Trying to start this blog has been harder than I expected. I've been quite occupied since leaving England with rushing around cities getting stuff done. And the day in Delhi was an adventure in it's self, but that's for another post. There is almost too much too see and too much going on around me for me to take in to be able to write down.
My task list on arriving in Kathmandu included getting my phone set up and getting 3G working, an internet dongle and money changed. All of which require copies of my passport and visa and finger prints. I had blue thumbs for the first day here which I failed to keep away from my face. Then there is the basic buying of stuff. Bits of food, toiletries and a towel! Kathmandu now has a super market chain Bhat-Bhateni which has aisle and aisles of all sorts of stuff, imported and local. The one near Boudha that I went to was four floors high and sold absolutely anything you could need. Three aisles of just pasta - four if you add in all the instant noodles!
This is my third evening in Kathmandu and I am beginning to get the hang of things. The power situation here is something I had been dreading but I've managed ok so far. Nepal has serious electricity shortages and until the rains come and fill up the dams the whole of Kathmandu has scheduled power outages (I've just discovered this link - very useful). I am in Group 1 and every day we have 12 hours or more without power. It's actually surprisingly easy to function especially when I have back up batteries for my laptop, an internet dongle and a wind-up lantern. Tonight though the power hasn't gone out when it should have done (three hours ago) and I think that's because it's been raining heavily all day. I don't quite understand the logic but if it rains they don't turn the power off because it fills up the rivers/dams enough. But when the power does go off most places have a back up generator or inverter (battery) that give at least enough power for a couple of lights and appliances to work. But the one in the place I am staying has died.
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| Durbhar Marg, one of the main streets in the city, should really be called Purple Avenue with all the Jakaranda trees in bloom along it. Note, KFC and Pizza Hut have come to town! |
My task list on arriving in Kathmandu included getting my phone set up and getting 3G working, an internet dongle and money changed. All of which require copies of my passport and visa and finger prints. I had blue thumbs for the first day here which I failed to keep away from my face. Then there is the basic buying of stuff. Bits of food, toiletries and a towel! Kathmandu now has a super market chain Bhat-Bhateni which has aisle and aisles of all sorts of stuff, imported and local. The one near Boudha that I went to was four floors high and sold absolutely anything you could need. Three aisles of just pasta - four if you add in all the instant noodles!
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| Bhat-Bhateni Super Market full of local and imported food and anything else you could want! |
This is my third evening in Kathmandu and I am beginning to get the hang of things. The power situation here is something I had been dreading but I've managed ok so far. Nepal has serious electricity shortages and until the rains come and fill up the dams the whole of Kathmandu has scheduled power outages (I've just discovered this link - very useful). I am in Group 1 and every day we have 12 hours or more without power. It's actually surprisingly easy to function especially when I have back up batteries for my laptop, an internet dongle and a wind-up lantern. Tonight though the power hasn't gone out when it should have done (three hours ago) and I think that's because it's been raining heavily all day. I don't quite understand the logic but if it rains they don't turn the power off because it fills up the rivers/dams enough. But when the power does go off most places have a back up generator or inverter (battery) that give at least enough power for a couple of lights and appliances to work. But the one in the place I am staying has died.
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| The inverter - or massive battery |
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