Around the world: Kathmandu

March 12 2015

Survived The chaos called Kathmandu airport. I am glad that’s over. I jumped the queue to the payment counter that was empty before I even filled out my papers. For some reason everyone was queuing on the two other counters that will help them through the complete application pricess.

Having paid, I just waived my form to get attention so someone will bring me to the place to stamp my passport effectively Cutting infront of everyone that landed from the plane before me.

Getting out was chaotic to. People’s baggages were delayedor put on the next/previous flight. Even though they check the baggage tags at the exit,I wonder how many people had their baggages lost and stolen. My choice to have no checked in baggage seems to have saved me from at least 2 hours of wait. The visa on arrival process probably saved 30 minute. With the 1 hr delay of my flight, I got to my hostel at 5PM

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March 13 2015

It was a flurry if activity once I got here. Immediately met a french girl Laura and hit it off. We went around town meeting her friend. Then smoked up till late at night. Strangely, it doesn’t have any effect on me anymore.

We decided to head back after midnight. The street looked a bit dangereous as there are no foreigners after dark. Nor were there any woman.  It occurred to me that it might be dangereous, but I was more curious about what all these Nepalese guys are doing out here this late.

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March 14 2015

Laura, Stephanie, Polio and Matt. French, Dutch, American and British. We went on a spontaneous trip to Bhaktapur. Ever since I landed in Nepal and into the middle of the hostel called alobar1000, I haven’t had time to slow down at all. You can really see how differences in travel experiences really changes the dynamics of power. I’ve become very used to be the leader and decision makers now. Using everyone’s ability for their best expertise. I’ve also started to understand that the leader is the one that leads the charge on diing and trying to do things that the others are afraid if doing. Such as finding a way into the city without paying 1500 Nepalese rupees per person. Talking our way out when caught to finally find the way.

I welcomed the challenge and really enjoyed practicing the skills. Perhaps this is what I bring to the group. Maybe they appreciate my efforts, because I got quite a few free drinks afterwards and people generally seeks me out to join in their late night partying. This is new to my life. My interactions with people consists mainly of me initiating the conversation before this whole thing started. I don’t like to free load off others, but For today, I think I more than made it up from negotiating free entry.

But seriously, I really need a day or two of non action to plan what I am going to do next. Constantly being on the goal is bringing too much chaos, but at the same time, I cannot stand that empty feeling in my heart when I do have alone time to recuperate.

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March 15 2015

So I went out on a revenge buy trip so I can haggle the prices. First to exchange the shirt that I bought which was too small. Then I went around and negotiated the Indian harem trousers for 800 Nepalese Rupees. It feels great but they seem to accept the price a bit too soon.

At night we went out to eat and shop for stuff. I finally managed to buy those flags for 50 rupees each. Laura was impressed. This girl, I don’t know what to think about her.  She seems to string along several single guys. There was no reciprocation from my advances. However, I thought I was making inroads until we bump into a hot French guy. The attention she paid to him and the interest in his life is like light and day.

After dinner, the group split up so we can do some more shopping. At this point I’ve realized that Laura’s purposefully introducing random strangers so that we are never alone. I just wanted to test my mettle against the shop keepers again to see if I can get another bargain. This time though, the guy got very insulted and shouted $500 rupees on the flags I was trying to buy for 50. I guess I got lucky before.

The French guy was very interested in what people do as jobs

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The new travellers enjoys hetting led to places by more experienced people while the veterans get some company and conversation for the road. It is a great symbiotic relationship. Although I do wonder what makes veterans that much better at travelling. Upon observing Laura and my own behaviors. It comes down to cutting all the crap in conversations and being shameless just like the tuts. Repeat the city’s name enough time to enough people in a bus park and someone will point you to the right one.

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March 18

So, I am back in Kathmandu. Waiting for my Indian Visa to be added to my passport. I got a 3 months single entry visa only. Not really a lot of time for meditation.

But I got talking to quite a few people. On travelling and on meditation. There are things I don’t get. Such as someone who’ve travelled for 2 years and have no interesting stories. Or people who meditated longer than me who didn’t observe any changes from within. It’s true that they might have personal experiences they’d like to keep private. It just seems like they are very boring, even though they are pretty. I’ve bever had instant turn off this fast before.

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March 19

It has been a while since I’ve managed to meditate. I’ve recently managed to take it back up again. It feels very murky and hard to navigate compared to before. The restless rush to get to my destination have slowed down a bit, so I’ve had more time.

There is a difference though as I definitely feels like I attract more people to me when I meditate. What is troubling though is that I get surrounded by people every night and have had no time to plan anything at all. The planning is getting even more chaotic.

Met Ana tonight, a dutch girl again. We sat in a group that hust gets larger as the night progressed. I think most joined us for her friend Carmen who is probably a 9/10 hippie. For some reason though, I am more attracted to Ana. She does Vipassana too. A bit chubby, probably a 7/10 and talks alot. Somehow i am just attracted. Was it the meditation? She also reminds me of Ylva when we met. Very touchy feely and openly admits to liking a lot of things about China.

The Dutch have always treated me very well and there’s a lack of pretentiousness about them. A lack of game playing and pragmatic “You like me I like you” attitude. No, not game playing, a lack of high maintenance attitude. This in contrast with every Australian girl I’ve met where for some reason no connection or friendship ever happened. Then again, I used to feel this way about French woman on the road and  that barrier has melted. Maybe I just haven’t found the right way to get to know them… Just like Vancouver woman.

Speaking of which, it turns out that the Nepalese people really likes the Chinese features. But they call it Mongolian face. I was talking with Ajun, a guide I met while hanging around about the hot receptionist downstairs. We talked a bit about the different beauty standards. 

The eye feature that people used to tease me about in Canada, is actually a beauty feature here. So thus far there are 3 countries where my facial features are looked upon as exotic beauty: Italy (a small percentage), Romania and Nepal.