7 Days in Kathmandu

Location: 8848 Hostel, Thamel (neighborhood), Kathmandu (city), Nepal

8848 Hostel
With 2 nights pre-booking at the newly built 8848 Hostel, it was a painless start for me to begin a 30-day mini life in Kathmandu. I simply have to figure out what happens to me after those 2 nights. Being newly built, the hostel was clean and everything was functional. I got a bed in a dorm room on the 6th floor with a balcony overlooking the city. Cool! Breakfast was not just toast/coffee but a full breakfast with egg, potatoes, toast, jam/butter and coffee. Wifi was decent. Owners are also hands-on ensuring smooth operations.

Travelers at 8848 Hostel
The energy also felt positive at the hostel. Upon my arrival, I already met my dorm mates and bonded with them over dinner after taking a walk out in the street. Like a revolving door, travelers checked-in and out after a couple days stay. I met and shared plenty with most of them. We'd go out for a walk, have tea and just get a sense of the city. I was enjoying every bit of it, completely immersed in my elements.

Thamel, Kathmandu
In sharp contrast to Kuantan where I recently spent a 30-day mini life, Thamel is exciting with energies unbound. Thamel is the tourist hub of Kathmandu. Shops, restos, cafes, bookstores, hotels, art galleries all line-up the narrow maze-like streets. It is colorful as it is animated.

Dust
And yes, it's seriously dusty, you need a mask!. I can't leave my hostel without a mask, a hat, long sleeve top and long pants - all to protect me from the insidious dust. You had been warned! I was told however, that not all of Nepal is dusty - only Kathmandu.

street-food in Thamel, Kathmandu

Trekkers
Travelers go to Kathmandu to trek. The entire tourism industry hinges on that. They check-in for a few days in Kathmandu, leave their heavy stuff behind in their hotels, and go for a multi-day trek to jump-off points up to 8 hours away by bus. Treks go as high up as the Everest base camp.

Street Food
As a budget backpacker, I default to street food - it's filling, cheap and readily available. The popular eats in Kathmandu are the momos (steamed dumpling served with curry sauce, NPR 60/10 pcs). Another fav is chapati bread in Indian nooks (NPR 15 + NPR 20 for currry dish). Milk tea is served everywhere, but you have to keep an eye on it - it's usually served from a very small space it's easy to miss out. I try to look for benches on the street - that's usually a give-away there's milk tea (NPR 20). Most of the street food is served in dusty places so I take extra caution, going to the more interior ones.

Abundance
Kathmandu's energy overflows. I know if the place is right for me by way of abundance landing on my lap. It's almost like the universe is telling me to stay put because I belong there, at least while the moment lasts. Already, through my web offers, I have secured my lodging until May 12. My offer has also been accepted by a few yoga studios in exchange for compli yoga classes. I was offered to be involved in a yoga movement under the tutelage of a yoga teacher. It's all the validation I needed to make me stay. I love Katmandu!

Cambodian Friends
Pretty much like Kuantan, my 2 Cambodian Vipassana friends decided to join me here in Kathmandu - Girlly and Sothy. Together, we roam the animated streets and stop by cafes and trendy eats.

Dust Allergy
5 days into Kathmandu and the dust issue got the better of me despite the face mask. I started sneezing and coughing. My eyes were itchy and watery and my throat was scratchy. I felt weak, I could hardly finish a yoga session. It became apparent that I had to cut short my planned 30-day mini-life in Kathmandu and leave for a more hospitable place. It was time to pack-up again.

Ending Thoughts
I kinda feel bad about how things ended up. Kathmandu was so perfect for me - except the dust. The energy was vibrant, the abundance was overflowing - I secured barter lodging for the next 28 days, unlimited barter yoga classes and even an offer to develop a yoga brand for another studio. But I have to walk away from all that. All this abundance don't mean much if I can't function normally.

--- TheLoneRider
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

Next stop: Fitness in Kathmandu

Kathmandu (city), Nepal

ESSENTIAL LANDMARKS

• Tribhuvan International Airport - Kathmandu's international airport
• Ratna Park bus terminal - one of the main bus terminals with buses going to the airport
• Thamel - Kathmandu's tourist area for hotels, trekking tours, restos, cafes, money changers, cargo forwarders, etc.
• Durbar Marg - Kathmandu's upscale shopping area
• Jhochhen - popular counter-culture neighborhood during the hippie era

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

• Basantapur Durbar Square - formerly the haunt of Nepalese royalty, now an UNESCO World Heritage site for its historical significance and traditional Nepalese architecture
• Shechen Monastery - one of six mother Tibetan Buddhist monasteries from the late 17th century
• Boudhanath - one of the biggest stupas in the world, once plied over as an ancient trade route over the centuries
• Kopan Monastery - best to visit together with Boudhanath as they are not too far from each other. Foreigners come here to learn Buddhism. Open to the public Saturdays only
• Pashupatinath Temple - a Hindu temple located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Another UNESCO World Heritage site. Maha Shivaratri festival late Feb or early March with more than 65,000 devotees
• Harati Devi Temple - devoted to the worship of Harati Devi. It houses a museum, stupa and library

HOTEL

• 8848 Hostel - newly opened, backpacker friendly, resto/bar, central location, clean, wifi, a/c, full breakfast
  Thahity, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal

TREKKING

• Top of the World Adventure - trekking, tours, jungle safari, river rafting, peak climbing, hiking, expedition
  Thamel Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal

MEDITATION

• Dhamma Shringa - Vipassana Meditation Centre
• Dhamma Kitti - Vipassana Meditation Centre

Travel Tips for Kathmandu

1. Kathmandu is dusty and you'll need a mask
2. if on a budget, cheap staple comfort food in Kathmandu is momo, local price in local eateries at NPR 60/10 pieces

How to get to Thamel (Kathmandu) from the Tribhuvan International Airport

1. You can take a cab for about $7
2. Airport by bus to Thamel (Ratna Park Bus terminal)
   But if you want to save money and don't mind roughing it, you can take a bus. Walk out of the airport and turn left on the rotunda just outside the airport gate. This takes you to the main road where buses ply. The bus signs are in Nepali, but you can hear the bus conductor shouting, "Ratna Park". NPR 20, 30 minutes

Travel Tips for Nepal

• tourist visa up to 15 days = $25, up to 30 days = $40, up to 90 days = $100, transit = $5, and they will accept currencies from 18 countries
• best to register for a tourist visa online (http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa). This saves you time, trouble and the hassle of bringing in a picture with you. You get the approved form printed and just show it to the Immigration guys in Kathmandu
• NPR (Nepalese Rupee) 100 = US$1
• nearly every food served is spicy...there is no escaping it

Nepal Blogs by TheLoneRider

KATHMANDU

1. Visiting Boudhanath, Nepal's Largest Stupa Apr 19, 2018
2. Vinyasa Yoga with Dipendra at the Mandala Yoga Studio and Spa, Kathmandu Apr 18, 2018
3. Hatha Yoga with Madhab Prasad Dhakal at Sawar Yoga Studio, Kathmandu Apr 17, 2018
4. Fitness in Kathmandu Apr 15, 2018
5. 7 Days In Kathmandu April 13-20, 2018
6. The 18-Hour Trip from Kuantan, Malaysia to Kathmandu, Nepal April 12-13, 2018

LUMBINI

7. India Visa Snag May 9, 2018
8. Exploring Lumbini - Buddha's Birthplace May 5, 2018
9. Storming out of Dhamma Janani on the 4th Day May 1-5, 2018

POKHARA

10. Visiting Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, Pokhara Apr 26, 2018
11. Exploring Devi's Falls, Pokhara Apr 26, 2018
12. Trekking to the World Peace Pagoda Apr 26, 2018
13. Exploring Pokhara, Nepal Apr 20, 2018

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