Kathmandu

We arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday. It was only a 1,5 hour flight but it feels like being in a totally different world. Flying wasn’t our first choice but the only other option we had was taking a 36 hour bus. There are trains to Kathmandu from Delhi too but since it’s holiday period in India those were fully booked for the next few months (!). A 36 hour uncomfortable bus ride didn’t sound too appealing either so we took the easy way. Kathmandu felt good from the moment we landed although it took some time to get our visas. We had to pay for them by cash in dollars or euros but we didn’t have enough cash with us. So they just let us walk through customs and security to go to an ATM to get money. Some sketchy guy followed us, telling us the ATM machine wasn’t working and he would take us to an ATM downtown for a good price. We ignored him and found out the ATM machine was working just fine. Then we went back inside, changed the Nepalese rupees for dollars and paid for the visas. Now we’re staying in a very nice hostel in the busiest part of Kathmandu which is called Thamel. The people are amazingly friendly, the streets are a lot cleaner than in India and the weather is so much better. No need to turn a fan on during the night and we’re sleeping under blankets again. We just booked a trekking in the Annapurna region which is supposed to be amazing. We’re leaving for Pokhara tomorrow morning and the trekking starts the day after that, taking 4 days. After that we’re taking a bus back to Kathmandu as we’re storing our backpacks in the hostel we’re staying right now. We'll be back here to celebrate Loes' birthday on the 4th of June and we already found some nice bars so that won't be a problem!

Namaste!

I've only been for a few days but it seems ages ago that I left home. The first day I was surprised about everything: the cows, the heat, the (bad) smell, the poverty, the dirt and garbage everywhere and the power being cut off every few hours. They don't have any bins here so they just burn all the garbage. The roads are mostly unpaved and I've seen so many poor people already, sleeping on the streets and begging for money. Loes and Brian told me they've seen far worse poverty than this, but this is enough for me.
It didn't take long to realise that literally everyone here tries to rip you off. Which I can understand in a way, but it's rather frustrating. Yesterday we went on a bus tour to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. The guy from the tour agency told us it would only take 4,5 hours to get there. We left at 6.45 in the morning and only got there around 1.30. We had the worst seats on the bus - next to the driver - because apparently we had booked seats without air conditioning. Of course we could have other seats; if we paid. On our way to Agra we saw tractors, horses, camels and cows on the road (some going in the opposite direction and almost causing accidents).

In Agra we first went to see the Agra Fort. We didn't want to get in so we waited until everybody else got back. Then we went to some handicraft shop, after that we went to have lunch and only after that we went to the Taj Mahal. To find out we only had one hour and ten minutes before we went back. From the parking lot it was still a 1,5 kilometre walk to the entrance. We bought tickets (which cost 20 rupees for Indians - 750 rupees for foreigners) and saw an enormous cue. A guy came up and said he would get us in immediately - if we paid. We didn't have much choice. I already passed security when they held Loes. They said it was absolutely forbidden to take your ipod inside (although a camera was no problem). She had to take it back to the cloakroom, pay a 1500 rupees deposit and come back. We didn't have any more money with us so that was no option. Eventually we gave the ipod to a guy from a store near the Taj. We only had 15 minutes left to see the Taj Mahal - a mausoleum that some emperor had built for his wife when she was giving birth to one of their children. We ran through the complex, taking as much pictures as we could. Then we hurried back to the bus, longing for our guest house in Delhi. But we should have known it would take some time before we got there. We stopped at another temple. We stopped at some sacred garden. We stopped to have dinner, although it was after midnight. At 3 o'clock we finally got back in Delhi. What a day.

Delhi

First of all: thank you everyone for the messages, cards and e-mails you sent me! It's good to hear you're all gonna miss me. I probably won't have time to miss you but I'll think of you every once in a while ;). Second of all: I'm here! Loes picked me up from the airport this morning and it still feels a bit unreal. Third of all: it's hot here! I think about 40 degrees. I just took a shower and my hair immediately turned itself into a poodle when I got out. That means sweaty days ahead of me! Fourth of all: I saw my first holy cow! They're just walking down the streets and if they're in your way: too bad for you.
I haven't done much yet (which is obvious because I just got here). Just had breakfast with Loes and Brian and we talked about our plans for the coming weeks as Brian (a guy we met in Shanghai on our previous trip) has to go back home in a few weeks. This means we're leaving for Agra (to see the Taj Mahal) in 1 or 2 days and after that we're heading towards Nepal. The tourist season there is coming to an end and hostels are already closing down. Yes, as you can read, we did great research before starting this trip...

Take care! Sjan

Just a few days to go...

Yes, my two sisters are so happy to finally see me leave again that they bought me Sjanpagne :)!
Only a few days to go now. It´s weird to leave home again, not knowing for how long you´ll be gone and what kind of adventures you´re getting yourself into. But one thing´s for sure: I´m ready to leave!