In Kathmandu - Norling guesthouse was really great to stay in. We had a private room, bathrooms, cable tv for 400 ruppee a night. This is during low season. Here the staff area absolutely amazing and really want you to feel like you are at your own home. They are friendly, helpful and always willing to just hang out with you. They actually get pretty attached to their guests! We had the pleasure of an amazing last dinner there where they went all out for us. They are located in Thamel with an easy walk to everywhere important for the non-local. The temples, squares, markets, bus stations and the resturants are all in easy walking distance. Even the Monkey Temple up on the hill is an easy 30 minute stroll.
There are cheaper places to stay in Kathmandu, but hard to find the same cleanliness and staff!
Pokhara - Grand Holiday is very nice - this has all the above for the same price and is indeed the sister hotel of the Norling. We only stayed one night though.
OUr choice to move was due to price and location.
We visited many others places, one with the best views we saw was in the main street by the lakeside, was 650 ruppee, but was not clean at all. So if your not too worried on that - this was stunning views of the lake. This is obvious if you walk down as it is a slightly taller than the others and has not too much infront obscuring the views. A shame in a way about the cleanliness otherwise it would have been perfect.
Food in Pokhara is much more expensive. Double or even tripple the prices than Kathmandu. That is for ALL levels also. There was ONE great place we ate though which served the most delicious grilled fish + chips+roast vegies (265 ruppee still cheap really just not for Nepal). Then we also took the Vegie Butter Massala - WOW was this sensational (190 ruppee). This would only be more perfect if it had chicken. THis was mouth watergreat. This place also has MOVIES playing for free at 7pm which you eat dinner with - plus happy hour drinks. Staff is friendly too.
If you have been travelling a while and miss pizza. Then Cafe Concerto is decent pizza which serves real Olive Oil with it. Name: Cush Love resturant.
All these are on the main street of the lakeside area.
Note we ate fish here in Pokhara as the pollution is very minimal, the lake is clean due to lack of engines in the lake! So the fish was great and fresh daily. However we still don't eat meat as they just don't really put anything in freezers or fridges. After slaughter they leave out in the hot weather where the flies and dust etc can just settle.
However again Nepal is MUCH cleaner than in India. Indeed my frustration was easy when I would see Indian tourists throwing their rubbish like they are at home when the Nepalese don't do these and you can see that there is NO rubbish just laying anywhere.
Oh and the street fried vedors do sell yummy things!
Cadbury Chocolate doesn't seem to taste the same. So I am only really eating Toblerone!
Ciao for now....
