Day 2: Exploring Kathmandu

Weather Update: Sunny, high 19°C

Elevation Above Sea Level: 4,344 feet (1,324 meters)

Observations

You can easily spot tourists in T-shirts and shorts, while locals are bundled up in puffer jackets.

Lost and Found

I thought I was getting familiar with my surroundings, but I soon realized I had a lot to learn. I left the hostel with a plan: visit a restaurant I had seen earlier and then head to the bank to exchange my diverse collection of currencies. On my walk, someone struck up a conversation with me. He offered to show me a closer bank, cutting my travel time in half. Unfortunately, the bank didn’t accept my currencies, so I had to visit several exchange booths. After some persistence, I managed to get rid of most of my Bangladeshi money.

Quest for the Pharmacy

In the early afternoon, I needed to find a pharmacy. A friendly local stopped me and offered help, eventually leading me to a pharmacy. He revealed he was a guide and offered his services for future travels, which made me realize the mixed intentions behind many helpful gestures.

The Elusive Restaurant

On my way back, I tried to find the restaurant I had planned to visit but got completely lost, even though it was close to the hostel. "Note to self: take a photograph of the premises next time!" Then you have Google Maps to get you to where you need to go.

Reflecting on the Day

I'm having a beer at the hostel, gazing across the valley and the towering Himalayas across the valley. When we flew into Kathmandu, many peaks were snow-covered. Standing at 4,344 feet (1,324 meters), these mountains still tower above, reaching heights of around 6,000 feet (1,828 meters). The highest points I have been to is across the Pyrenees at Roncesvalles a height of 4600 feet (1450 metres) and the highest point is at the Iron Cross in Spain is 4921 feet (1500 Metres)

Comparing Kathmandu and Dhaka

In some ways, Kathmandu is like Dhaka but on a different scale. While Dhaka felt depressing, the atmosphere in Kathmandu is different. People go out of their way to help you. If the weather holds, I'm planning to visit the Monkey Temple tomorrow.

Content:

I hope you enjoy following travels, being a solo traveller takes a lot of effort and I wish I could stay a lot longer and see more of each country than just the cities. After my first year, I may look at reprogramming my thoughts, when I return to renew my travel insurance in November I will certainly look into that more precisely.