Orientation in chaotic Kathmandu

Written by Steph Rae - GapBreak 2009 Nepal

Tomorrow we're off to the village so just a summary email of Kathmandu for now. We've been in Kathmanduy 5 days now and its pretty sweet except im over all the noise and pollution and can't wait to get to the village.

Arriving on Wednesday was so funny. We met our in-country agents and as we were heading over to the car it was as if a million people surrounded us trying to offer us a taxi etc. On the plane to Kathmandu I was starting to get a bit but as soon as we got out of the airport I was completely relaxed. We were dropped off at our hotel for a couple of hours to 'rest' but we went for a wonder around Thamel, the touristy part of the city, which was funny. A million people come up and try and sell you stuff and if you show any interest at all, even just look at them they dont leave you alone , especially when you stop (which we did, to take heaps of photos) so we were like permanetly surrounded by people. It was heaps hard bartering on the first day but it is getting better now that we speak aliali (a little) Nepali.

We had a 3 day orientation which was good. Everyone is really nice and helpful! We learnt more about Nepal - TEA you get tea everywhere!! Its so addictive, especially the chaya -milk tea with heaps of spices, its unbelievably good as is the food. During the orientation we were provided with lunch and taught how to eat with our hands properly. After a total of 6hrs of Nepali lessons we have covered a lot of ground, but there is just so much to remember. Got the basics though which is useful. We went on a little tour, visiting 3 different places with our in-country agent and a tour guide. Firstly we visited the old palace in Patan, a buddhist town just outside Kathmandu. Then we went to Boudha (bodanath stupa) which was probably my favorite for the day. We also went into a small monastry where monks were doing a ritual which was also interesting and we also went to a thangka school there - which is where they learn to make thangka (buddhist paintings) which are the most detailed/intricut paintings ever! The third place we visited was Pashupatinath where the 'holy' river flows. On the banks of this river is where Hindu people get cremated. Out of respect, I stopped watching before they took the body to the water.

Off to the village tomorrow, which I am really excited about.