This is a country where the occupational health and safety
inspector emigrated to a place where they really understand the
problem..probably Afghanistan. This can sometimes work in your favour..as long
as you have an escape route.
The traffic is total chaos and it is sometimes quicker to
walk than catch a cab. Seat belts are optional extras at best. Overall though
the drivers seem to be remarkably calm and don’t get affected too badly, although it is hard to shake your fist at someone when you are also blowing the
horn, changing gears,trying to steer and chatting on the 'phone.
A more pleasant experience with lack of OH&S are the
open fires in bars, restaurants and random street corners. Just take your
standard 44 gal drum, cut it in half, whack it on a few bricks if you’re being
fancy (or on a wood floor) and toss in some kindling. Arrange a few chairs
around and hey…you have the makings of a cosy bar. Just don’t think too much
about the narrow stairs in or the log that just fell out…hmmm.
Add to the mix the sometimes interesting bar names. Sadly (for
the nostalgic) Alice’s Restaurant is long gone but the Buddha Bar, Funky Buddha
and Sam’s Bar (where did that come from??) are all alive and well.
I tried a Buddha Bar Blaster…or maybe two. Fairly easy drink
to make..add some fruit juice to whatever leftover bits you have in spirit
bottles, add ice and serve it up. Tasted strangely good, especially the second
one. Had a great time sitting in the very retro semi darkness watching a
largish rat being very busy in the broken bit of the wall.
Ash & James were a bit unwell..so Anne & I went out
unescorted. Stayed out late sitting around the fire talking to our new best
friend, Matt from London, who’d taken a few months off from his job and had
decided to wander around Nepal for a while. He was going to do some serious
trekking, and was obviously not above having a drink or three. Apparently it’s
OK for kids to be out late at night but that only works one way. Good fun to
have to wake them to get our room key!
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| Water fountain, Bhaktapur Tibetan thanka painting, Bhaktapur |
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