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I'd been told that if a person is rigid about their trip plans, they will
be frustrated and not enjoy the experience. That was absolutely right.
It turns out that flight schedules aren't quite as reliable as they are
back home, and my flight from Mumbai to Delhi to Kathmandu didn't go as
planned. The first flight was late, making me miss the connection to Nepal.
The airline put me up in a nice hotel in Delhi, but I had to change my
reservations for my hotel in Kathmandu, and in Delhi upon my return from
Nepal.
To make things even more challenging, there was a small airline strike in many
airports, including Delhi. I did slightly worry about being able to get back
from Nepal (it turned out not to be a problem). In fact, the day before there
was a protest in Kathmandu about China's control over Tibet, and the protest
was stopped with tear gas. I'm not too sorry I missed it.
I had been enjoying my time in India, but I absolutely LOVED
Nepal. While it's very similar to India in many ways, it seemed
at the same time to be more vibrant, colorful, upbeat, inviting. I wish
I'd known how much I'd love it, so I'd have planned to stay there longer than
I did. Still, I made the most of it. There was a tourist desk in my hotel
in the heart of Kathmandu, and they arranged for a car and driver/guide for
me for the two full days I was there. As luck would have it, my guide was
also a history student, and he knew everything about everything there.
Back to main India/Nepal menu
Strike at Delhi
airport
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This just seemed
bizarre enough to
photograph
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Trip in from
airport
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Trip in from
airport
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Downtown
Kathmandu
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Downtown
Kathmandu
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Outside my
hotel
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Downtown
Kathmandu
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Downtown
Kathmandu
|
Hotel Row
|
Residential
area
|
Open Air
market
|
Open Air
market
|
Downtown
Kathmandu
|
Downtown
Kathmandu
|
Downtown
Kathmandu
|
Downtown
Kathmandu
|
Durbar Square,
Kathmandu
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Strange building
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Downtown
Kathmandu
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Colorful clothing
|
Downtown
Kathmandu
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Odd tractor
and trailer
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Downtown
Kathmandu
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Durbar Square
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Durbar Square
|
Durbar Square
|
Buddhist Stupa
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Durbar Square
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Stupa
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Durbar Square
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Portable market
|
Nice wiring
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Durbar Square
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Durbar Square
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Portable market
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Portable market
|
Spice store
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Durbar Square
|
Pretty detail
|
Produce and flowers
for sale
|
Downtown Kathmandu
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Downtown Kathmandu
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Detailed windows
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Downtown
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Durbar Square
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Durbar Square
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Beans for sale
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Downtown stores
|
Downtown stores
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Sales in the
square
|
Sales in the
square
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Sales in the
square
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Downtown stores
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Downtown stores
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Sales by temple
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Durbar Square
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Oil Lamps
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Old wiring
|
Durbar Square
|
Interesting way
of carrying
|
Ornate rickshaw
|
Downtown
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Loaded cart
|
Strong like bull
|
Mobile market
|
Mobile market
|
Open air
yardage store
|
Heavy potatoes
|
Beautiful town
|
Ever hear of
a handtruck?
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Temples at dusk
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Golden hour
in Kathmandu
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Closed temple
|
Gods everywhere
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Wow.
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Great architecture
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Amazing detail
|
Temple at twilight
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Nice workmanship
|
Getting towards
dusk
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Picturesque
|
Picturesque
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Picturesque
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Markets everywhere
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Evening glow
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Mobile
snack bar
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Mask maker
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Would hate to
look for a short!
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Freak Street
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Financial
district
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City Center
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Hot snacks
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A large intersection
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Rooftop restaurants
are common
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A large intersection
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Busy street
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Residences
above stores
|
Life inside
a postcard
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Tearing down
or rebuilding?
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Pedal produce
peddler
|
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