Kathmandu – the First Impression

We left on 8 November by Thai Airways. Six of us altogether – Leow and wife, Alice; Susan, Joyce, Ming (my nephew) and I. It was Leow and Alice’s second trip to Nepal and first for the rest.

We arrived at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport at about 1.00pm. Our guide, Krishna Prasad of Mother-Land was at the airport to receive us. The airport appeared to be chaotic. Outside the terminal building, we were mobbed by a crowd of enthusiastic hotel touts, taxi drivers and kids who were ever so willing to lend the tourists a helping hand (at a fee of course).

We spent the afternoon exploring the city of Kathmandu while Krishna went to have our trekking permits done.

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. The streets here are like a maze. Some buildings seem to have been built haphazardly while some are in squalid and dilapidated conditions. Roads are generally short and narrow and it takes a bit of nerves and skill to drive in the city of Kathmandu. There are many reckless drivers around and they are very fond of honking. In fact as one writer of a guidebook has aptly put it, ‘Nepali drivers use their horns more than their brakes’. But, do not be appalled and put off by the condition in Kathmandu, for Nepal has much to offer than one realises – the warm and friendly people, the beautiful scenery and the mountains.

From Kathmandu, we left for Pokhara the following day by plane. Pokhara, about 200km west of Kathmandu, is a small tourist town. The main streets are dominated by hotels, guesthouses, trekking agencies, shops selling / renting trekking equipment & gears and souvenir shops. The lake, Lake Phewa (or Phewa Tal in Nepali), lying adjacent to the main street and the focal point of Pokhara, is famous for its charm and beauty. From Pokhara, the panoramic view of the Himalayan range is breathtaking and beautiful. The Annapurnas, Machhapuchhare and Manaslu – though draped in snow and seemed so distant – warmed my heart instantly. I knew I had not made a mistake coming. I momentarily forgot about the tough days ahead.