1. Chinese Nepal’s border –Nepal is
completely different from China, different faces, different town different
immigration building, different army uniform, etc. China is far more advance
than Nepal, reminds me of crossing Laos to China. But it was great feeling
again to see green.
“Horn Please” – These
words written at the back of almost very trucks and buses. Nepalese’s drivers
are even crazier than any driver I ever seen. Horn is just so annoying and you won’t
have any moment of silent. Btw, they do horn at human if you blocked their way
but not the animals. Animals have a good life in Nepal.
2. Kathmandu – How to spend money in
Kathmandu? After weeks of extreme travelling, altitude things, basic food -
Kathmandu has been a great place; food was amazing, pubs everywhere. Great food
but expensive and beer was triple the price in China. Kathmandu was pretty much
a resting stop for me - the most expensive town so far with spending on average
2500 rupees per day.
Been to holy temple,
seen the body burning site and it was quite confronting to see burned body
shape, white skull.
Also been to Tibetan’s
monastery and seen Tibetan’s monks praying with music instruments. This is
something you won’t be able to see in Tibet - definitely worth it.
India Visa in Kathmandu
– It has been the worst and slowest way of applying visa. It is all about
waiting and you need to visit the embassy 3 times to get your visa done. For first time, I had an argument with a
traveler over the queue. He maybe was waiting in café since early morning but
he wasn’t queue up in line. I came later and stay in line at first but he
wasn’t happy.
Kathmandu to Chitwan
National Park – Sigh, not another road block! According to local, they blocked
the road to protest as local police refused to take the local murder case. There
was no system in Nepal. It was frustrating.
3. Chitwan National Park – Paid USD 120
for 3 days 2 nights tour, get to ride on elephant, see the rhinos, and see the
elephant bathing. Nah… it wasn’t worth the money we paid. Hey, you get to stay
in jungle – strange, Malaysia has more and better tropical jungle but I haven’t
been to Taman Negara (my next target). Out from Kathmandu, weather was hot, got
the diarrhea the first night, unpleasant, rush to toilet middle of night.
4. Lumbini – A great night stop from
Chitwan National Park before border crossing. It was birth place of buddha,
with every country’s Buddhist temples built alongside the lake. Skipped the
temples as they are newly built so not so interested. It wasn’t worth a stop at
all. Town was often power cut, we were having dinner with candle light, hmm…
and full of mosquitoes.
End of
Nepal – Nepal has a lot more to offer such as Annapula trek has been the best
according to lonely planet. There are rafting, bungee jumping, paragliding,
mountain trekking, Everest base camp, and more. I would be back.
