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Showing posts from December, 2010

Happy New Year

Less than an hour to go until it's 2011 here in Kathmandu. We went to a place called Kilroy's run by an Irish chef. Had a drink called no rickshaw, no problem....made from liquer and different juices. Very good. Had chicken and then bread pudding for dessert which they are known for - pretty good. We walked there and back as only a ten minute walk if that but insane....crossing a busy street to get there was scary scary but Su led the way. Coming back the road wasn't as bad but the sidewalks were nuts with guys on motorcycles, etc. What a horrid city it is.....I love cities but not this one. I can't see any charm to it at all.... Up at 6 a.m. for our Everest flight at 7:30...apparently we can't take extra camera batteries in our hand luggage...have you ever heard of anything so insane? No prob tomorrow as the ones in my cameras are fully charged but still...weird....it's the airport policy and won't be able to have them in my hand luggage to fly

Back from the jungle

Well we just arrived back in Kathmandu about a half hour ago. The rest of the group are doing a walking tour but I've already done it so am relaxing until we go out for dinner at 7 tonight. A nice hot (I hope) shower is next on the agenda after I've used up my hour of surfing time. We had a great time in Chitwan - we got to go on three elephant rides which were so much fun. They ranged from an hour and a half to two and a half hours. The one yesterday aft. was the longest as the driver wanted to find us a bear but no luck. We dove through dense jungle - vines were ripping through my shoes but when you are on an elephant you win! At one point we went almost straight down into a creek vertically - I felt like I was going to fall forwards off the elephant!! I nearly crossed myself when I saw what we were going to do...and you know how I feel about THAT!!! We got to see a rhino with her baby and it stood there for a few minutes - amazing. Also barking deer (yes they bark just li

High in the clouds...

In Pokhara now - beautiful lake surrounded by the Annapurna Range. Amazing! These mountains make the Rockies look like babies! Wewalked up to the Peace pagoda yesterday which had a good view - unfortunately it was cloudy so some of the mountains were hidden. We are talking blue sky and fluffy clouds but when the mountaisn are so high you need a cloudless day!!! We won't talk about the walk up and back but I had lots of help. Free day today and the others are walking on another ridge but I am going to do some postcards hopefully and then walk around the lake when the light is better for photography. We took a boat over to a temple in the middle of the lake which was nice and peaceful...our "driver" had been into the booze I discovered but oh well he got us back safe and sound. For a while there we were wondering as we were barely moving - Anna thought he was going to rob us and I thought he was too damn drunk to row properly!! :) But all turned out well in the end.

Namaste from Kurintar

I am listening to the rushing Trisuli river as I write this. Wifi here..woo hoo and cheaper than Kathmandu. I am having a relaxing day. The rest of the group....yes there is a group if you can call four of us a group....14 cancelled and two were apparently on the manifest from London to Delhi but nothing from there and cannot be tracked down.....anyway as I was saying the rest of the group went to Gorkha today. I opted after much soul searching to take a day off...there are 1000 stone steps to negotiate and my knees are still recovering from a hike the other day. Sometimes you just have to be sensible. And it's no hardship - this is a simple resort but lovely. I had hoped to use the palatial swimming pool but unless it warms up.....I want to go down to the river and take photographs but only plan to do that once due to all the steps so hanging in for the sun. It isn't 10 a,m, yet so lots of time. It's been a great few days. Our little resort in Nagarkot was lovely

Goddesses and Cremations

Wow what a day! I am still so excited from everything I saw today. Anchie came to get me at 9:30 and off we walked to the old part of Kathmandu. We saw a famous temple - the Annapurna which is the goddess of grain....being from Saskatchewan I thought that was kind of cool. Of course that is the name of my hotel and the very famous mountain range here. Traffic was absolutely chaotic there as well but Anchie yanked me out of the way. She told me to just stand still and vehicles will go around you. These were narrow streets - well lanes really - but didn't stop motorbikes and vehicles careening down full tilt. Then we got to Durbar Square...wow wow wow. I can't even remember all the names of the temples but I do have my guide book so will update this when I get home. Fabulous!! I had my picture taken with a Sadhu - cost me 100 rupees (about 1.25) but was well worth it. This was a bit quieter at least and was able to get so many wonderful photographs....took photos of some school g

Monday morning

Just had a go at the buffet breakfast here...it's pretty good. This morning had a cheese and mushroom omelette with fresh pineapple and papaya. And some pastries....yesterday I was more adventurous and tried the local food. But decided to give my tummy a break this morning as it doesn't feel up to it. Not sick, just a bit burning which is normal as I adjust to the spices. Excited about the walk this morning. Nervous about what is happening with the tour...from comments on Facebook it looks like some are cancelling out of the tour - can't say I blame them but doesn't look good for me. There is another tour one day later so maybe I can hook onto that one..it is late too of course so we shall see.....getting back here for my flight could be a problem. I just hope that tomorrow is my last day in Kathmandu - I want to get out and see the real Nepal. Not much else to report - hopefully lots more this evening!

Still just me...

The tour leader told me the rest of the group won't be arriving tomorrow...not until Tuesday at least now. Anyway for now I am going on a walking tour of Durbar Square in the morning that was scheduled so get a one on one tour. He also mentioned something in the afternoon but I could not really understand what he meant. Guess I will find out!!! I feel for the people who are stranded at Heathrow...well not being able to fly out - I'd rather be here than at the airport that's for sure. They will lose some of the tour - hopefully they don't end up cancelling the tour but it doesn't sound like it. I wonder if some will cancel out though...it must be so frustrating. They will all be exhausted when they get here and I will be wanting to talk their ears off as must admit I am starting to get a bit lonely. Kathmandu isn't the easiest city and I must look into getting a face mask as my throat is burning...I don't want to end up getting sick. Quite a few of the locals

Sitting here waiting...

I met with the tour leader...I am the only one here. He is going out to the airport to check on things. It looks like we will have our Kathmandu tour on Tuesday and no extra day at the end in best case scenario. However unless their flight was one of the few going out they will not arrive until Tuesday sometime... I asked to be booked on some kind of tour tomorrow. May have to explore Durbar Square myself as don't want to miss out on that. Sigh....oh well at least I am here and not stuck at Heathrow. I am meeting him again tonight at 8 so will know more then.

Crazy place

Well I read Kathmandu (drop the h to pronounce it) was a crazy place and it surely is. By the way I am typing this by the pool..yeah it's a tough life. I am struggling to read the screen though so excuse any typos - that damn sun - well what can shine through the pollution. Although not too bad today as the sky is fairly blue I walked into Thamel this moring and walking around for about an hour....WOW. I am still adjusting to the third world country thing....culture shock. Yeah I've been places like this before but it always takes me aback at first. Thamel is the shopping/tourist hub with narrow roads crammed with shops on either side and motocycles, cars and bikes racing down the street. Luckily mostly one way...lots of horns blaring which I can hear from here now. I kept track of where I was as didn't want to get lost. checkedf out on shop and said I'd be back (uh huh..) but did not buy anything as too early and too overwhelming but I did get an idea of what

Barbeque by the pool

Decided on that - they had a special barbeque buffet with drinks included. It was okay - was really careful on what I ate and hopefully.....this is a good hotel so should be fine but you never know....every kind of meat going and salads (careful on those) with rice that was good and desserts were the best - warm carrot and nut pudding, warm chocolate pudding and those little honey balls in sweet sauce...yum..and a glass of white wine....nothing in the Indian restaurant grabbed me but they did have entertainment. but just could not resist sitting out by the pool with fires going.... Anyway going to relax and read my Nepal books for a bit and have an early night so can get up tomorrow and start exploring. Hope everyone makes it here in time for the tour.....

Namaste from Nepal

I'm here...the flights were great. Qatar was wonderful - would go with them again. We even got our choices put on the screen - I had lamb korma. I guess I will start baaing soon as had a lamb and mint little pocket thing as a snack and then on the Doha to Kathmandu flight we had breakfast. Got my visa and a prepaid taxi here to the hotel. Okay....flashback to India big time....no seatbelts in the car of course and traffic NUTSO with motor bikes all over the place...well it has to be seen to be believed. Anyway once I just sat and accepted whatever life threw my way I enjoyed the sights. I saw my first monkey of the trip already - saw this brown animal spring across the road and it looked too bouncy for a dog and sure enough, a monkey. People everywhere....a young child being soaped down right along the road (no sidewalks), shops and colourful clothes, mass confusion....can't wait to explore! I am staying at the Annapurna Hotel on Durbar Marg - I am on the main floor and

Last post from London for now...I think

Unless the wifi at Simon's decides to work...anyhoo I ended up going to the Museum of London this afternoon which was enjoyable as always. And FREE. Particularly enjoyed the exhibition of "photographs" of what London would look like with the extremes of Global Warming.... I had wanted to try the Camel pub in Bethnal Green as it's known for it's good pies. (as in meat pies) I finally locate it and lo and behold it doesn't open until 4 p.m. At this point I am starving as I haven't had a bite to eat since 8 a.m. when I had toast and cereal and it's 2:30. So I decided to try a fish and chip place I'd heard about called The Fryers Delight in Holborn - it was good except they left some fish skin on...yuck yuck. The chips were fat and mushy - just how I like them. I'd go back for the chips but the fish....don't think so. Just seeing that gray skin makes me want to hurl...ugh. Other than that the fish was delicious. A yucky wet day - it&#

Laundry day

Yes my laundry is churning as we speak - 5.00 later...pounds that is. Then when it's time to dry it will be 20p for each two minutes or so. Oh yes, not cheap. Luckily I was able to get it into one big dryer for five pounds rather than four pounds for each load. when I get back from Nepal it will probably be two of them. Oh well, I want to start out the trip to Nepal with clean clothes so what can you do? Not too bad out- was expecting it to be worse. However tonight we enter the deep freeze with arctic temperatures of...are you ready....are you really ready?.....-2C!!!!!! Gasp, how will we all survive..I am not sure. I must say though it is damn cold as it's a damp cold and as I dress in layers rather than haul my winter jacket over (which I hate by the way..) it is not that great - being a tourist that is and being outside a lot. The British cold is horrid...in Saskatchewan we are in and out as fast as possible - although I must say I am not missing the current cold

Brrrrr!!

Cold out there tonight although not as cold as home!!! I had briefly considered a ghost walk tonight then reconsidered and thought "nah!". I popped into the internet cafe before my dinner which I plan to have at Charlie's Pizza here in Golders Green. I researched on the web and it gets good reviews (how about double checking that for me Dena?) and I am in the mood for Italian so here goes. I plan to take my time and relax with a glass of vino as well. No Corrie tonight although Inspector Frost is on at 8 p.m.....I try to balance nights out with at least one night in. I love this area and my B & B but once I'm up here I really don't want to be bothered going back down to central London again. So I try to plan ahead. Tomorrow evening I may go to a Christmas concert (free) at St. Paul's cathedral. Depends on how things go. The Nutcracker last night was wonderful - as always. I think Waltz of the Flowers is the most beautiful piece of music ever created...it s

I did it again

Well didn't get kicked out of a bank but nearly walked out of the ladies toilet in the Royal Albert Hall last night with toilet paper sticking out of my behind. A nice lady told me "ma'am, you have paper sticking out of your jacket". My first thought was what paper? And then "oh shit"...Not the first time trust me... sad to say it's the third and probably not the last....thank goodness she told me.. can you imagine walking to my seat with toilet paper hanging out of my butt with everyone seeing. Oh my....bad enough about six ladies saw me (max). Oh well. And I actually got all my kitt off this time - in those cold public bathrooms it's leave the jacket, backpack on and get it over with..now that I could see trailing paper behind...ah well. Wonder what I will do tomorrow? Anyway...the Messiah was good. I really enjoyed it - I was in the first row in the highest balcony but got a good view of everything. I mean it wasn't Paul so I didn'

East End

Yes I am in an Internet cafe - didn't realize it was one but needed a warm coffee and a loo so get 30 minutes free with the coffee. It is market day today so have checked out Petticoat Lane (first time in 22 trips - didn't miss much but it was fun...however am going out tonight so can't be buying much) and on to Brick Lane markets which were awesome - heading back there now. I did get a pair of Beatles earrings that are too cute. I do love my funky earrings! I have my eye on a t-shirt and some coasters with beautiful original photographs of London and everything really that I will be back for in January. Then on to the Columbia Flower market which was crowded (as everywhere is) but did get some shots - everyone is buying Christmas trees of course. I walked back through a housing estate so that was interesting. It's a clear day today but cold...so coming in here to warm up was a good idea. I had a bagel and cream cheese (had a small brekky at Simon's) at the Bei

Chocolate galore

It's been a busy day. Didn't have the big breakfast this morning as knew I'd be 'grazing' all day long - and I did!!! By the way I am in the internet cafe with a normal computer - the wi fi at the B & B is just too undependable - Simon just changed service providers so is looking into it. I love this internet cafe anyway - it's nice and warm and clean and new and can get whatever I want to eat. (not that I've ever done that but nice to know the option is there) I hung out here two years ago...but hopefully can use my netbook as it's more convenient. However this is much more relaxing as I don't have to worry about the Internet crashing - trust me yesterday's post was much longer and more descriptive but it went down on me and had to retype everything. Anyway took the tube to Tower Hill and started walking from there across Tower Bridge. (Today was a dull day with a bit of blue sky at one point but by 4 p.m. it was nearly pitch black outside!)

I got kicked out of Coutts bank today

Yep, got escorted out. I saw five beautiful Xmas trees in a window and saw it was Coutts bank but it was just a lobby with escalators and a security guard.Not like the actual bank was right there. So walked in about two feet and went to take a picture and a "su it" asked me what I was doing and I said taking a picture and got told no I couldn't this was a private bank. He was really snooty - stupid toff!! At first I was embarassed then upset now I think it's funny. Hey never been kicked out of a bank before - guess they don't want the riff raff in there when the richies come in. Had a great rest of the day anyway - enjoyed a Xmas concert tonight at St Martins and one by the tree in Trafalgar Square as well. Did a 10km walk from Big Ben to the Tower of London and had a wonderful beef and guiness stew outside at St. Catherines Dock - it was not bad out at all. I took the bus home down Regent and Oxford Sts but was too tired to get off and take pictures. Maybe t

Hello from London town

I made it! The flights over were good - I had both seats to myself from Minneapolis to London as the plane wasn't near full. Meal was good and all was well. NO CHILDREN ON THE FLIGHT AT ALL - YAHOO!!!!!! I treated myself to Southwestern eggrolls at Chilis at the Minneapolis airport and got a chardonnay. What a big honker - wow I was feeling no pain wandering around the airport. Not a good thing to be drunk when you are traveling...but I still have to do it now and again. Line up at passport control at Heathrow but it was going okay until all but two of the officers on each side disappeared on lunch or whatever we barely moved for half an hour. Was not impressed - finally a fellow yelled out "we haven't moved in half an hour" to a supervisor looking chap and soon we were back to five. I got through ten minutes later and needless to say my luggage was waiting for me. Took the tube here and stopped off at a sandwich shop at the tube station and got my prawn sandw