Exploring Nepal
Today my dad and I went from seasoned trekkers to professional tourists. We spent the day eating, visiting historical and cultural locations, eating some more, shopping, and eating again; all the things Nepal is known for. After sleeping in and then satisfying ourselves with a hearty buffet breakfast, we eventually left our hotel and caught a taxi to one of the World Heritage Sites: Hanuman-dhoka Durbar Square.
The Hanuman-dhoka Durbar Square is the historic abode of Nepalese royalty and consists of ancient temples and palaces. Sadly, it is also one of the many places in Kathmandu (and Nepal) that was severely damaged by a natural disaster.
2015 Earthquake in Nepal
In April and May of 2015, two major earthquakes killed nearly 9000 people and injured more than 22000. The quake also triggered an avalanche that killed 19 climbers on Mt Everest and left hundreds of people stranded at Base Camp. Due to the simple construction of multi-storey brick buildings and many old temples (often lacking steel reinforcing and proper foundations), many of them in and around Kathmandu were reduced to rubble.
Since the earthquake, there has been overwhelming support from around the world (America, Europe and Asia) to assist with the building, and reconstructing where possible, of these temples and palaces. Some of the structures that were not too heavily hit have already been repaired, while others that were almost completely destroyed are only due to be completed by around 2025. I have included some of the pictures of the site in this photo gallery.
When performing the reconstruction of the buildings and temples, all the materials and designs that are in an acceptable and usable condition will be included in the repairs of the structure. However, where the materials are not insufficient, specialised carpenters and artists will produce replicas of the original details and designs.
Eat ‘Til You Pop
After exploring some of the cultural and historical aspects of Kathmandu, we had worked up quite an appetite and decided to head to the bustling streets of Thamel to get something to eat. Regardless of what you feel like eaing, you will find every type of cuisine available in the area. Stumbling across a rooftop restaurant called La Bella Cafe, we were pleasently surprised and impressed with our meals and the overall experience.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
Having settled our hunger pangs, we were ready to shop up a storm. Given that Kathmandu is the starting point for almost all hikes in Nepal, you can probably guess that there are endless trekking related stores, which sell everything from sleeping bags, to backpacks, to apparel, to ice picks and trekking poles. So, if you are keen to trek Nepal, you could actually get most of your clothes and accessories from here, and for a fraction of the price that you would pay for at home. I would recommend that your hiking boots still be bought in advance because they need to be worn in before your big adventure. Apart from trekking related stores, you can also shop for literally anything else including traditional clothing, bags, jewellry, tea, books, spices, and much more.
The Streets of Kathmandu
There are some other things I have to mention about Nepal, starting with the extreme traffic situation; there are cars and motorbikes and busses and bicycles and people on foot all going about their own business in the city. There is no such thing as following distance or personal space on the roads and it is common to have only a few centimeters between vehicles at any time. Hooting is a also an accepted practice and well-used form of communication while driving on the road just to let the other drivers know you are there. It is really amazing how it all just works; organised chaos at the highest level.
The other really interesting (and a bit concerning) thing in Nepal is their electrical systems and reticulation. I’m no sparky (code for electrical engineer) but I don’t thing that this is safe and good practice. But again, it somehow all just works.
Packing Bags
So, my time away from home has almost come to an end now as I start heading back to SA tomorrow evening. While it is always difficult to go back to your normal life after any holiday or adventure away, it is something that we have to do and should, therefore, do so enthusiastically.
We’ll catch up soon, everyone.
Bye for now!