Nepal

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First glimpses of Nepal from the air - majestic peaks high enough to soar above the clouds covered with snow and shining in the sun. Later flying lower passed over jagged mountains mainly brown at this time and tiny, isolated houses and hamlets scattered here and there with equaqlly tiny cultivated terraces near some of them. It looks impossible for people to ever reach the valleys below and many houses seem to be situated precipitously ready to tumble down the mountain. It was clear upon arrival at Kathmandu's airport, the only airport in the country, that this was not one of your gleaming chrome and metal modern buildings but a rather shabby dull hall with none of the shops so evident in Thailand where one can buy duty free upon international arrival. That makes much more sense than carting it on the plane for those who want heavier objects like bottles:)

>Walked out of the airport to the upmost confusion, horns blowing, people everywhere begging, bagaining for taxis - tiny little broken down cars that barely fit in 3 people. Traffic horrendous, people walking in front of motorbikes, cars, bicycles. All hooting horns loudly. Piles of cement, bricks, trash, building materials with people squatting among all of it. Vibrant and colourful, confusing, tiny winding streets, little doorways and shop fronts, everything shabby. Just first impressions along with the fact that inside buildings is colder than outside. More later.

This picture was taken at a typical local restaurant with mainly Tibethan food. I am trying my first Thongba - a drink that is made of millet with boiling water poured over it.

These words in Nepal are all written very quickly with no rereading or editing so please excuse repetition and mistakes.

http://picasaweb.google.com/a.roantree/Feb10#