Life in Kathmandu

Namaste.

First off, I should excuse my lack of blogging. That is largely a matter of the lack of electricity in Kathmandu, and all of Nepal. The government of Nepal has instituted a power-sharing system whereby each section of Kathmandu receives power only during two scheduled blocks every day, each of which lasts only a couple of hours. Typically I am at work during the first block, which only leaves a short time frame during which to access the internet. At any rate, here's a bit of what Kathmandu and Nepal are like, according to my experiences...

I read before I came to Nepal that it was the second poorest country in the world. However, it doesn't seem that way, coming from India. I've scaled a good bit of the city of Kathmandu, and I haven't seen the sort of shanty-town like, tin-roof-at-best settlements that characterized much of India. Also, the country itself is much cleaner. The streets aren't covered in trash and cow dung. In fact, in Pokhara, a relatively tourist city west of Kathmandu, you might mistake the lakeside drive for a street in America if you didn't know better. The people seem warmly-dressed and fairly comfortable, all things considered.

Another thing one notices in Nepal is the friendliness of the people. Again, coming from India, where most people stare at you with blank faces (and sometimes scowl, too), Nepal offers welcome change. The people are quite willing to aid a lost traveller or just strike up a casual conversation (without trying to sell you anything!). Although, just like Varanasi, you've got to contend with the good ol' Hashish dealer. Especially in Thamel.

You see, Thamel is the touristy region of Kathmandu. In other words, it's blocks are lined with trekking equipment stores, travel agents, and an assortment of Nepal souvenir stores selling everything from Pashmina shawls to elaborate daggers. Thamel is also where I work, along with another Volunteer from the U.S. We are both participating in an internship/volunteership at Man Mohan Memorial Hospital, a private hospital that supposedly serves the poor. Sounds like a noble idea. However in actuality, there is something quite funny about the hospital.

When I signed up for the Internship, I paid a fee to cover the costs of lodging, food, some transport, and the internship itself. Apparently the administration at Man Mohan was initially concerned with just obtaining their share of that fee. When we went for our first day, they made it quite clear that they were willing to dole out letters of recommendation for the internship, esentially regardless of whether or we even participated.. as long as they got their money. After much consternation on the part of our volunteer coordinator though, things changed. We now communicate almost solely with the physicians, who it seems are the only ones that actually care about what's going on. The administration actually encouraged us to take a week off and go vacation!

Beyond that work though, I went with a group to Royal Chitwan National Park. "Chitwan," as the locals call it, is a large wildlife preserve / rainforest located southwest of Kathmandu. While there, I enjoyed a nice walk through the rainforest, an elephant safari through the jungle, and an ice-cold, early morning canoe-ride.

Currently, I am in Pokhara, the second biggest city in Nepal and home of a magnificient view of the Annapurna range of the Himalayas..