The next day I had booked to fly to Nepal as I would soon be meeting up with Rach. I got up and packed feeling sad to be leaving Delhi. This place was a total surprise to how I thought I would feel being here. I know people say you either love it or hate it but I just really enjoyed having my eyes opened to the real world I guess. Where what you wear or how you act matters for nothing as survival is everything, you just need to eat, have a roof over your head and food in your tummy. I admit this place could drive you mad as the pace of life is so frenetic but that just adds to the charm in some way.
I got to the airport and was filling in my immigration forms when I saw two guys waving like loons. It was the London brothers that had been at Chillies in South Goa! Small world hey! We caught up over a cup of coffee as they were catching their flight home and I filled them in on the birthday eve room incident which they were disgusted at.
I hadn’t given any thought to what Nepal would be like or what I would do there which was exciting but nerve-wracking both at the same time. I didn’t even have a guide book! From my small knowledge of the country it was full of mountains and happy smiling people.
On the short flight the cabin crew came round and handed out free cans of lager to everyone, yep I could get used to this hospitality! Thinking back now I reckon it was to relax passengers about to arrive into Kathmandu.
After landing in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, I was soon transported back to year 9 PE lessons at school. Mountain based activities are a huge deal here. You are not anyone unless you are complete with rosy weather-beaten cheeks, your solid calves protruding from cargo shorts and stomping in unflattering hiking boots marking your territory with the mandatory trekking poles looking like some Mrs Trunchbull type samurai sword fighter.
Everyone who was coming out of the arrivals hall reminded me of those girls from your hockey lessons, the ones who wouldn’t hesitate to whack your goose bumped shins with a hard hockey stick a freezing February morning. Then there was me, alone with my bag, dressed for the stifling heat of Delhi not the cold bracing mountain wind. Hmm maybe there is something in that saying ‘failing to prepare then prepare to fail!’
In the taxi on the way to the hostel there were street kids coming up banging on the window begging, women were sat by the side of the littered roads selling fruit in colourful baskets as goats aimlessly sauntered past. I really thought this place wouldn’t have that poverty that Delhi has so it was a shock to see.
The hostel I was staying at was a cute family ran place and my room was basic but clean as well as having a little balcony. Flags were strung everywhere and tea and coffee was included at any time of the day – bonus as I definitely needed a little warming up.
I went for a short walk, once I had put more suitable layers on, and was shocked at this place. The pavements are non-existent meaning you have to clamber over rubble and past flea ridden dogs fighting over some questionable looking food on the ground. The main ‘touristy’ part of the centre is a maze of tiny jumbled streets all selling hiking gear, mountain tea or offering tour guide services. It was so easy to get lost as all the streets looked the same!
Back to my hostel I shut myself in for an early night with my free cup of tea hoping that tomorrow would be a better day after a good night’s sleep.
