We arrived in Kathmandu yesterday afternoon. Getting out of Leh always involves a lot of security checks. We were physically searched three times by the time we boarded. Our bags were checked several times and our carry on bags were taken and checked, which made us over weight for checked bags. So I had to go back to the start of the security checks because that is where they collect the over weight fees. Then back through the searches again. This time the soldier did not like the cough drops in my pocket and told me to eat one of them and watched me. He then asked if he could have one and when I said yes he laughed and sent me on through.
In Delhi we changed planes for Kathmandu but at baggage claim we managed to get a bag of unneeded things out to Lalit ( who was nice enough to drive to the airport to get our bag - very nice) to hold for us for the southern India portion of the trip. A very nice well educated Indian couple we met at the guest house in Leh helped us by taking the bag outside to Lalit. We were sorry to have not been able to visit with him but we would have to go up a floor and through security to get back into the terminal. Air terminals here are not like in the US -- no one without a ticket for that day and time and proper ID ( passport) exactly matching the names on the air ticket can get in the front door of the airport.
The lines to get an entry visa ( $40 USD for a 30 day visa) in the Kathmandu airport were very long. We were in line for a couple of hours. Then out to find the hotel car and to the hotel in Thamel - the tourist district - well maybe the tourist zoo. Seems like it is just bedlam all the time with very narrow streets, hundreds of shops wanting to get us into their shop, 100s of tourists and trekkers, and all kinds of traffic going by seemingly just missing us barely. http://wikitravel.org/en/Thamel
Last night we ate at an Italian place, Dolce Vita -- Very good, as it was last year. Good coffee and desert!
Woke in our large 18 dollar room and had a wonderful hot shower this morning - we had slept in. We walked in Thamel when we got up and found Gaia - a place we ate last year for dinner, but their breakfast was really good too. We will go back there!
Yesterday when we checked into our hotel our room number was in the 100s in a building across the street so naturally I thought - great we are on a lower floor. Nope, after a four floor walk up there was our room! Where we are now after shopping and walking around Thamel.
We will go over to the Bodinath Stupa area tomorrow to find the Monastery where our Ladakh guide's aunt lives. She is a Buddhist nun. Our guide's mom sent a package through us to her and we need to deliver it. Stanzin says that she speaks very good English and will show us around that area.
We have not decided on a trek yet but maybe north of Pokhara around the Annapurna Base Camp trekking area. Also maybe something north of Kathmandu. ?
We are fine, enjoying the sights here and eating well. Also enjoying a lower elevation than Ladakh but we miss being in Ladakh also.
D&S
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