Monday 31st

Monday 31st October
Away by 8:40. The traffic on the way was jammed solid so our driver took to the Delhi back steets, went past the Commonwealth Games Arena. Arrived just after 10 am. Flight ok. 90 minutes to Kathmandu and then 90 minutes to get a visa 25 US Dollars. Compared to Delhi the security was very minimal. Now 5 hours 45 minutes in front of GMT. They changed from BST yesterday.
Met by the local rep of Trailfinders, who took me through the week's tour while the taxi drove us to Hotel Himalaya. Minimal admin and so to the room. 4 star quality hotel very good. Desperate for some grub so exploded my luggage over my room, went to a local ATM, had a shower, got some maps, then off in a taxi to a restaurant "Rumdoodles" (see web site for more details). The only problem was the taxi driver did not know where it was so we got advice from reception. It was 6 pm by now, dark and very busy traffic. Of course the driver charged  me 100 rupees more then my guide said, but less than £4 for a 30 minutes ride is good.  Loads of shops round Rumdoodles it would take me a day to list all the items on offer. Everyone is very friendly. During negotiations for purchases they are keen to tap you on the hand. However they do not get ratty when you walk away. The meal in Rumdoodles was good and served extremely quickly. About 50 Brits walked in as 1 left. The whole interior is plastered with large foot cutouts with names of tours that have gone trekking up to Everest - logos and the names are printed on each foot before it is nailed to the ceiling. Much to the taxi driver's annoyance I did not want to be tied down by his waiting for me. So how to get back to the hotel in a foreign country where there appeared to be not many taxis.  I had a rough idea of which way the hotel was but it was too far to walk. I did buy a map however which turned out to be critical when the cycle rickshaw driver took me to a same named hotel 300 yards away. He first asked for 10 US dollars. We settled on 300 rupees a good earner for him.  But I knew how far it was. He did struggle down some very dark cobbled streets. As the hotel was up an incline when I realised where we were, I paid him 400 rupees, he tried to look disappointed.  Bought some more water and very glad to be back at the hotel by about 8:30. Now to sort out the stuff I do not need, to be put into a case to be left at the hotel till Saturday. Bought wi-fi, expensive at 870 rupees, but this enabled me to call Lesley for next to nothing on Skype and upload this blog. Had a soak in the lime green dettol smelling water and so to bed by midnight.  To be picked up at 9 am in a 4 x4.