Departure from Montreal to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). The flight was very good and I had the wonderful chance to be in first class. After about 55 flights with this type of plane tickets (I have a Stand-By tickets because my girlfriend works for SPANAIR), I was pleased to finally have this privilege.
I am therefore in the plane and I headed to the first class. I was sitting in a little cabin just get my coat and offered me a glass of champagne. The seat was so comfortable and the food so good that I thought it was a penalty for a flight only 6 hours. I knew I had a 11am flight between Paris and Bangkok. I never thought to say that in my life. Like what life sometimes surprises us with pleasant little surprises.
I finally take the plane to Kathmandu and landed at the Tribhuvan airport. I am surprised by the size (small) from the airport. With a single track, it reminded me of my arrival at the airport in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.
The steps to follow upon arrival at the Kathmandu airport seems a bit erratic. We arrive and the first step is to make the line for obtaining a visa in Nepal if you have not already. If you have planned to get to your arrival in Kathmandu, you will have a picture with you and pay on the spot. The price depends on what you enter your card on arrival. For my part, I added that I stay 6 weeks and was then announced that the price would be 100 U.S. for a three-month visa.
I pay and I'll be back with another wicket to take the visa and then go to another counter to receive the stamp. These three counters are placed together and each agent will tell you where you go to the next step. I'm going to wait for my luggage and bag one of the first sort. I expect two other Canadians met at the door for my flight to Kathmandu.
Shortly after we leave customs and we are immediately assailed by many taxi drivers Nepal scenting great deals. One of them proposes to bring us Thamel (tourist center) to Nepalese Rupees 250. Arriving in the car we are told that the price is 500 rupees. Too tired to argue, I told him that it will.
So we are having and the man sitting next to me said he has a hotel and if we go to his hotel, transportation will be free. But since my new friend (the Canadian) had an appointment with another friend in a guesthouse, we must go to another place. We really decided to rent a room in his hotel, the man insists many Nepali! Finally, I will see the rooms in this hotel but decided to follow my two Canadian friends. I am very pleased to have arrived safely at Kathmandu Peace Guesthouse.
I will put my things in the room and decides to go explore the city a bit. I first stomach to see the life and atmosphere of downtown Kathmandu. Even if I am in the heart of the tourist part, life remains very traditional. Smells and colors are very exotic in this district of Kathmandu. This is the gathering place of many "backpackers and small hotels not too expensive. We can expect to pay between 4-10 U.S. a night."
I am therefore left in Pokhara May 8 in the morning to bring together two Irish who had to do the trek with me. The journey of 7 hours worries me a little because I do not feel great to the stomach. I probably ate something that I should not have. But it is not the adventure ^ So we try stuff.
We finally arrived in Pokhara around 13:30 and the first impression is the bus station and taxi drivers trying to take you to your destination. The problem was quickly resolved because I have my guide and he asked the driver if the bus can come directly to the hotel Pookhara (Yeti Hotel). He accepted and we are hitting the road again with the same bus. The room is pleasant and very large! The city parrait beautiful here and I am enchanted by the place.
Upon our arrival at Naya Pool, we just eat in a canteen and we prepare a little. Then it was the start on foot. My bag is heavy but at the beginning, I do not feel it. We begin by longer a river where you can see people swim and fish in the River. The scenery is beautiful but I'm too busy concentrating to put my feet on the stones without falling.
My guide, to reassure me tells me that tomorrow will be a tough day! (Thanks!) Finally this break makes me feel good. I want to drink water, m'hydrater and this is my recuperation. I continued and the rest of the day is going pretty well. The small villages of Nepal are not but many people are smiling and often the journey is very enjoyable.
I return to 18h to lodge Thikedhunga I m'asseois with two travelers encountered on the path: Bertrand of New Caledonia and Florence in Montpellier. We bavardons the rest of the evening with our guides as well. We laugh a lot and tell stories of travel. Fun is waiting for you. This village is Tikhedhunga.
At every turn, I discovered a farmer in old age after screaming his two oxen to make progress in its small fields in order to draw a furrow prior to sowing rice. The work seems daunting. The oxen are progressing slowly and painfully, the farmer shouts of his whole body to monitor the progress of the animals.
Traditional farms are not without charm, carefully maintained, decorated with flowers, earth colored walls, in arriving at one of them a shelter suggests an ox, a donkey, hay and a charm that almost surreal view magi not surprise me any more.
The Himalayas teach patience - with canceled flights, with bargaining drivers, with one's own limits. I left with a notebook full of phrases, a camera full of misty valleys, and the understanding that Nepal's magic lies not in pristine perfection, but in the raw collision of beauty and struggle at 3,000 meters.