farmland which Neapl heavily relys upon for income this was clearly very hard work for what is probably very little reward. Fantstic scenary but unfortunatley a very misty couple of days so the fantastic views on offer from Nagarkot were not forthcoming and was dissapointed as on a clear day the Everest moutain range can be seen!
Booked into a Hotel at Nagarkot for the night and ordered the local drink of TONGBA. This is a metal tankard filled with seed (dont ask me what?) and then hot water is poired over. YThis then ferments after a few minutes and it is drunk through a straw. Really nice warming drink and can be topped up a couple times and still ferments so good value to. The next morning set off early again and walked for three hours or som before arrving at the Narayan Temple. This is the oldest temple in Neapl and was a nice change to the Indian style temples with the pagoda roofs giving it a more Chinese feel. Had some BUFF NOODLES for lunch which turns out to my embaressment was not the state of dress you needed to be in to eat them but actually buffalo. Very tasty and was good to have meat whcih closely resembled that of back home. From here we got a bus to Bhaktapor where there were a number of more temples on display together with a section of the square which was famous (obviously only in Nepal?) for pottery. This place had guys spinning the old wheels making pot after pot after pot which were then laid out oin the couryard to dry. Quite an increadible sight seeing the amount of freshly made pots and other items whcih had just moments earlier been produced. I realised that I truly was out of India that night when I ordered a noin spicy dinner (gasp) of chicken and potatos and my god this thing tasted like chicken, not cheese filled stringy rat like it does in India!
The next day I had been in Napal long enough to hear word of a bungee jump that was here which was second highest in the world jumping from a suspension bridge and straight away I knew I had to go in search of booking this up. On way however I saw some white water rafting which was going on and so went and booked that up for next couple of days.
Next moring I had to get up at 5am.......... and walked to the place where I had booked up the rafting. Thought I was early but not realising Nepal was 15 mns ahead of India I was actually late. Bloke from Adrenalin Rush (organsiers) took me on back of motorcyle to the bus stand, can see why they have that name with this lunatics riding. Once here I met 2 french guys and a guy from Ivory Coast who were also on the 2 day adventure excursion. Three hours later on the bus we arrived at the river put in point and team of rafters were there ready for us. Got kitted up and went off to the river to find the raft. Went through quick safety briefing and off on the river we went.
After a couple decent rapids we hit one called 'Upset' whcih guide said was a technical one, we went into it and clearly it was far to technical for me. Wave crashed into side and bang I was overboard. After being told it was called upset I was expectting to be an emotional quivering wreck trying to hold back the tears, but it turns out the upset represents being chucked out the boat......... I was whisked under water chucked about a bit like a wolf with a piece of fresh meat and then re-surfaced way down the river where a kayak picked me up. AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN, loved it. We stopped a bit further down river and the couple Nepalese pros prepared the lunch. These guys were as good in kitchen as they were in river preparing a fresh mix of salads and sandwiches and pasta to feast upon, all done on the sand at the side of the river! We were not going to go hungry on this trip. Once back in river we headed through some more rapids and then were told there was a small set of rapids which could be swam if we wished. While the others contemplated whether to go in or not I was out the boat and heading downstream. The tohers all followed in the raft as they did not want to get their hair wet or something like that must of been case anyway!!!!! You would think being frogs they would like the water!! The guy from Ivory Coast did jump in after rapids so fair play to him showing up the french boys even more.
Arrived at base camp for night and tents had already been set up and dinner was being prepared. We were well fed once again and afterwards the others went to bed and I sat around fire with couple Nepalese guides and had a warm rum drink, Luvly Jubly together with a tasty bifta.
Another day in water but not so good with only really one rapid which was anything special. The guides decided to spice it up a bit by trying somthing called surfing on the rapid whcih is where you go through it then turn boat into it and paddle up it so the undercurrent pulls you one way while rapids take you the other and you end up getting totally submerged in water. The boat felt like it was going to flip a couple times and one French guy was proper pooing it and asking it to stop, funny thing was guides couldnt and had lost control of raft. This made me enjoy the experience even more as my dr evil laugh roared out through the canyons.
After a thrilling two days of rafting had the usual thrilling bus journey back to Kathmandu which took 5 hours and resulted in the scenes of three fresh car accidents on the journey back. I am done with these journeys, just while we were rafting what I though from a distance was a big rick in river turned out to be a truck whcih had left the road!! The guide told us that it was not common though and a truck only left the road like that once a month......... Thats reassuring thanks for telling me thet pal!
Next morning back at hotel I booked onto the Bungee Jump for the following day. That evening went out for a few drinks and ended up in a place called shisha bar whcih had the old delights of the hubbly bubbly pipe and a live band. After a couple of these pipes and even more beers we left the bar together with a couple local Nepalese guys and a Canadian to go and search out the Funky Buddah Club. Got on back og one of guys motorbikes and as he was riding down the road or should I say weaving I decided that this may not be the best pf methods to getting to the club!! This guy was all over the shop from left to right on the road. Club was not quite up to the standard of the same name club in Brighton but a club all the same. Didnt stay long and went and found another club instead. Stayed here for a while and then I went outside to find there was a casino next door. I went in here changed some us dollars to indian rupees (cannot bet with nepalese as somthing to do with them not being allowed to gamble?? I dont know all a bit backwards if you ask me?) Anyway after losing all my money and realising I had to be at meet point for bungee jump at 5;45am I decided to call it a night. Got taxi back to hotel with others and then got a cyclerickshaw from Thamel to hotel. On way driver decided to stop off somewhere and was taking his time so I leapt forward in my drunken state and proceeded to ride his cycle rickshaw around the street. Think he got the idea and came back out when I nearly managed to roll the thing. Finally got back into hotel around 3am.
Woke up next morning at 5:45am!! Sh1t I needed to be at meet point at this time. Chucked on same clothes had been wearing for god knows how long now and ran to the meet point. I arrived at 5:55 and still there, phew. However all this running together with the beers from the night before started to take their toll and I sat on the bus for the 3 hour journey to the 'Last Resort' where the jump briudge is on my own and trying to sleep. Just as well I was felling like this and about to chuck myself off a bridge!
When arrived started to feel better, had a coffee and once bridge had been seen the hangover was soon forgotten about. This bridge was soo high and you jump off into the canyon below, this was going to be the business. Soon came around to my turn and I stood on edge and was told to jump forward you stand there and you think how can I jump, then the next thing your flying though the air looking down at the raging river and the rocks qickly approaching. Truly awesome experience and loved every minute of it. Turns out this place also has a rope swing here off the same bridge whcih is the highest in the world with an 8 second free fall. Did this next and I screamed like a girl on way down not sure if this was because of the long long freefall or because the harness as I jumped got caught on my nut? This was more frightening then the bungee but I would deffinatley do them both again and I now cannot wait for New Zealand as I know being the home of these sports that there is more to come from here!!!
The next morning we were heading off to Chitwan National Park with another early start and 6:30am deaprture (just what I needed). Fingers crossed this park will be better then the dissapointment of Ranthambore. Absolutley loved my time here in Kathmandu and I will definaltey look to come back here. So much to do and see I am glad that I made the trip from India.
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