** the journal of our travels in India will follow shortly...
Showing posts with label Nepal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nepal. Show all posts
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Nepal, overview
** the journal of our travels in India will follow shortly...
Mountain flight over Kathmandu valley to Mt. Everest
Before leaving Nepal, we did an early morning mountain flight to get "a closer look" at Mt. Everest from Nepal. We did have our doubts though, as the air seemed to be very misty at 5a.m. However, as the small turboprop rose above Kathmandu we suddenly got above the layer of smog into clear blue skies.
We got the most fantastic views of a load of snow-capped mountains as we flew east towards the Everest.
One at a time, we were allowed to go into the cockpit to see the panorama from the front as we were approaching Mt. Everest. We could clearly see it's very distinctive triangular shape as we got nearer to it, though we weren't close enough to spot anyone waving from the top :D
The plane then flew back past everything again, but a lot nearer this time, with spectacular views of the Himalayan mountain range underneath us. These mountains were truly majestic, and not only the Mt Everest which happens to be the tallest amongst other, 7-8,000m summits.
All our photos from Nepal
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
We got the most fantastic views of a load of snow-capped mountains as we flew east towards the Everest.
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
One at a time, we were allowed to go into the cockpit to see the panorama from the front as we were approaching Mt. Everest. We could clearly see it's very distinctive triangular shape as we got nearer to it, though we weren't close enough to spot anyone waving from the top :D
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
The plane then flew back past everything again, but a lot nearer this time, with spectacular views of the Himalayan mountain range underneath us. These mountains were truly majestic, and not only the Mt Everest which happens to be the tallest amongst other, 7-8,000m summits.
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
All our photos from Nepal
Friday, October 01, 2010
Kathmandu
Namaste! (Hello in Nepalese)
We finally arrived to Kathmandu smelly, tired and covered in dirt after the 5-hour-drive from the Tibetan border. Traffic here seemed insane (even crazier than in mainland China) - with a flow of cars, bikes, motorcycles, buses, tuk-tuk's, rickshaws, animals and beggars all around.
Lying in a valley, a thick layer of smog and dust covers the entire town. It took us some time to get used to the smog after the clean air and clear views of Tibet, but it was a good prep for us before going to India...
However, after refreshing ourselves in the pool of our hotel, which interestingly was in a small area of the city completely closed off with guards and security checkpoints offering a safe oasis to relax...
...we headed to explore the old city.
Despite being a dirty, loud and chaotic place, Kathmandu still has its charms! The Durbar square area is really impressive, no wonder it's a Unesco World Heritage site.
One of the most impressive squares we have seen in the world, a cluster of ancient temples, courtyards, palaces and streets dating back to the 12th and 18th centuries. Its apparently the social and religious center of the city.
There are lots of temples scattered all over the place dedicated to the various Hindi gods; and apparently there are temples where both Hindis and Buddhists worship their gods/buddhas and both religions can fit together in one place without tension.
Inside the complex we visited the Palace which used to be the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th century and is still the site of important ceremonies. It is decorated with impressive wood carvings, extremely elaborate and fine work:
Surprisingly, in all the dirt and chaos around, the ladies were very nicely dressed in traditional clothing even when washing clothes on the side of the road or walking in the city center.
In the evening we had dinner at one of the many rooftop restaurants overlooking the square. It was nice to have a moment of relaxation and watch the crowd and chaos of the bazaar from a distance:
All our photos from Nepal
We finally arrived to Kathmandu smelly, tired and covered in dirt after the 5-hour-drive from the Tibetan border. Traffic here seemed insane (even crazier than in mainland China) - with a flow of cars, bikes, motorcycles, buses, tuk-tuk's, rickshaws, animals and beggars all around.
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
Lying in a valley, a thick layer of smog and dust covers the entire town. It took us some time to get used to the smog after the clean air and clear views of Tibet, but it was a good prep for us before going to India...
However, after refreshing ourselves in the pool of our hotel, which interestingly was in a small area of the city completely closed off with guards and security checkpoints offering a safe oasis to relax...
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
Despite being a dirty, loud and chaotic place, Kathmandu still has its charms! The Durbar square area is really impressive, no wonder it's a Unesco World Heritage site.
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
One of the most impressive squares we have seen in the world, a cluster of ancient temples, courtyards, palaces and streets dating back to the 12th and 18th centuries. Its apparently the social and religious center of the city.
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
There are lots of temples scattered all over the place dedicated to the various Hindi gods; and apparently there are temples where both Hindis and Buddhists worship their gods/buddhas and both religions can fit together in one place without tension.
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
Inside the complex we visited the Palace which used to be the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th century and is still the site of important ceremonies. It is decorated with impressive wood carvings, extremely elaborate and fine work:
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
Surprisingly, in all the dirt and chaos around, the ladies were very nicely dressed in traditional clothing even when washing clothes on the side of the road or walking in the city center.
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
In the evening we had dinner at one of the many rooftop restaurants overlooking the square. It was nice to have a moment of relaxation and watch the crowd and chaos of the bazaar from a distance:
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
All our photos from Nepal
Nepal: on the way to Kathmandu...
We must say that already our first impressions on Nepal made China look very organized... we almost walked past immigration on the Nepal side, and wouldn't have seen it if our local guide didn't direct us in. Continuing our way along the Friendship "Highway", the 110-km-distance to Kathmandu took us 5 hours, but it felt like a very very long trip!
Even though it was difficult so say bye bye to Tibet, the descent to Nepal was welcomed by our lungs, exhausted from the struggle with the thin air.
The "road" led through the same deep valley we descended from Tibet, but the view in Nepal was completely different to Tibet. Still huge mountains but due to the lower elevation (around 2000 meters) lots of green, rivers, waterfalls all along the way. The change of scenery was simply stunning:
Lots of Hindi people sitting on the streets, ladies washing clothes in the streams or just chatting in groups.
On the way we passed by the world's third tallest Bungee Jumping site on a hanging bridge, however I (Zoli) passed on the chance this time. Might be difficult to believe, but it seems like with each jump, the next one gets scarier (or is it just the age?).
However, this didn't stop us from admiring the views from the hanging bridge:
In a few hours we started to see again some sign of human life when approaching Barabise:
Our travel journal continues with our arrival to Kathmandu...
All our photos from Nepal
Even though it was difficult so say bye bye to Tibet, the descent to Nepal was welcomed by our lungs, exhausted from the struggle with the thin air.
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
The "road" led through the same deep valley we descended from Tibet, but the view in Nepal was completely different to Tibet. Still huge mountains but due to the lower elevation (around 2000 meters) lots of green, rivers, waterfalls all along the way. The change of scenery was simply stunning:
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
Lots of Hindi people sitting on the streets, ladies washing clothes in the streams or just chatting in groups.
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
On the way we passed by the world's third tallest Bungee Jumping site on a hanging bridge, however I (Zoli) passed on the chance this time. Might be difficult to believe, but it seems like with each jump, the next one gets scarier (or is it just the age?).
However, this didn't stop us from admiring the views from the hanging bridge:
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
In a few hours we started to see again some sign of human life when approaching Barabise:
 |
| From ASIA - NEPAL |
Our travel journal continues with our arrival to Kathmandu...
All our photos from Nepal
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