The gang of four at large in Kathmandu - Part 1
On Saturday 25 October the group of 16 assembled after breakfast, ready to be ferried across the river to our waiting bus. The bus wasn't waiting so we did instead. This was to be the day that Trish, Rachel, Murray and Allan ("the gang") seperated from the main group. Instead of a pleasant 7hr bus trip to pokhara followed by a leisurely 7 day stroll arround Annapurna circuit, the gang where getting emotionally prepared for a gruelling 4hr stopover at a luxury hotel in Bharatpur followed by a 30 minute flight back to Kathmandu and an intense afternoon of retail therapy.
Our bus duly arrived and took us to the town of Bharatpur. Goodbyes, good lucks and possibly a few good riddances were exchanged along with hugs and handshakes before the gang checked into the Island Resort Heights Hotel. Any thoughts of spending the rest of the morning in the swimming pool quickly evaporated, upon sighting the poison green colour of the water.
Spirits where lifted when we where able to bring our flight forward by an hour and a half, thus extending the afternoons shoppoing expeditions.
A quick 1hr tour of the main street of the town by Murray produced the result that the town is not used to tourists and that he was relativly free of the hustling that we're used to in Kathmandu and the tea houses of the Langtang valley, and that this was reflected in the things that they had for sale, i.e. every day goods for ordinary folk. Also as notable as the lack of hustling was the reaction when Murray visited a clothing shop, the clothes were as you would expect from any Hallenstiens store, but on entering the store the young girl at the counter, already supprised that a Caucasian was walking past, was possitivly gobsmacked when he walked in and perused the goods on offer.
The flight was uneventful, but gave us great views of the mountains and valleys to the south of Kathmandu, peppered as they are with small settlements in precarious locations. Kathmandu valley was unussually clear when we approached the airport, so good views of the city where had. The impression was that every bit of land was either built on or cultivated, parks and gardens are a rarity.
Jiban met us at the airport and got us quickly back to the Manang Hotel. We politely declined an invitation to watch him play (ED: and partisipate?) tennis in favour of the more physicaly demanding sport of shopping. Trish and Rachel each have a black belt in this sport, and Murray will earn his very soon if his afternoons efforts are any indicator. Allan is still very much a learner with only a weak grasp of the finer points of shopping for anything but food.
Our bus duly arrived and took us to the town of Bharatpur. Goodbyes, good lucks and possibly a few good riddances were exchanged along with hugs and handshakes before the gang checked into the Island Resort Heights Hotel. Any thoughts of spending the rest of the morning in the swimming pool quickly evaporated, upon sighting the poison green colour of the water.
Spirits where lifted when we where able to bring our flight forward by an hour and a half, thus extending the afternoons shoppoing expeditions.
A quick 1hr tour of the main street of the town by Murray produced the result that the town is not used to tourists and that he was relativly free of the hustling that we're used to in Kathmandu and the tea houses of the Langtang valley, and that this was reflected in the things that they had for sale, i.e. every day goods for ordinary folk. Also as notable as the lack of hustling was the reaction when Murray visited a clothing shop, the clothes were as you would expect from any Hallenstiens store, but on entering the store the young girl at the counter, already supprised that a Caucasian was walking past, was possitivly gobsmacked when he walked in and perused the goods on offer.
The flight was uneventful, but gave us great views of the mountains and valleys to the south of Kathmandu, peppered as they are with small settlements in precarious locations. Kathmandu valley was unussually clear when we approached the airport, so good views of the city where had. The impression was that every bit of land was either built on or cultivated, parks and gardens are a rarity.
Jiban met us at the airport and got us quickly back to the Manang Hotel. We politely declined an invitation to watch him play (ED: and partisipate?) tennis in favour of the more physicaly demanding sport of shopping. Trish and Rachel each have a black belt in this sport, and Murray will earn his very soon if his afternoons efforts are any indicator. Allan is still very much a learner with only a weak grasp of the finer points of shopping for anything but food.
posted by Murray Sutherland @ 7:29 AM
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