Asia-Europe 2012

En route towards East we stopped at the Citawan National Park. We booked a 4 hours safari tour to see the park. We had the chance to see packs of deer, monkeys as well as bears,crocodiles and various birds, but no tigers nor rhinoceros (which were hiding).

Inside the park there was a crocodile breeding center where endangered species of crocodiles were bred and then raised up to 1.5 meters in length before being released in the wild. Then, outside the park, not too far, there was an elephant breeding center. We found there very interesting information about the life of the elephans in captivity.

We actually visited Kathmandu just after arrival in Nepal, but I couldn’t write about it at that time as there was no reliable internet available (due to many blackouts). We booked a 5 hours private tour with driver and guide.

First we went to the Hindu temples at Pashupatinath (first 3 pictures). The river divides this UNESCO World heritage site in two areas. One is used exclusively by the hindu people for incineration of the dead, while the other side is for tourists and general public. The visit would have been a lot more pleasant if it wouldn’t have been for the trash that was lying everywhere: on the both sides of the river, inside the river and all surrounding areas. Maybe UNESCO should also provide some brooms and trash bins at the time of nominations.

After this the guide took us to the Boudhanath, one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. (picture 4)

Then we went to Swayambhunath temple and stupa area, which offers, at the same time, a nice panoramic view of the city (pictures 5 and 6). This is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Finally we arrived at Durbar Square, a historic location with many buildings dating before the unification of Nepal (pictures 7 and 8). This site is also on the World Heritage list. A common detail on all buildings is the wooden sculptures enclosed in apparent brick walls.

Except for 2 or 3 avenues (no wider than 2 lanes per direction), the city is made of narrow and crooked alleys (last 3 pictures) that have no sidewalks. Pedestrians, animals, bicycles, cars and trucks share this maze causing continuous traffic jams. Add the gross pollution and you get an actual picture of what life is for the ordinary people of Kathmandu. This is the main reason why we decided to leave the city as soon as possible.

Nepalese traditional food is “thali”. Rice with a selection of vegetable sauces and a mutton or chicken dish. Better bring your own fork, or you might have to eat with your bare hands, as the locals do 🙂

Another common food is the “momo”, a kind of meatball inside a dumpling. Very good (but a bit spicy)!

Just as I was writing about the energy crisis in Nepal I found myself in a unusual but related situation. I went to the barbershop to get shaved. After the dark fell the barber continued to work undisturbed, even though he had no light. As I felt my life was in jeopardy, I decided to lend him my flashlight.

Soon after we found these fuel dispensers buit to work even without electricity.

No, this is not Palomina’s Rotax. Instead, it is our hotel’s power generator. It looks like we’re going to spend another evening in the dark.

With daily blackouts (in fact, in Nepal you get only 12hrs of electricity per day, on average) each business has to have one.

And electric energy is not the only problem. Fuel shortages are also common. One in two fuel stations is out of stock and situation is even worse with GPL, as I’ve seen hundreds of people waiting in line for delivery.

In addition to this, the transport infrastructure is in a nearly “after war” condition, the public schools are so bad that there are more private schools than restaurants and the pollution is extreme, with mountains of trash piled everywhere. The more I see this country the more I feel like the other two Romanians who are, simultaneously, riding in Africa.