Sunday 27 February 2011

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

26/02/2011
Heathrow.
10:20
It feels like its my first day at school.  Kind of glad that nobody was here to see me off I'm no good at goodbye's,  I never knew you could get a fry at Wagamama's, probably th last egss on toast I have for a while.
10:50
In the departure lounge, it is raining.  I'm trading these grewy skies for blue at least for a few weeks.  I am feeling a lot calmer now that I am here, watching the slow back an dforth of luggage and yellow jackets.  Only the passengers seem to be in a rush.  If I was th size of the man who ran for the lift and then the train to his gate I would leave the house a little earlier or eat a smaller breakfast.  Probably both.

27/02/2011.
New Delhi
2:55
The flight to Delhi went fairly smoothly.  I had a seat imbertween two Brazilian ladies who were part of a much larger group.  They wasted no time in telling me how cold Britain is and how they are looking forward to the warmer climbes of India.  It seems I dislike small talk more than I like talking to Brazilian ladies and I spent most of the flight reading my book and watching movies (due date, pretty funny & social network, better than expected) whilst stretching my legs out in front of the emergency exit.

At Delhi airport there are two statues of elephants, parent and child.  It appears they are there for hippies to coo over and tenderly touch (mostly trunk and tusks).  I worry that if they ever met a real elephant it would all proove too much for the poor souls.  Staff at the airport where a little short which meant that I wondered around somewat aimlessly trying to work out where to get my bags and make it back to the departure lounge which is where I am writing this from.  Four hours and thirty minutes untill I fly to Nepal.  I must try to get a seat with a view.

Kathmandu
12:31

Having a seat with a view made no difference as I slept for the whole flight.  It was odd leaving a cloudy Delhi behind and only an hour later being greeted by the blue skies and sunshine of Nepal.  At the airport I found the man holding my name (I have forgotten his, very bad) and he took me to my hotel.

Kathmandu is nuts!  I have never experienced so much going on in one place and gives the place an energy I have never experienced before.  I certainly feel a long way from home.  My room is basic but nice and overlooks a busy road, the family that own the hotel seem very nice in fact so far everyone has been very nice.  I'm glad that I am finally here and that I don't need to see an airport again for a good while yet.

7 comments:

  1. Hi Jon, good to know you have arrived safely and the journey was straightforward. Sorry you missed the view as you flew into Katmandu, but hopefully you are now catching up on sleep. Looking forward to hearing more about life in Nepal as you settle in and find your way around. x

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  2. Hi Jon, set up now with an account to write to you. Really glad to read your blog thus far, to hear about your journey and to know you're safely arrived. Sounds fascinating, I must say, and I look forward to hearing all your future adventures! Take care + sleep well...
    David

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  3. Good to hear you have made it safely. Keep the blogs going so that I can have a vicarious adventure whilst sat at me desk :)

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  4. Great news! I'm sure Katmandu is totally crazy...like most asian cities, But give it a couple of weeks & it will feel like home. What's the food like? Are they eating fried bugs? Is the internet in your hotel or do you have to go to a cafe?

    Enjoy your first few days.

    Love The 4 of us. X

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  5. No fried bugs. Lots of rotting meat being sold from small shops though and dried fish. As you can imagine these places smell divine...

    I have had a little bit of Nepalese food but mostly I am paying too much for pizza etc. I will go more authentic given time.

    Think I will go veggie for the rest of the trip though.

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  6. Anything well cooked is your best bet. Try to avoid raw be it meat or veg. The Arse-Nose-Hand relationship can be a close one :)

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