Exploring KTM

Friday 25 Sept
Walking around at night, I met a rickshaw driver named Deb (male) that
offered to be my city guide. We met the following day, thursday, at 1
pm, hired a taxi driver and went ti the monkey temple, Swayambhu.
There were many stairs up, and many tourists. The site is popular for
Buddhists and Hindus. That day, the monkeys were hiding, we only saw
1. But there were a lot of dogs.
We also drove to Durbar square, KTM, which was an old palace, now
goverment and army headquarters. Then we went to another Durbar square
in Patan which was also a palace, now a museum.
We will hit a few more close spots today.

Settled into Kathmandu

It was a long trip here. spent the night in new delhi, not even 12 hours in the hotel. What a scene!
Got to Kathmandu OK. All paperwork was in order.
The ride from the airport was pretty scary.
The hotel that I am staying at is really nice- The Kathmandu Guest House. More like a resort w/ shops, restaurants, money exchange, tour broker, etc. all on site. They upgraded my room because I had to wait at the pickup van for an hout to wait for the others on my flight. I got out early because I accidently cut a line of about 200 people.
the computer here is pretty basic. I dont know if i can upload pictures. I will try later.
Bill

All packed

all lists were checked, everything stuffed in the pack.
visas, passport, rupees, all good!

Another Visa

Good thing I got to the Consulate of India early. There was already a big line which I waited on. After a while, the line started to move. It snakes up a sidewalk and down stairs into a basement office. When I got to the front of the line, an official looked at my parerwork and told me that I had to go to another address, about 17 blocks away. Of course the address on the application was the wrong one. Off I went, to 53rd & 2nd ave. Up into a 2nd floor office, backpacks were not allowed. I had to leave it in the hall. Filled out a new application, 2 pictures, drivers liscense photocopy, passport with 2 spare pages, good for 6 more months....... all hunky dory. And another line to pay the $68 fee, cash. Thank you sir, please come back between 5:30 and 6:00 to pick it up. I did, waited on another line, got my passport back with the visa stuck on a page, and the deed was done. Way too much work for 9 hours in a hotel room in New Delhi.

The Himalayan Yak Restaurant

To prepare for Nepali food, and for a night out for our 18th anniversary, Elaine and I went to the Himalayan Yak Restaurant, in Jackson Heights, Queens.
http://www.himalayanyakrestaurant.com/
It was an ethnic adventure for sure. We parked in Newark, took the PATH to 33rd st, then the N to the 7, and 13 stops later, we were in Jackson Heights. 2 hours door to door.
The place was teally nice, and close to the train station, right under the 7. I had the Goat Thali-
"Thali - Traditional Nepali combination platter of chicken/pork/goat/beef /vegetarian served with rice, dal (lentil soup), saag (mustard), vegetable curry, papad, mula achar(pickle) and yogurt.
Vegetable Thali        8.99
Chicken / Pork         9.99
Goat / Beef              10.99"
The beer special was Taj Mahl, from India. Keer for desert.

Embassy of Nepal in NYC

I get the application on-line. Lots of the standard questions and I had to paste a photo on the application.
To get into the city I did something different. I drove to the Secacucus Junction, parked there, and picked up a train th NY Penn. My door to Penn in 45 minutes, I couldnt believe how fast it was. After getting lost on the subway I found the Embassy on the 17th floor. I was met by a nice Nepali woman behind the window. Before I asked the question, I saw the sign- money orders only, no cash or checks. She took my passport and application and sent me to Dwane Reed 1 block away for a $40 money order.

I returned with it and she gave me my passport back with the "visa" on a label stuck to a page in the back of my passport.

Next I need to get an Indian transit visa, because I am staying a night in a hotel in New Delhi.