Nepal: Kathmandu City

We stayed in Kathmandu for 2 nights after EBC trek, and we went to Pokhara for a 4d3n. We came back to Kathmandu for 3 nights stayed before we flew back to Malaysia after Pokhara. 

If you're wondering on my schedule, click me for more detail. 

There is another name for Kathmandu in Chinese, which is "the city of thousand temples" and i never know how true is it until i walked into the city. 

Yea, walk.

We spent most of the time wondering around in the city, we even walked a few km from where we stayed to the Durbar Square aka the center square, just for photo taking and to see how true is the name "city of thousand temples".  

And i must say, very true. 

Nepal has very rich religion culture which reflect on building, the way their live and every single temples in every single streets. 

You can easily found different size of temples or idol in every street and there is so much fun to guess what is the temple / idol take care about based on the street, eg: temple in the street of a lots of dentist clinic is taking care of those who suffer toothache. 

I'll divide Kathmandu posts to 3 parts, the first one will be the snap shot of Kathmandu city aka random picture :P. 2nd will be Durbar square aka the palace square and lastly will be Monkey temple. 

If you wonder where is the post of Pashupatinath Temple aka the cremation ceremony temple, i didn't go to the temple due to i felt so ill in the last 2 days =(

Alright lets scroll down for some pica! 

chilly morning.

everything in the city is so attractive. 

one of my favorite, did you see another person in this picture?

mask

labor.

complicated and dangerous.

temple / building in Chinese or tibetan style

God of all seeing-eye

buddha statues that you can found anywhere in the city

every pieces of building materials are telling the history.

mini all seeing-eye statues in the city

stupa and more stupas

Stupa, pigeon and me.

people . laying

temples and religions are mixing well into daily life.

peace and calm

face that we couldn't forget.

model and old. I prefer the old one.

people gather in the square for praying. 

own praying corner.

there the God of taking care your teeth. 

nail a coin to pray for teethache free. 

the color of pray.

fire of praying in the morning.

one of the happening market, selling everything in gold color aka the lucky / royal color.

another corner of the market

chin up and you will see lotsa beautiful old building 

and carving like this.

John in my cam.

me in John's cam. =)

Alright here come to the end for the city snap shot, next will be Durbar square i guess?

Stay tuned and HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 

20140102, 0605pm
Rach in missing Nepal mood. 

Nepal: Kathmandu - Asmita B&B Review

Before we move to Kathmandu, i wanna write the review of one of the best guesthouse we stayed in Nepal, Asmita B&B. 

To recap, we stayed in Kathmandu for one night before we depart to EBC trek, and we stayed in Asmita B&B that night. 

We're very happy with the room (spacious, bright, quiet, great location) and we decided to reserve another 2 nights (after trekking in EBC) as soon as we checked in to the room. 

BUT!!!!

In the last night of trekking, we received an email from the host: 

Asmita B&B

To Me

29 Nov 2012

Namaste Rachel,

We made a mistake in your reservation program. It seems on the 2nd of December we were already fully booked but our brother made a mistake forgot to update our agenda. We are really really sorry for our terrible mistake. Please kindly reconsider our situation.

Thank you,

Friendly Regards,

Dharma and Asmita 

We were suppose to check in the next day (that's actually a few hours later), and this has ruin our plan. 

By no choice, i reply the mail and ask them if anything that they can do, and i got the following reply. 

asmitabandb@gmail.com

To Me

1 Dec 2012

Namaste Rachael,      first of all thank you so much for your mail. On the 2nd Dec you can stay at our place, for the 3rd dec we will look for a nice place for you. You can have breakfast in our home, its on us. We are very sorry for the inconvinience we have caused you & once again thank you very much for your understanding.  Friendly regards,        Dharma and Asmita

----------
Sent from my Nokia phone

We turn it down with thanks anyway, John and I both really don't wanna pack our stuff and move to another place after a night stay.

We ask help from Dhurba (another Dhurba, the travel agency boss) to arrange us a place to stay, he got us a room with USD25/night in a hotel standard room. 

BUT!!!

It turn out to be one of the biggest regret i've ever made. 

The hotel named Karma Hotel (staying in the place is a real karma), located in Thamel district. 

Dark and wore room, haunted movie alike bathroom, dirty bed and stink. And the 'hotel' manage told us, that is their best room. 

I'm not a picky person, but this is defo not a hotel room that worth USD25 / night. 

Alright, goin to far, although Asmita B&B ruined our plan, perhaps we should just make 3 nights reserve directly, this is really a great guesthouse.

as requested, highest level room, the Everest room.

first sign, very good.

2nd sign, we're really really happy!

the other side, the white door is a medium size closet.

opposite of our room, the sunny deck and private bathroom before the door.

great view from window

greater view from sunny balcony

the other side view. 

Why we love Asmita B&B?
1. Amazing room - clean, bright, cozy, comfort, quiet, and great how shower.
2. Location - in the most happening district of Kathmandu, Thamel, yet its located in the end of the noisy main street, so less noise, yet convenience to get everything and go everywhere.
3. Price - We get the best room of the guesthouse, USD25/night including simple breakfast, discount on more night stay.

The downsides.
1. No lift, we climb up to 4th floor every time we went out or came back.
2. No in-house restaurant, they only serve simple breakfast which included in the room fees.

Information and contact:
Website: http://www.asmitarooms.com/
Email: asmitabandb@gmail.com.
p/s: no deposit require, you just have to email to confirm your booking.

Oh, the other thing we like in Asmita B&B, that is...

extremely cute host's daughter!

grumpy, but still cute as helll!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

20131210, 0347pm

Rach in hungry mood.

Nepal: EBC Trek - Lukla to Kathmandu

Super quick one, i'm promise.

The last day of EBC trail aka the day to catch the flight to Kathmandu, its all about luck.

Our luck wasn't too bad, clear and extremely good weather, just the matter of can we get the ticket, or not.

We woke up by 5am, got ourselves ready and  have a quick breakfast, then we carry our stuffs and walked to the airport by 6am, make sure we got plenty of time to wait (the best scenario) or to fight 2 tickets to Kathmandu.

Yea, you hear me right, no reserve system even you've make fully payment, its all about first come first serve, sometime you have to be really tough to those who want to jump q. 

We're lucky enough to got on the 3rd flight of the day (we were there as early as the first flight time), which is about 9am.

we can still see the moon right before we departed from the hotel to airport.

clear weather

we saw jet coming in.

and heart skip a beat everytime the jet making turn in just right time.

really short runway, the most dangerous airport in the world, Lukla Airport.

walk to the jet parking lot, yes, just few step away from the building actually.

fly high.

and bye, Everest Based Camp trail, i will never forget the experience. 

Alright next will be Kathmandu stories, and Pokhara is following, i will make sure to update as soon as possible because it has been a year man! hahahaa.

see ya.






Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
131206, 1034pm
Rach in stomach pain mood.

Nepal: EBC Trek - Ghat to Lukla

4th day wasn't the an easy day for us, because lots of uphill road from Ghat to Lukla (yea, from Lukla to Ghat was easy for downhill all the way).

But i felt like super hyperactive in the 4th day, because warmer in the night time and i got enough rest time. 

While we were waiting for breakfast, Norbu invite us to visit lama temple right beside the teahouse. Everything in the temple are something new and mystery, but interesting and attractive for me.  

the main hall

some detail of the hall

Norbu was explaining the detail deco on the table to me.

every single piece was sutra

rice on a mini pagoda

the yellow thingy is butter

legend story on the ceiling

the other side of the hall, a hanging drum

If you're wonder where is the host of the temple, aka Lama, he was in his own room for morning praying. 

We got the permission to go  into his room for a short talk (i felt like doing interview though, haha), and the way he answered my question was full of wisdom. 

The host, still spinning his praying wheel.

candid taken by John

We only had very short talk to the lama, and the most unforgettable thing he said to me was: "you don't have to remember time or number, that is meaningless, you'd just have to remember praying."

Norbu told us, he was staying in the temple since he was small, no one know how old is he or where is he from.

We went back to tea house for breakfast, that was the best breakfast that i had in these 5 days.

john's so called roti telur hahahahahahahah

my french toast without honey is still great! i should have order and eat this everyday.

before leaving, photo with the granddaughter of the tea house's host

the view from the tea house's garden.

kid under the bridge

swing bridge again

fats and i

kid was sunbathing! so freezing cold that time

more kid with cheerful face

and sun burn cheek

sun dried potato chip

like heaven

another peak with snow.

and he is all sweat and dying.

i'm still energetic as long as the sun come our and air not cold.

ta-da! fats called it door of heaven, because after this frame, we finally reach Lukla!

in the Lukla village

Yes! Starbucks, am not sure if this is real Starbucks. If this is real, i have been the most highest and most southern starbucks

where we stay in Lukla

started to see wiring in the town

and food selling in the street. *but we dare not eat hahahahah*

some giant donut too

if you're not taking flight, you can walk to kathmandu, next destination after lukla, Jiri.

we choose everest coffee cafe with free wifi for tea

because there is heater!

our dinner, lots of rice and vege, no meat still

seed for local brewed beer, the host shown us

night in Lukla, and this is the last night of our hiking trip.

Next post will be Lukla -> Kathmandu, will come back as soon as i can :D











Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20131121, 0258pm
Rach in back pain mood.