Posted by: Jonathan
As the bus screeched to a halt in Kathmandu (the capital of Nepal) we quickly realized we were no longer in the calm clean aired mountain towns of the Himalayas. Trash spilled out onto the streets and the pollution was palpable.
As the bus screeched to a halt in Kathmandu (the capital of Nepal) we quickly realized we were no longer in the calm clean aired mountain towns of the Himalayas. Trash spilled out onto the streets and the pollution was palpable.
We found an affordable room in Thamel, the heart of the backpacker area. Although it was a bit cramped, the private bath, free WIFI, unlimited TP rolls, towel, and soap helped us overlook the lack of square footage.
Once we got settled we met Vin (English Aussie we trekked with) for dinner and drinks at a hip Middle Eastern restaurant.
The next morning we had planned to explore some of the temples and tourist attractions in the area but Jenn was suffering from a headache that had been consistently pounding away for six days straight. We called the "on call" doctor provided with our insurance and, after giving him the details, he advised us to seek medical attention in person. Our first visit to a Doctor's office in over eight months of travel - not bad.
The next morning we had planned to explore some of the temples and tourist attractions in the area but Jenn was suffering from a headache that had been consistently pounding away for six days straight. We called the "on call" doctor provided with our insurance and, after giving him the details, he advised us to seek medical attention in person. Our first visit to a Doctor's office in over eight months of travel - not bad.
The Doc at the Nepal International Clinic ruled out my fear of a sinus infection and Jenn's fear of a brain tumor - Its nooooot a tuuuumah (Arnold Swarchenegger voice from the movie Kindergarten Cop). They felt it was a sever case of allergies. By the time we got lunch and walked back from the clinic an afternoon thunderstorm rolled in and booked the rest of our day.
We awoke the next morning at 5 A.M. and boarded a bus headed for the border of Tibet. We didn't have the time or money to deal with the permits and red tape involved in actually crossing the border. We had our sights on a nearby 525 foot gorge and elastic cord. Jenn and I had agreed to give bungee jumping a go in New Zealand but once we learned Nepal had a taller one for cheaper we jumped at the opportunity, literally.
We awoke the next morning at 5 A.M. and boarded a bus headed for the border of Tibet. We didn't have the time or money to deal with the permits and red tape involved in actually crossing the border. We had our sights on a nearby 525 foot gorge and elastic cord. Jenn and I had agreed to give bungee jumping a go in New Zealand but once we learned Nepal had a taller one for cheaper we jumped at the opportunity, literally.
The cable suspension foot bridge towering over the Bhote Kosi River swayed in the breeze as if jumping off a sturdy structure wasn't enough. In addition to bungee jumping off the bridge, you can also hurl yourself off it attached to the Canyon Swing. Image seven seconds of free fall before two climbing ropes swing you like a rag doll over the canyon floor at 95 mph. Since this is the largest free fall swing in the world, we decided jumping off a perfectly good bridge twice in the same day wasn't out of the question.
Jenn and I were strapped into harnesses simultaneously, she was set to bungee and I, swing. I jumped off first and took brave Bianca 2.0 with me. Once I left the platform my mouth gaped open but I had no air to scream. During the free fall the canyon walls became a blur and the river below approached with certain consequence. At the last possible instant the twin climbing ropes snapped taught and I began a large pendulum swing sending me through the canyon. Skydiving was cool, but this was better.
While I was still hanging from my rope, Jenn bungeed from the bridge and I did my best to capture it.
Once we were safely on the canyon floor we hiked back to the rim to do it again. Along the way Jenn kidnapped a baby goat. She insists that we become proud owners of one upon our return.
The second time on the bridge I took a video of the girl in front of Jenn doing the Canyon Swing so you could have the above perspective. As you watch the video you can see her free fall and then accelerate across the canyon floor out of sight.
Once the girl in the previous video was unhooked, Jenn was up and took Bianca 2.0 along for the ride.
Jenn waited on a rock in the river below and video taped me bungee jumping from the bridge.
Jenn and I both agreed that we were glad we took the plunge and could check bungee jumping off the list. With that said, neither one of us plan to do it again. However, if someone somewhere builds a bigger swing, we'll be there.
You would think jumping off a bridge twice in one day was dangerous but I would argue the bus ride back was the real statistic waiting to happen. Our driver had to slam on breaks to avoid a rock slide in action. I actually saw a rock the size of a 55 gallon drum tumble down the mountain and shatter onto the road. Luckily, no motorists were injured. Shortly after that, while passing through a town, a mob of people surrounded our bus and forced it to stop. After several exchanges and some anxious seconds we were allowed to proceed. Finally, as darkness fell, the bus driver raced down the mountain using both lanes narrowly missing a dump truck chugging uphill.
You would think jumping off a bridge twice in one day was dangerous but I would argue the bus ride back was the real statistic waiting to happen. Our driver had to slam on breaks to avoid a rock slide in action. I actually saw a rock the size of a 55 gallon drum tumble down the mountain and shatter onto the road. Luckily, no motorists were injured. Shortly after that, while passing through a town, a mob of people surrounded our bus and forced it to stop. After several exchanges and some anxious seconds we were allowed to proceed. Finally, as darkness fell, the bus driver raced down the mountain using both lanes narrowly missing a dump truck chugging uphill.
We awoke the next day in Kathmandu to a city strike. The entire city was closed down and not a car was in the streets - eerie. We were forced to eat our hotel's overpriced breakfast since no one else was serving.
Since this was our last full day in Kathmandu we set out on foot to see a few of the sights. We passed numerous groups of riot police on standby in case things got rowdy (we only saw one brick thrown all day).
Our first stop was Swayambhunath, a Buddhist temple that sits high atop a hill overlooking the city. It is often referred to as monkey temple, partly because there are a lot of monkeys, but mostly because who can really pronounce Swayambhunath correctly anyway. Jenn and I, overall, have been disappointed with religious structures as a whole (India and Nepal) because they are always incredibly dirty and you are constantly hassled to buy trinkets even within the structure. It would be like visiting a cathedral that hadn't been cleaned in ages, feces from dogs and other animals accumulating on the floor, and used car salesmen types approaching you every few minutes.
From there we passed through Durbur Square which is normally a people watching paradise but due to the strike, there were more pigeons than humans.
We crossed over a river that coursed through the city carrying sewage, trash, and...treasures? There were multiple people skimming the contents floating by and sifting through all that had settled on the bottom.
From Kathmandu we catch a taxi to the airport for our flight to Singapore.
Traveling around Nepal can be both challenging and rewarding at the same time. A great example of this would be load sharing. Nepal makes enough electricity to sustain the population's needs but chooses instead to sell it to India. Therefore you only get electricity about eight hours a day in large cities, including the capital. In smaller towns it is hit or miss, no one knows when it will come and when it does, how long it will stay. The optimistic side of this is when the power goes out, the candles are lit transforming a quick bite to eat into a romantic candle lit dinner.
Traveling around Nepal can be both challenging and rewarding at the same time. A great example of this would be load sharing. Nepal makes enough electricity to sustain the population's needs but chooses instead to sell it to India. Therefore you only get electricity about eight hours a day in large cities, including the capital. In smaller towns it is hit or miss, no one knows when it will come and when it does, how long it will stay. The optimistic side of this is when the power goes out, the candles are lit transforming a quick bite to eat into a romantic candle lit dinner.
Water is another thing they don't take for granted. In several hotels the water would run out and you would have to wait until morning for showers, washing hands, or flushing. You have to fill a jug of water to be safe you wouldn't go without.
We rang in the Nepali new year while trekking. Their new year is April 14th which started year 2068. Yes, we are only on 2011 and they are already getting into 2068. They are ahead of the times, yet remarkably behind times at the same time.
It's the end of the month so the budget has been updated! Check it out - I think we are doing pretty good.
It's the end of the month so the budget has been updated! Check it out - I think we are doing pretty good.